Photographer's Note
Yes, that is the real color of the water.
You are having a look into a place most of the locals don't even know about.
Hidden deep in the lava fields of Myvatn, lies a hot pool of water below massive boulders that could cave in on you at the slightest earthquake. The water is crystal clear and colored in the most amazing turquoise. It is between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius, depending on where you are swimming along the twenty (+) meter long and 1 to 3 meter wide cave.
You are in the womb of Earth.
There are no sounds.
The steam is gently rising around you into the cold air up above you.
The hot water is soothing every ache your body has ever felt, while soothing your mind with its gentle flows.
As you abandon yourself to the real threat of imminent death within the most unstable parts of this Earth, suddenly there is the most gentle Peace and Bliss that wrap your Being.
Let the Earth wash away your pains, your sorrows, your worries, and fill you with indescribable Trust and Love for everything around You.
Walter discovered it thanks to a rumor, spending hours upon hours looking for it as he couldn't find anyone who really know about it or its location. It was perseverance that paid off in the long run. Upon our return to Iceland in the summer of 2005, he was kind enough to share this slice of Heaven with me.
It was a sincerely difficult and dangerous path.
I decided to leave my D70 back in the car and squeezed the little Minolta into my pocket. After arriving at our destination, I regretted my decision slightly, but made the best of it. If you wish to see more, you can do so here, but please bare in mind that those pictures haven't been adjusted and are mightily paler in comparison to the real colors of the place.
There were signs of people having been there as there was a platform built out of wood (but that had already collapsed) and some used candles and empty beer cans, but it definitely is not a place that was often visited (and hopefully still isn't).
I hope you will understand that I will not disclose the exact location of this place as 1) the path to and down there is sincerely dangerous 2) being there is dangerous, because of the state of the earth and also if you have the slightest health problem (the water is surprisingly hot and there are no real places to rest: you are either in the hot water or then in the cold air) and 3) I'm not even sure if I could find my way back! :P
I hope you will be able to enjoy this hidden place I share here with you through this/these picture(s)!
An advance Thank You to those amongst you to take the time to criticize and/or leave a comment!
SchwebagMike, nwoehnl, mdetay, JonteW, andante, AdrianW, Bogdan, s_a_s_h_a, Davidwh, mammad, Uhu, IgorDeleze, pilpel-adom, Mistral, mmlynczak heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd
Critiques | Translate
mhdesbois
(0) 2006-06-25 11:41
Bonjour Julia,
C'est endroit semble magnifique. les couleurs sont extraordinaires et prennent des teintes surprenantes en se refletant dans l'eau. Tu as bien de la chance d'avoir pu découvrir cet endroit secret, pourvu qu'il le reste encore longtemps et garde ainsi toute sa beauté. Bravo et merci de nous le faire partager.
M-H
SchwebagMike
(1490) 2006-06-26 3:43
Salut Julia,
J'aime beaucoup ta photo à cause de la note et des explications et détails sur ton site. Quelle aventure! La photo en soi m'intrigue un peu moins. Le sujet demandait probablement ce point de vue, les reflets y sont, mais je n'aime pas trop le cadrage sans pouvoir vraiemnet dire pourqoui. Le bleu de l'eau par contre est magnifique et les conditions de lumière étaient probablement difficiles ...
Bien à toi,
Mike
cobraphil8
(84) 2006-06-26 4:06
Tu fais bien de préciser dans ta note que les couleurs sont naturelles, car elles sont tellement surprenantes que l'on aurait pu en douter...
Un endroit "préservé" qui j'espère le restera longtemps car il a l'air magnifique et puis ta note permet de se rendre compte de la difficulté d'accès et des conditions difficiles à l'intérieur de cette grotte.
Au niveau cadrage, je le trouve bon car je ne vois pas ce que tu aurais pu faire de mieux.
Bravo encore une fois
Philippe
danyy
(0) 2006-06-26 5:07
Bonjour Julia,
Une noet vraiment étonnante et très instructive, qui prouve qu'il peut être dangereux mais agréable de se trouve dans certains endroits, tels ces grottes, les bords d'un falaise ou encore en plein orage.
Un endroit que je ne rechercherai pas lors de mon voyage prochain sur ces terres de glace et de feu.
La photo est reposante.
Merci pour ce partage de conaissances et de secrets.
Bien à toi.
