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Reykjanes and Stratospheric clouds
A short trip to Reykjanes with an unexpected bonus
Went on a short trip to Reykjanes hoping for good light to photograph some mountains for my project. The light turned out to be pretty good but as a bonus I got an amazing surprise at sunrise when the sky lit up with polar stratospheric clouds. First time for me, I have never seen them before. The Icelandic name for them is more concise: “glitský”, meaning glittering clouds.
Then went to Hlíðarvatn, a favorite winter location, before moving on to Kleifarvatn where there’s always something new to explore.
The polar stratospheric clouds were spectacular. The two photos on the left are taken with a wide angle lens, the other two are close-ups. It’s challenging to get a good photo of the clouds since they are only seen towards the sun.
GFX50R + GF32-64 / GF100-200 @ 63°55'50" N 21°23'30" W
The mountain Geitafell (Goat fell) sits in the middle of a flat area south of Reykjavík. It is circular in shape and was formed by an eruption under the ice-age glacier. The clouds on the left are stratospheric clouds.
GFX50R + GF32-64 @ 63°56'10.0"N 21°30'36.4"W
This is Lambafellsháls (Lamb-fell-neck) in the soft light a few minutes before sunrise. It extends south from it’s big brother Lambafell, which has been mutilated by mining.
GFX50R + GF32-64 @ 63°59'52.0"N 21°29'28.3"W
A series of images from Hlíðarvatn. After a recent freeze there had been a short thaw and a strong northerly wind, followed by another freeze. This left the ice all broken and bunched up on the south side of he lake. It was bitterly cold and windy.
On the north side the new ice was smooth and reflected the stratospheric clouds.
Photos 1-6: GFX-50R + GF32-64 @ 63°52'01.1"N 21°44'35.9"W
Photo 7: XT2+XF80 @ 63°52'01.1"N 21°44'35.9"W
Photo 8: GFX50R + GF32-64 @ 63°52'21.5"N 21°44'02.7"W
The young volcanic landscape is rough and bare. Various patterns emerge from the combination of rocks and snow.
GFX50R + GF100-200
Mountain shapes at Kleifarvatn.
GFX50R + GF100-200 @ 63°56'48.1" N 21°57'47.7" W