What Is ‘Behind The Shot’?
To me, photographs are strengthened by having a good story to support them. At its core, photography is the art of capturing memories and those memories deserve to be told & shared. With this new concept I want to tell people that story. I want to share what effort, struggle and sometimes luck is behind the publishing of that single image you might see in your social media feed. Every month I will be sharing one photograph which has a good story, a deeper meaning or a struggle behind it.
The 2022 Meradalir eruption was the second of Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall reawakenings. This is the story of being on the spot when it began, told as part of my ‘Behind The Shot’ series.
When the Unexpected Happens
When the 2021 Geldingadalir eruption, the first eruption of Fagradalsfjall, came to a close it was a bittersweet moment for me. After six months of giving my all, it had become time to rest. I visited that eruption a total of 44 times while it was active. Not only had it been a dream come to life, this event had been life-changing in many ways. Thanks to that eruption I managed to jumpstart my full-time photography career, self-published a book and my work was put on the photography map .
One thing I kept telling myself is that what happened with that eruption was unique in many ways. What are the odds we are around to witness the reawakening of a volcano which was dormant for 7000 years? But even more so, what are the odds that this eruption turned into something so gentle and approachable? What are the odds that I would ever be able to stand next to an erupting crater again? When the eruption finally stopped, I was convinced that I would probably never experience all of those things again.
But then, in late July of 2022, the unexpected seemed to happen again. Was Fagradalsfjall readying itself for round two?
This photograph is one of the last images I captured during the 2021 eruption of Fagradalsfjall. This eruption turned into a life changing event for me personally.
The Earth Shakes Once Again
On July 30th, almost 11 months after the Geldingadalir eruption ended, the earth began shaking again. A powerful earthquake swarm kicked off near Fagradalsfjall, indicating something might happen again. I was a bit sceptical at first as it wasn’t the first time it looked as if another eruption might happen. But quickly after this swarm began, volcanologists openly said a new eruption was going to happen. It was the first time they had used such strong words about a possible eruption. If you know something about Icelandic volcanologists, you know that they usually never give a definitive answer. Therefore, hearing a very direct “Yes, we will have another eruption.” was rather curious. Quickly new webcams were positioned in the area, looking over the potential eruption site.
Carefully I started getting my hopes up again. Was this event, which I never expected to see again, really going to happen? I prepared all of my gear, ready to leave the house at a moment’s notice.
Prior to the eruption beginning, thousands of earthquakes shook the Reykjanes Peninsula before eventually ending in an eruption.
The Second Fagradalsfjall Fire
It was August 3rd, just after midday, when I suddenly noticed the ground rupturing on the webcam which was pointed towards Meradalir valley. IT WAS HAPPENING! It was really happening again! I changed into a more outdoorsy outfit, grabbed my gear and ran as fast as I could out of the house. After meeting up with a friend, we set course for Fagradalsfjall. We were so incredibly excited. On our way, we drove with the car windows down, blasting epic soundtracks through the car speakers. We were so ready for this!
Once we arrived at the parking lot to commence the hike, the area had been officially opened up by authorities. That meant we could hurry ourselves towards the newborn eruption. It took us only one hour and 10 minutes to get to the eruption. We were hiking so fast that it must have almost been running. It was the adrenaline and excitement that fuelled us.
Full of excitement standing in front of the brand new fissure eruption in Meradalir.
Several spectators daring themselves to stand new to the fresh lava which quickly filled up the valley.
As we arrived at the overview point where we could see the eruption the emotions ran very high. It’s incredibly hard for me to describe the feeling that surged through me at that moment. Seeing lava flow again. Watching the ripples move across the newly formed lava lake. It brought up all these fond memories I have of the 2021 eruption. Being convinced that I would never see this again this close up and then being proven wrong, it just made me beyond ecstatic. We stayed at the eruption until late in the night.
This brings me to the photograph I picked for this month’s “Behind the Shot“. The photograph is an aerial shot of the new fissure eruption, just a few hours after it first appeared. It’s one of the first photographs I took of the Meradalir eruption. To me this image is loaded with all those emotions I felt when I first saw this second eruption.
An aerial view of the new Meradalir fissure eruption, captured just a few hours after it opened on 3 August 2022.
