Iceland - Asbyrgi Wall
If you recall, Ann and I had a lovely time photographing the pond that lies at the end of Asbyrgi Canyon. We enjoyed ourselves so much, we decided to take a three-hour, one night, detour on our way back from Lake Myvatn to Sey∂isfjör∂ur. While we also photographed at the pond on our second visit, these photographs come from the canyon walls located near the park’s campground where we were staying.
It’s not every campground where, on your way to check out the shower and toilet facilities of the campground, you realize that there is a high potential for images to be made. Well, Asbyrgi Campground is no normal campground. On the drive northward from Lake Myvatn, I became enamored by the colorful land cover that increasingly appeared in the landscape. It was plentiful at Asbyrgi. Most of the trees it seemed, had lost their leaves (we were there probably a week or two too late), I noticed that those next to the lava walls near the campsite were still colorful. So I headed back to the bimobil, grabbed my camera and tromped back to make a couple of images.
The first image was the one that originally caught my eye, a yellow tree standing stark against the lava wall.
I’d originally also noticed a second subject, about 40 feet north of the first, where a brilliant yellow-orange tree jumped out in all its neon-like glory.
The ground cover lay over a lumpy, lava covered between the campground and the basalt walls. To make each image, I had to hop from mound to mound into the ground cover for about 50 feet to frame each image. As I did that, I was able to better see opportunities further down the wall (looking southward). So I’d make my way back to the campground, move down a bit, then hop back into the field to frame the next image.
I did that over and over agin.
Finally, I hit what seemed to be the last opportunity for an image with that consistent theme - fall colored vegetation and the lava wall.
In all, I must have covered 200 to 300 feet of wall, moving from one plant grouping to another. Starting with what I thought would be, “A couple of quick shots!” it turned into a half-hour or more of intense work, trying to frame each subject just right. Boy did I miss having my tripod; precise framing is so much easier when using one.
Sill, in some ways it doesn’t get any easier than that. An enjoyable half hour or so right as you’re about to settle in for the evening. I do really like that Asbyrgi Campground.