Iceland - Land of contrast

Observing strong contrasts in the natural world is a powerful way to ponder its attributes, since contrasts engender a comparison. Iceland's nature has many of these contrasts, indeed: light in the darkness, patches of forest neighbouring vast stone deserts, vibrant colours attracting the eye in a grey-toned landscape. When you watch the red fire of a volcanic eruption flaming from the ice of a glacier, it becomes even clearer to you how hot the lava is, how cold the ice - and on a bright summer night you recall the dark days of winter.

When you visit Iceland - if you do - try to get out into the wild. Perceive the eternal in the wilderness. Take a few steps away from your travelling companions, out into the black sands, down to the seashore or up the hill; lie down in the sand or on the bare rock, and listen to nature's heart beating. This may be embodied in birdsong, in the babble of brook, in the thundering of a waterfall or perhaps in the deep silence of the wild. If you cannot make it to this land, Orsolya and Erlend's photographs will go a long way towards giving you a real feeling for the place.