Light painting photography during a natural spectacle in Iceland!

The photographer Olaf Schieche recently fulfilled a long-cherished dream: the dream of a photograph combining light painting elements with impressive shots of a recently erupted volcano. Schieche was able to capture this unique and never-before-created artistic work in spring 2021, thanks to the high volcanic activity in Iceland.

Together with experienced volcano photographer Adrian Rohnfelder, Olaf Schieche spontaneously decided to embark on a trip to Iceland on April 8th. A few weeks earlier, a small fissure had opened in the ground on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland, announcing the impending eruption of a new volcano. This eruption had been eagerly anticipated by photographers worldwide for two years.

Despite all the difficulties that Corona presented the two photographers, they were finally able to set off for the long-awaited volcano after five days of quarantine and several PCR tests. Rohnfelder and Schieche had until April 18th to reach their destination and capture the long-planned photo before their trip would come to an end.

Vulkanausbruch in Island

Volcanic Activity in Reykjanes, Iceland

The small peninsula in southwestern Iceland is well-known to travelers and tourists. It forms the extension of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is famous for its volcanic and tectonic activity. On March 19, 2021, the most recent eruption of the Krýsuvík volcanic system occurred on the southern slope of the Fagradalsfjall mountain massif, approximately 30 kilometers southwest of the capital Reykjavik. This volcanic activity represented the first volcanic eruption in over 800 years and was therefore the talk of the town.

Immediately after the first volcanic eruption, Icelanders flocked to the site. It was possible to approach the glowing lava at the scene, which benefited the two photographers. However, they had to walk to get there, which is why they needed a compact travel tripod. Safety distance and a respirator mask due to the toxic fumes were, of course, top priority. Now it was time to take the first shots.

Vulkanausbruch Island

Gusts of Wind and Glowing Lava

Olaf Schieche has been using a tripod from the popular Rock Solid series for years. Of course, he also took the carbon tripod with him to Iceland. The robust Rock Solid Beta Mark II significantly facilitated Olaf Schieche's light painting shots. Due to the peninsula's location on the stormy Atlantic coast, the equipment had to withstand the weather conditions - and of course, the high temperatures from the flowing lava. His impressive pictures show how close Schieche actually was to the glowing lava. Also helpful: the many adjustment options of the Rock Solid series allowed Schieche to perfectly align the tripod even on uneven terrain.

In case of strong wind, Schieche used the hook on the center column of the Rock Solid. Here, you can easily attach a backpack and give the robust tripod more stability.

Rock Solid Tripod in Iceland

Perfect Light Painting Shot

The ultimate goal of the trip was a light painting in front of the impressive volcanic backdrop. The conditions on site were quite challenging, as there was a strong wind and the ground was extremely uneven. In addition, the glowing lava repeatedly caused difficulties, as it led to severe overexposure of the lava-spewing craters. However, by combining a long exposure with the Olympus camera's Live Composite and a Soft GND16 rectangular filter, the different lighting conditions could be overcome, and a breathtaking shot of the volcanic landscape combined with light painting was achieved. The result is a unique photograph, a interplay of light painting and active volcanoes, which has never been seen before.