I grew up idealizing the natural world as a refuge from urbanity, a place of solace and spiritual renewal, and a source of awe and transcendence.  But as urbanization and other human activity continue to erase them, these pristine wildernesses have become few and far between.

The timeless, primordial landscapes of Iceland overwhelm by their sheer scale and their volcanic, glacial wildness.  Elemental, untouched, they radiate a fierce, rugged beauty which feels both menacing and enlivening.  Strong winds and rain scour mountainsides.  Walls of ice grind their way to the ocean.  Cascades of water carve channels through fresh rock only recently emerged from the planet's core.

Amidst this unspoiled ancient terrain, I was captivated by the darkness and mystery of these landscapes, and entranced by their unexpected textures and shadows. I could once again marvel at the wonders of our world, enthralled by the magic of the light, which allowed glimpses of secret, beguiling places.