Cape Dyrholaey in Iceland, viewed from the other side by Gerry van Roosmalen

About "Cape Dyrholaey in Iceland, viewed from the other side"

by Gerry van Roosmalen

About the artwork

Curiosity is a good quality for a photographer, but sometimes it also requires a good condition and perseverance. So I always want to know what's on the other side of that hill, what's beyond the next bend, and what it looks like from the other side.
Dýrholæy is also such a place. Anyone who has ever been to Iceland can hardly have missed this cape. The 120 meter high cape is already visible when you have to recover from the rainbow in the Skógafoss, or the surreal plane wreck on the Sólheimasandur.
A short walk from the car park at Dýrholæy will take you to a spot where you can see the arch rock from below. A walk of about 25 minutes takes you to the lighthouse, from where the beautiful views look at you.
Looking west you have a beautiful view of Mount Pétursey, and the seemingly endless black beach, where the white foaming waves continuously take over and leave the beach.
Looking east, you'll see what is likely to be the next destination for most, the jagged rocky peaks of Reynisdrangar, off the black beach of Reynisfjara. In season all you have to do is glance at the edges of the cliffs where you will be curiously stared at by the many puffins.
By accident, the entrance to the beach was thrown into my lap one day. Now I've promised not to share this information, but on my last visit to Iceland, after getting permission, I walked first over a piece of private land and then through a damp meadow, where I carefully tried to keep my shoes dry. That was an impossible task, and there was nothing for it but to take off my shoes and roll up my trouser legs. It could be a bit soggy here, the landowner told me. A wish came true, I was on my way to the west side of Dýrholæy.
When we could leave the wetness behind us, we were face to face, but still about three miles away from the wondrous beauty of the western side of Cape Dýrholæy. Through the soft black sand and pebble beach we made our way to the foot of the cape, where I took my pictures, enjoyed the view, my company and the fact that I was finally allowed to be here.