Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Aurora Borealis over Dettifoss Falls

Traveling the 25km out to the Dettifoss Waterfall in the midst of a snowstorm is most difficult, as any deviations along the way or misjudgments of snowsdrifts can easily lead to one getting stuck. I photographed both the Northern Lights and Iceland's biggest waterfall--Dettifoss Falls--a few nights apart in Iceland in November 2023. I then simply combined the photographs so as to salute Iceland's exalted, mystic spirit, while also paying homage to my favorite artist Van Gogh.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Dettifoss Waterfall, Iceland
Copyright: © Elliot McGucken