Iceland: Living with Volcanoes

3 minute read

Before the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, which grounded air traffic in Europe for weeks, few people were probably aware that Iceland averages an eruption once every four years. But while the spewing of hot lava is a frequent event, that doesn’t mean it’s a common one. “When we have eruptions, it’s all over the news,” photographer Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson tells TIME. “Most Icelanders try and go and see the eruptions. We are very excited about it.”

Sigurdsson has spent much of his career photographing Iceland’s volcanic eruptions. As he explained to TIME in 2011, within minutes of an eruption, he’s in a plane to photograph the event from above. “If there would be an eruption right now, I would immediately jump into an airplane to get pictures,” he says. “Then I would go take my trusted Jeep and drive up there with my tripod and stay there. I like much better taking pictures on the ground than in the air. They are more powerful and more exciting.”

After years of recording Iceland’s volcanoes up close, Sigurdsson undertook his latest project, to collect and preserve as many photographs of Icelandic volcanoes as he could find. Along with geophysicist Ari Trausti Gudmundsson, his friend for 25 years, Sigurdsson pored over archives, scanning and preserving hundreds of photos of eruptions on the small Nordic island. They are collected in the recently published book Magma: Icelandic Volcanoes.

Many of the photos in the collection are exactly what you think a volcano should look like: searing reds and oranges spewing from the ground; black soot careening into the sky. But the book also includes old black and white photos that are equally powerful, classic depictions of geologic explosions that can pack as much power as an atomic bomb. “I’m quite fond of black and white myself,” Sigurdsson says. “Black and white volcano pictures are, maybe not all the time as powerful as the orange ones. If you have a lot of orange and blue colors, it’s a great contrast, the scenes and strong colors.”

Now that he has preserved the history of Iceland’s volcanoes, Sigurdsson is readying for the next eruption. When photographing a volcano, “you have to make decisions on the fly when you have the scene in front of you,” he says. Do you need slow shutter speed, long exposures, or do you need to freeze the action or all of the above? “You have to try everything and use all your knowledge—the key to success is you’re never done,” he says. “I was done when all of my batteries were dead. And I can’t wait for the next eruption.” Given the frequency of the country’s volcanoes, he might not have to wait long to try it out.

Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson has worked as a photographer since age 16. His work is available through Arctic Images. MAGMA: Icelandic Volcanoes is available directly from the publisher.

The 1918 Katla eruption produced over 1000 cubic meters of debris, most of it airborne.Kjartan Gudmundsson, © Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
An eruption in the middle of the sea first noted by fishermen on November 14, 1963 was in fact the formation of a volcanic island — Surtsey. By November 30 of that year, the new island had risen some 20-30m above sea level, from an initial ocean depth of 130m.Hjalmar R. Bardarson, © Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
Lava flows on Surtsey Island cool as they descend toward the sea. Eyjafjallajokull can be seen on the mainland in the far distance. (ca. 1963)Sigurdur Thorarinsson, © Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
A crater in the Surtsey Island surface reveals the lava underneath. (ca. 1963)Aevar Johannesson, © Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
In the early hours of January 23, 1973, the 5000 residents of Heimaey Island awoke to a 1,500m-long wall of fire rising to the east of the town. The island, originally formed by volcanic eruptions, was hastily evacuated within a couple of days. Hjalmar R. Bardarson, © Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
Approximately 40% of the buildings on Heimaey— more than 200 structures —were destroyed. (1973)Aevar Johannesson, © Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
At the moment, Grimsvotn ranks as Iceland's most active volcano, having erupted five times since 1983, most recently in 2011. Pictured here is the 1998 eruption, backlit by the sun.© Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
The 1998 Grimsvotn eruption featured a mix of steam, gasses, and debris, rising 8-10km above the site. © Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
Remotely located eruptions like Grimsvotn, seen here in 1998, attract large numbers of observers by air.© Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
In 2011, Grimsvotn erupted even more dramatically, sending a cloud of ash and debris 15-17km in the air.Olafur Sigurjonsson, © Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
Scientists exploring Grimsvotn in 2012 encountered thick deposits of hot ash and pumice gradually turning the snow beneath into steam.© Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
In March of 2010, Eyjafjallajokull burst into life after an almost 190-year-long sleep. Although more than 300 residents and farmers were initially evcuated from the area, it became clear that the first, 20-day phase of the eruption did not pose an imminent danger. Tourists from Iceland and abroad soon gathered to observe the fountains of lava.© Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
Lava flows from Eyjafjallajokull plunged in spectacular falls into snow-filled river canyons, sending up a huge plume of steam, as people continued to observe the site from close range.© Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
Eyjafjallajokull's ash and steam plume was frequently illuminated by lightning, caused by the rapid convection of the steam.© Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
Eyjafjallajokull eventually produced a cloud of ash reaching an altitude of 9km which was then carried to other continents, forcing as many as 100,000 flight cancellations, mainly in Europe.© Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images
Lava flowing from Eyjafjallajokull turns snow and ice into steam as it makes its way downslope in the Gigjokull icefall. (2010)© Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic Images

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