Daniel.
nwoehnl
(122) 2006-06-26 5:43
A very interesting and intriguing photo from these caves, Julia. Very mysterious and ethereal-looking, not least due to the way in which the light enters from the top and accentuates the textural layers in the rock face. The deep color of the water and the impressionist-style reflections look very nice. Great informative notes, too, well done.
mdetay
(4929) 2006-06-27 18:06
Hi Julia,
Nice shot of the Myvatn's bath.
I went there many time but I never took a picture. You are more clever than me.
Nice colors and framing. Well done.
Cheers.
Michel
JonteW
(190) 2006-06-28 10:10
Very nice colors and good composition! But the water would be a little too hot for me!
There is another place (known by locals and tourist guides) where there are two undergroudn caves. The larger for the men and the smaller for females. But when we visited in 2001 the water was too hot for bathing (50-60 degrees if I remember correctly). Not as beatiful a place as this.
I managed to bang my head in the lava rock in the cave, while taking photographs. I needed 3 stitches and was told to be lucky by the local nurse. She was just about to leave for the weekend when we arrived. :-)
Davidwh
(3662) 2006-07-12 14:37
Hi Julia,
A very soft and soothing image that is very pleasant to the eye of the beholder.You have done a very good job of handling the contrasts of light and the deep shadows as you have managed to catch very good detail.Good choice of cut and the reflection is just wonderful....see you again.
Regards, David
mammad
(3572) 2006-07-17 19:06
Dearest Julia,
Simply one of your best ! You have taken Great advantage of the poor light conditions.
Wonderful color tone too.Did u use a tripod?
It seems u didn't but everything is crisp clear.
Well Done.TFS.
Regards Mammmad
andante
(7092) 2006-07-24 14:36
Just reading your note is like been there. Your words lead the mind to enjoy the place step by step. The imiage becomes secondary... just a visual hint to let the mind go.
Cheers,
Enrique
guillaumejm
(0) 2006-11-21 17:13
Bonsoir Julia,
Je découvre tes photos et tes introductions qui sont aussi belles, colorées et sensibles que tes photos. je pense que je vais ces jours prochains creuser, creuser, dans les arcanes de ta gallerie...
De cette phto, j'aime beaucoup la clouleur et la lumière. Celà ne doit pas être facile la gestion de la lumière dans ces conditions de prise de vue. En tout cas le résultat est très beau.
Amicalement
JMarc
cam
(9043) 2006-11-24 19:07
Bonjour Julia
Voici une des belles photos du sous-sol sur TE.
Les couleurs sont toujours spéciales et magique dans ces endroits.
Un secret et une chance pour toi de l'avoir découvert.
J'ai ajouté ta photo dans mon thème déjà bien garni du sous-sol.Viens visiter.
Charles
IgorDeleze
(585) 2007-01-06 11:06
Re Bonsoir,
Une photo plutot originale avec de très beau reflet dans l'eau.
C'est impressionnant de pouvoir apercevoir la falaise au dessous de la surface.
Très belle lumière.
Bonne soirée.
Igor
pilpel-adom
(3018) 2007-01-07 9:58
Julia, this was such a pleasure to look at your photo and reading your note, your secret place of solitude and relaxation. Your photo reveals the feeling of solitude, of lonesome, of hidden under huge masses of stone and earth...I guess that for you it was an experience that took you closer and closer to mother earth, to appreciate life, it's simplicity, and the fact that we should thank everyday for being us and to be aware of such an incredible places and moments...
We can really sink deep into the hot waters in this photo and forget for a single moment the reality outside - only the inner us is here...
Thanks for sharing - it was an honor!
Chen
Mistral
(15416) 2007-03-19 18:38
Hi Julia,
moody image with the turqoise color and deep reflections. We can breath a secluded atmosphere and feel the silence and a sort of magic in the still air... Your notes always full of liveliness and enthusiasm show us your right attitude towards the world spinning around you.
Thanks for that!
Luca
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Julia Leijola (leiju)
(1697)
- Genre: Plaatsen
- Medium: Kleur
- Date Taken: 2005-07-07
- Categories: Natuur
- Camera: Dimage 20X
- Fotoversie: Originele versie
- Reisverhaal: Returning to Iceland
- Thema's: vision souterraine-2, Caves II (Lisa DP) [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2006-06-25 9:03
- Favorieten: 2 [Zicht]
Discussions
- To mdetay: bath (1)
by leiju, last updated 2006-06-28 09:14 - To JonteW: underground :) (2)
by leiju, last updated 2006-06-29 06:29