HIGHLY COMMENDED CATEGORY LANDSCAPE
Matteo Strassera | Yggdrasill

Name: Matteo Strassera
Picture title: Yggdrasill
Category: Landscapes
Nationality: Italy
Occupation: Amateur photographer and marketing graduate

Technical information
Camera: Hasselblad L2D-20c on DJI Mavic 3
Lens: 24mm f2.8
EXIF: 1/100 sec (multi), f3.5, ISO 200
Accessories: None

Matteo Strassera says:

The myth of Iceland as a wild, inaccessible land, home to untameable natural forces, was born in me long before my passion for photography. For years, I delved into researching this country in intricate detail, meticulously planning my adventure among its waterfalls, glaciers, and wind-swept deserts.

When news and photos of the first eruption in Iceland reached me in 2021, I was astonished. I had never imagined it would be possible to photograph such a force of nature! Determined to turn my research into reality, I decided to organize a photographic trip to Iceland the following year. From that moment, my journey became a true hunt for eruptions.

I traveled to Iceland in July, only to find that the eruption had ended. Just 10 days after my return, another eruption began. Undeterred, I decided to return in September, but once again, the eruption had ended before I arrived.

After two more trips, in July 2023, new reports from Iceland began to surface: the earth was shaking! Hundreds, even thousands of tremors followed each other for days. For two weeks, I anxiously waited, uncertain whether the activity would subside or if the earth would open up once more. Finally, I decided to take the chance and leave for Iceland, hoping for something extraordinary.

As soon as my plane touched down, my phone lit up with notifications: the eruption had started just before I landed!

I immediately rushed to the site, carrying 20kg of gear on my back, with 12km to trek and no idea what awaited me. What I witnessed and experienced over the four days I spent photographing this incredible force of nature, is both unforgettable and indescribable.

For this particular image, captured during the eruption of Litli-Hrùtur, I chose the name Yggdrasill. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasill represents the cosmic tree whose roots sink deep into the underworld, while its branches extend to support the worlds, giving them life.

Being in a country so steeped in myths and legends, faced with a phenomenon both awe-inspiring and terrifying, I couldn’t help but see the resemblance.

The “roots” of the volcano extend deep underground through the eruption’s crater, just as Yggdrasill’s roots delve into the underworld. From these roots, a mighty river of lava emerges, forming a “trunk” that splits into numerous branches resembling a glowing crown of molten rock. These golden, radiant streams, like Yggdrasill’s branches, create, sustain, and transform the world around us.

Panorama HDR: 30 frames x 5 bracketing HDR (5 stop), total 150 frames