Vatnajökull Iceberg — Jökulsárlón Lagoon Blue

Description

Jökulsárlón’s glacial lagoon at the Vatnajökull ice cap’s southeastern outlet produces the largest and most photographically dramatic icebergs accessible by road anywhere in the world — calved sections of the glacier that drift the lagoon before being swept by tidal action to the black sand beach. The blue coloration of the older, denser ice is caused by the absorption of the red-end spectrum by the compressed crystal structure of ice that has been under pressure for centuries. This image was made from a rubber dinghy tour positioned within 5 metres of a grounded 30-metre iceberg at 7am in summer light — the low sun angle producing the translucent blue glow visible through the submerged base of the berg. Shot at 1/250 second on a 24mm prime, the ice crystal detail of the exposed surface above waterline is contrasted with the glowing underwater presence visible through the cold clear meltwater.