The elf, on the left, is facing it down as it approaches, very giant-sized, from the right.
For humans, it’s in slo-mo, but for elves? Probably wayyyy too fast.
Elf and Magical Fox Facing Off in East Iceland
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Tag Archives: elf
Of Elves and Men in the East Fjords
Njardvik
Nowhere but in Borgarfjördur Eystri have I found mountains that so clearly express beings from another dimension of understanding. It’s no wonder that the great Icelandic painter Kjarval got started here.
The show changes daily, too:
All around. At distance…
… or up close:
Every step is through two worlds at once, and it’s your moving that makes the images move. Here, for instance, is the elf from the first image, three hours later, from a different angle. She’s like a very slow wind taking our measure.
Stories in the Rock
Here on the trail along the Selfljót, this rock stopped me in my tracks. Is it not an old story from the sagas or some old folk tale?
A bearded man (or elf? or dwarf?) on the left, and a fox on the right? There are a lot of rocks along the trail, but this one was unique.
Queen of the Elves
She lives as a mountain wetland on the south side of the summit of the Stapavik-Njardvik Trail. Beautiful, isn’t she. Notice her dark consorts to the right.
Icelandic Birds: a Complex Ecosystem
Sure, a ptarmigan on the Selá, Christmas dinner, easy to identify.
And an elf bird in its nest in the hraun, not Christmas dinner, easy enough.
But a cairn in the Villingadalur, that looks like an elvish bird, tricky.
Yet, it’s by it that you find your way through elf country to Christmas dinner.
Dragon Hunting Sheep on Rauðhóll
I mentioned the dragons of Rauðhóll a few days back. Here’s another.
This one is hunting elf sheep. The bright, emerald-green patch in the dragon’s mouth is the sheep’s fleece, and another elf sheep forms its eye. It is, in other words, possible to be attacked by a dragon, and survive. You might, however, be held in its thrall for a few thousand years.
On Midsummer Night the Hills Come Alive on Snaefellsnes
It builds for days…
A dragon curled around its flame.
(Its right eye is just below the middle of the image. This image and the ones of transformed rocks and flowers that follow are taken on Rauðhóll.)
…with flowers bringing stones to life…
An Elf with a Crown of Flowers
… sometimes in humanly-recognizable form…
The Horse Sleipnir Carrying þor as a One-Eyed Moon on Its Back
… and sometimes not (which is the most amazing part) …
.. but then, in the low, late evening light on June 21, the hills rise up around you in the horizontal light. It’s just that night. The next morning they begin to ebb away, not all at once, but you can notice the difference. On midsummer night, though…
Buðahraun
… you truly live between worlds and can see the past and future. Lest you feel special, just remember, the sheep see this all the time.
Buðir
Life is indeed good.
Rauðakúla, the Joyful One
in the Hitarádalur, the mountains are playful.
Of them all, though, Rauðakúla is the most joyful.
That’s not a lens flair effect. That’s the mountain at play.
The Rules for Herding Elvish Sheep and Trollish Sheep Rustlers
Go slow, don’t muss your hair, don’t touch, dominate by force of will alone (you have at least a thousand years to work it out), and, of course, don’t muss your hair.
Looking good on the Brunahraun.
An Elf in His House in Borgarfjörður Eystri
Just follow the trail to Kjarval’s shepherding hut. He’ll be waiting.
Bring an appropriate gift.
A Farm in Iceland 