Birch and Basalt

Birch & Basalt is a ongoing series started in 2016, exploring in camera multiple exposures, colour and textures.
Two of the contrasting characteristics of Icelandic landscape is soft and hard, often mimicking the two contrasting seasons summer and winter. Undeniable opposites but essential for the local mindset and a classical subject of old and new poetry, visual art and music in Iceland.
Birch is the only native tree in Iceland. In the Sagas it was told that at the time of discovery, Iceland was covered from mountain to sea in this fragile, small species of birch. Today only 1% of Iceland´s flora is birch.
Basalt and basalt columns draw up many of the epic landscape images of Iceland. When it rains the basalt turns nearly black. These rock formations have been a major influence on local architecture and paintings through out the history of Iceland.