These Photos of Iceland’s Hot Springs Reveal Magical Worlds of Colour

Iceland is blessed with some of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth. The dramatic contrast between hot and cold, volcano and ice, cause wonderful phenomena. Photographer Johann Vilhjalmsson set out to capture these in close-up photography of Iceland’s hot springs.

“It’s a very exciting environment—you have the ice and snow and then the boiling soil all around you, with steam plumes going up into the sky,” said Vilhjalmsson. “Sometimes it does feel like you’re walking on another planet.”

Vilhjalmsson had to be very careful when working, as the springs are boiling hot and have a tendency to throw out bursts of scalding steam without warning.

“I’m always looking for the beauty in small things that we don’t normally pay attention to,” the photographer said. “I started taking pictures a year ago for fun, and now my camera is stuck with me wherever I go.”