EXIF: DJI Air 2s – 3-shot vertical HDR panorama – ISO200 – 1/300s
If you’re interested in learning more about the Meradalir eruption, I did a quick write up of the timeline of this eruption on my blog.
Want To Fly A Drone Over Iceland With Me?
If this story makes you want to send your own drone up over an erupting fissure, a glacial river or a black-sand coastline, I run a few different ways into it. My drone photography workshops cover the south coast and Snæfellsnes, the Aerials Icelandic Highlands workshop takes a small group deep into the interior, and my nature drone photography ebook distils everything I have learned about composing from the air.
DISCOUNT
The Drone Photography Masterclass – Video Course
Nigel Danson & Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove‘s complete drone photography video masterclass will explore everything you need to know to start creating the best aerial photographs using any type of drone in 50+ detailed videos. Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced drone pilot, this video course contains a vast amount of information to level up your drone photography skills.
What Students Say About The Drone Masterclass
Learn Drone Photography With My E-Book
Want to learn how to get the best results with your newly purchased drone? I wrote the most comprehensive guide available on drone photography which teaches you a technique to get the DSLR-like results out of even the cheapest drones.
In 125 detailed pages I explore everything you need to know to start creating the best photographs using any type of drone. Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced drone pilot, this e-book contains a vast amount of information to level up your drone photography skills.
What to Expect?
- A 125-page educational PDF about nature drone photography with very detailed explanations
- Which drone to get for photography and why
- Important settings and configuration options
- A list of useful skills & tips
- A list of useful accessories and what not to buy at all
- How to research locations for drone photography
- How to compose with a drone and insight into Jeroen’s thought process with plenty of examples
- Thoughtfully planning ahead for your drone shoot
- The how and why of creating bracketed images
- The how and why of shooting HDR panoramas
- What challenges you might face and how to deal with them
- Common mistakes & how to deal with them
- How to stitch your panoramas together
Use EBOOK20 to get 20% off your Nature Drone Photography (E-Book) purchase!
Discover Jeroen’s Photo Workshops in Iceland, Greenland & Beyond
Ready to take your photography to the next level? Join me, Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, on unforgettable photo workshops in Iceland, Greenland, Antarctica and other exciting destinations. Whether your passion is wildlife photography, bird photography, landscape adventures, or mastering drone photography, each workshop is designed to give you hands-on guidance in some of the world’s most spectacular locations.
From puffins in the midnight sun to Arctic foxes in the wild, from glaciers and volcanoes to dramatic coastlines seen by drone – these journeys are more than workshops; they’re once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Group sizes are kept small, ensuring personal mentoring and plenty of shooting opportunities.
Looking for something specific? Check out Jeroen’s…
- Wildlife & Bird Photography Workshops (Puffins, Arctic Foxes)
- Drone Photography Workshops
- Photo Workshops in Iceland
- Photo Workshops in Greenland
- Photo Workshops in Antarctica
Spots are limited – secure your place today!
Are You Looking For A Specific Photo Workshop?
All Upcoming Photography Workshops With Jeroen
Explore all upcoming photography workshops with Jeroen and take your skills to the next level in some of the world’s most extraordinary locations. From the volcanic landscapes of Iceland to the ice-filled fjords of Greenland and the wildlife-rich polar regions such as Antarctica, each workshop is designed to help you grow creatively while experiencing unforgettable moments in the field. Browse all upcoming departures below and find your next adventure!
What Previous Participants Shared About Their Experience
Choosing the right photography workshop is about more than just visiting iconic locations. It’s about experience, safety, timing, and personal guidance. Below you’ll find honest reviews from photographers who have joined me on landscape, wildlife & drone photo workshops in Iceland, Greenland and other locations. These testimonials reflect real experiences in small groups, hands-on instruction in challenging conditions, and the level of care Jeroen aims to bring to every workshop.
These reviews are verifiable on Jeroen’s public Google Business profile.
Support Jeroen’s Work
As an independent photographer, Jeroen partially relies on your support to keep producing worthwhile content such as blogs, photographs, books and much more. If you want to support his work, it is possible to do so by buying his e-books & books or prints.
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