Academy Grad Explores Iceland’s Geothermal Wilderness in Photos

Lara Stefansdottir, MFA09 Photography, is a pho­tographer based in Akureyri, Iceland, where she spends much of her time documenting the country’s use of geothermal energy. Through her spellbinding images, she tells the story of the hunt for natural energy in one of the most enigmatic places on earth.

Geothermal energy comes from water heated by lava flows deep below the earth; to tap into this energy, you have to drill for the water as you would for oil. A few years ago, Stefansdottir tracked down the director of an energy company and got his approval to accompany crews to drilling sites. She then started to explore the highlands of Iceland, sometimes alone and sometimes with the scientists, workers and drivers from the energy company.

Hearing Stefansdottir describe the experience, it sounds almost supernatural. “Everything was so silent while they were measuring, before they turned on the water. When they turn it on, the boiling water forces its way through the borehole, and the force is amazing. Then all you feel is the noise, the force, the earth shak­ing and the smell.”

Looking at the images Stefansdottir captures, one begins to understand both the environmental and mythological power of Iceland — a place where there are only two hours of daylight from November to January, and 24 hours of sun throughout the summer. “For me, it is all about feeling that the earth is alive,” she explains. She did all of her documentary work as part of her graduate thesis at the Academy, taking her classes online … which allowed her to get a degree while staying in Iceland.

Lara Steffansdottir in the field, photographed by Jón Ingi Cæsarsson

Stefansdottir is a native of Iceland and notes that Icelandic culture is very connected to the earth. When she was growing up, all children — even those growing up in the city — were expected to learn to work on the land. For nine summers, Stefansdottir worked on a farm, gaining a love and appreciation of the countryside. Later she studied business and worked in importation, then learned computer science and worked as a programmer. Next she decided to get a master’s degree in education.

But Stefansdottir wasn’t yet following her passion. “I’ve always been a photographer,” she says, “and at one point, I decided I hadn’t done everything I wanted to do.” She wanted to study photography, but no university in Iceland offered it. It just so happened that Stefansdottir had specialized in online education as part of her master’s degree … so the logical choice for her was to study online for a photography degree. She decided on the Academy, and during her studies she interned at her local newspaper in Vikudagur.

Lara Stefansdottir

Today, Stefansdottir lives in northern Iceland, an area she has always loved. She has secured funding to develop her own photography company, which allows her to combine her knowledge as an educator, computer scientist and photographer. Her company offers photographic tours of northern Iceland. For beginners, Stefansdot­tir offers lessons on how to use a camera. She then takes people on a walking tour of the nature of Akureyri. The highlight of her tour is a trek through the highlands of Iceland, which she describes as “a black desert.”

Lara Stefansdottir in the field, photographed by Jón Ingi Cæsarsson

For anyone passionate about adventure, travel or photography, there are few experiences like it. “There is a special light in Iceland, especially during the night,” she says, “so many photographers want to come here.” To see more of her work, visit her website.

Photos by Lara Stefansdottir, unless otherwise noted. An earlier version of this article appeared in the Winter 2010 issue of the Academy alumni publication A JOURNAL. You can see all past issues of A JOURNAL here.