{"id":43827,"date":"2025-07-06T16:53:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T16:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/43827\/"},"modified":"2025-07-06T16:53:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T16:53:14","slug":"photographer-sends-up-his-drone-to-capture-icelands-unique-geothermal-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/43827\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographer Sends Up His Drone to Capture Iceland&#8217;s Unique Geothermal Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803081\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803081 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616151132_0336_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a geothermal area with colorful earth tones, showing a winding white path connecting bubbling pools of water, surrounded by green patches of vegetation.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803081\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A photographer has been sending up his drone above geothermal pools to capture abstract images of the colorful and textured hot springs. <\/p>\n<p>Vilhelm Gunnarsson is a press photographer from Iceland, a country renowned for its abundant natural hot springs which is a direct result of its unique geological position straddling the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and sitting on a Volcanic hotspot. <\/p>\n<p>The intense geothermal activity heats underground water, which then rises to the surface, creating natural hot springs and providing a sustainable energy source for the country.<\/p>\n<p>Gunnarsson visited a particularly colorful geothermal area in a part of Iceland called \u00deeistareykir that he says is a little off the beaten path, but is well worth a visit. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt \u00deeistareykir you will find all kinds of hot springs and mud pools, fumaroles, and vivid geothermal colours. Here the earth is white and yellow, orange and bright red, brown and grey with fumes and emissions rising out of the earth everywhere you look,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803082\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803082 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616151641_0389_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a geothermal area with vibrant mineral deposits in red, orange, and white, steaming hot springs, and patches of green vegetation surrounding the colorful landscape.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803082\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803083\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803083 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616151750_0404_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"A person stands near colorful geothermal hot springs with steaming vents, mineral-stained ground, and warm pools surrounded by green grass.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803083\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803080\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803080 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616145334_0038_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of cracked, dry earth with several circular mud pools and patches of white and reddish soil, resembling a geothermal or volcanic landscape.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803080\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803079\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803079 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616145033_0991_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a large, multicolored geothermal area with patches of green vegetation on the edges and varying shades of brown, red, white, yellow, and gray across the surface, creating a textured abstract pattern.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803079\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803078\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803078 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616144609_0943_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a bubbling mud pool with cracked, dry edges and patches of smooth, grey mud in a geothermal area surrounded by orange and brown earth.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803078\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803077\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803077 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616144416_0913_D-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a cracked, dry mud pool surrounded by vibrant red, orange, and beige earth, creating an abstract, textured landscape with natural patterns and color contrasts.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803077\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803076\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803076 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616144034_0851_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a geothermal area with steaming vents, multicolored earth, patches of green grass, and distant mountains partially covered with snow.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803076\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Gunnarsson captured the shot with a <a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/2023\/07\/21\/dji-mavic-pro-3-review-a-pro-level-drone-thats-pricey-but-worth-it\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone<\/a>, which he says makes it much easier to capture imagery of volcanic eruptions since it is possible to shoot straight down on the subject without getting too close. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe drone also makes it much safer because some hot springs are 80-100\u00b0C (176-212\u00b0F) fed by geothermal water that can be as hot as 240\u00baC ( 464\u00b0F) below the surface,\u201d explains Gunnarsson. \u201cThey are strictly look and don\u2019t touch! Also, if people get too close, they leave footprints in the mud.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803074\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803074 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616143952_0835_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a geothermal area with cracked blue-gray mud pools, surrounded by reddish-brown and yellow earth, showing textured patterns and mineral deposits.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803074\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803073\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803073 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616143855_0819_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a colorful geothermal area with orange, yellow, and brown mineral deposits, scattered blue hot springs, and green grass surrounding the unique landscape formation.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803073\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803072\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803072 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616143705_0802_D-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a geothermal hot spring with vivid orange, yellow, and green mineral deposits, blue steaming pools, and surrounding patches of green vegetation.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803072\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803071\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803071 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616143448_0778_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a colorful, textured landscape featuring red, orange, and brown earth with patches of green vegetation and a narrow, winding gray stream running through the center.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803071\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803070\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803070 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616143402_0770_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a colorful geothermal hot spring area with steaming pools, mineral deposits in white, orange, and blue hues, and patches of green vegetation at the edges.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803070\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803069\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803069 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616143126_0759_D-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Cracked, dry earth in shades of brown, orange, yellow, and gray, forming an abstract, textured pattern that resembles a parched landscape or dried paint.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803069\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/?attachment_id=803067\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-803067 nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DJI_20250616142725_0716_D-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a geothermal landscape with vivid green grass, rust-red soil, white mineral deposits, and small blue pools connected by winding streams. The terrain displays striking natural colors and abstract patterns.\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-803067\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Gunnarsson says he didn\u2019t need special permission to use the drone at these locations. However, there are nature reserves in Iceland that require permits. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn Iceland, there are rules for drones, and it\u2019s also important to think about other people who want to enjoy nature without a drone flying over their heads,\u201d he adds. \u201cI was alone in that place, so I got plenty of time to fly over.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Gunnarsson has previously appeared on PetaPixel for his dramatic photos showing <a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/2024\/11\/26\/photographer-captures-volcanic-lava-destroying-parts-of-icelands-blue-lagoon\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">volcanic lava engulfing parts of the Blue Lagoon,<\/a> a popular tourist geothermal spa. And, he captured the reaction of tourists as they see a<a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/2022\/08\/18\/tourists-gleeful-reactions-at-seeing-a-volcanic-eruption-for-the-first-time\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> volcanic eruption for the first time.<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>More of Gunnarsson\u2019s work can be found on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vilhelmg.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\">website<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vilhelmgunnarsson\/?hl=en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\">Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Image credits:<\/strong> Photographs by Vilhelm Gunnarsson<\/p>\n<p>      <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A photographer has been sending up his drone above geothermal pools to capture abstract images of the colorful&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":43828,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[32],"tags":[34187,648,1032,1033,5247,34188,171,34189,34190,24920,34191,67,132,68,34192],"class_list":["post-43827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-abstractlandscapephotography","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-design","tag-drone","tag-dronephotography","tag-entertainment","tag-geothermal","tag-hotsprings","tag-iceland","tag-landscapephotography","tag-united-states","tag-unitedstates","tag-us","tag-vilhelmgunnarsson"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114807334872063740","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43827\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}