western region

The Church Mountain

This was one of those sunrises for the books.

Having arrived in Grundarfjordur in the Snaefellsnes peninsula during the eaves of dusk, I really couldn't perceive the beauty that this place had beholden. Nevertheless, I strove to wake up just a few hours later for sunrise, with no expectations of what this peninsula had in store for me.

The sky was still grey as I pulled into the parking lot. With only the early twilight illuminating the serene shapes ahead, I quickly gathered my gear and headed to the shore overlooking the bay across from Kirkjufell, the Church Mountain.

It was a scene unlike any other. And even though I had seen it plastered on so much marketing materials about Iceland, the sight of it in person just took my breath away.

I watched as the light of dawn slowly made its way down the graceful curves of Kirkjufell (Church Mountain) and as the shade of pink in the clouds made its way from the horizon to the foreground. I watched as the absolutely still waters of the bay slowly rose up with the incoming tide, all the while reflecting the beautiful scene in front of me. I watched as this everyday occurrence of nature enlightened and rejuvenated my own soul.

And that bliss is what I tried to capture in this image.

Kirkjufell
Iceland