Nature photographer Benjamin Hardman talks us through his arresting images tracing elemental forces from Hawaii to the fragile Arctic north.
RED CRATER, ICELAND‘It’s what I call Red Crater, a volcanic basin of russet ionised rock with moss growing over the top. I went up there with some Icelanders who were taking me to see their most-loved peaks. The extraordinary thing about the country is how close you can get to places like this – spot the cars parked just below the lip.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN- SCORESBYSUND, GREENLAND‘The ancient glacial canyon of Scoresbysund, east Greenland. It was shot at the end of the summer, probably the only time of year when you can see any vegetation.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- FJALLABAK, ICELAND‘This is a close-up of a lake in Fjallabak, Iceland. There was no wind; it’s very rare to have the water so still, like a mirror.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- ALBERTA, CANADA‘Dead trees in the moonlight in Alberta, Canada – one of the only times I’ve gone there to shoot with my Arctic style.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- EYSTRAHORN, ICELAND‘My favourite mountain in Iceland, Eystrahorn. On this particular day there was fog above and below the summit. It was incredibly quiet, apart from the fulmars swooping in the mist.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- ILULISSAT, GREENLAND‘I photographed this pancake ice from a boat at Ilulissat in Greenland. When the surface of the water freezes the small tidal movement creates these circles.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
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- VATNAJÖKULL, ICELAND‘I was flying past Iceland’s Vatnajökull, the largest ice sheet in Europe, in a plane and suddenly the peak of Herðubreið was lit by the last rays of sun. It was lucky timing.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- LANGJÖKULL, ICELAND‘It was really rainy when this was taken, flying over the rugged landscape south of Langjökull. We were right at the edge where the clouds were breaking up when the light came through.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- EAST ICELAND‘A sandstorm picking up over volcanic-ash dunes backlit by the sun in east Iceland. I thought it looked kind of cool at the fading of the day – my favourite time to shoot.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- ICELANDIC HIGHLANDS‘A geyser in the Icelandic highlands. The water and steam, heated by magma, bubble away at 80-100°C.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- HAWAII, USA‘This is actually in Hawaii. Even though I am surrounded by volcanoes in Iceland, where I now live, I had never seen lava. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when there was an unexpected eruption. We hovered above in a helicopter with the doors off, feeling the searing heat on our faces.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- HVANNADALSHNÚKUR, ICELAND’Here I am with a group of mountaineers on Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest summit. I have a fascination with the contradictions of this kind of environment, the sense of peace and calm found up here that is completely at odds with the immense danger of the surroundings.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- LANDMANNALAUGAR, ICELAND‘What I like about winter, once the ground is blanketed in snow, is that you can fully appreciate the form of the mountains in places such as Landmannalaugar in Iceland, and not be distracted by the wild, rich colours of the earth.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- THÓRSMÖRK, ICELAND‘A glacial river running through a lush canyon in Thórsmörk, Iceland. For most of the year, the mountain range is white.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- SCORESBYSUND, GREENLAND‘This type of iceberg, in Scoresbysund, east Greenland – where you can see the rock/sand striation – is quite unusual and very beautiful.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- FJALLABAK, ICELAND‘The Red Falls of Fjallabak have geothermal water flowing over igneous rock, making it orangey red.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
- LANDMANNALAUGAR, ICELAND‘I captured this kaleidoscope of colours at Landmannalaugar in mid summer, in the light of the midnight sun, when the snow is at its lowest point. Snow and ice have become my main interest, but the volcanic earth – so raw – is what drives me the most.’
RED CRATER, ICELAND‘It’s what I call Red Crater, a volcanic basin of russet ionised rock with moss growing over the top. I went up there with some Icelanders who were taking me to see their most-loved peaks. The extraordinary thing about the country is how close you can get to places like this – spot the cars parked just below the lip.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
SCORESBYSUND, GREENLAND‘The ancient glacial canyon of Scoresbysund, east 
FJALLABAK, ICELAND‘This is a close-up of a lake in Fjallabak, 
ALBERTA, CANADA‘Dead trees in the moonlight in Alberta, 
EYSTRAHORN, ICELAND‘My favourite mountain in Iceland, Eystrahorn. On this particular day there was fog above and below the summit. It was incredibly quiet, apart from the fulmars swooping in the mist.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
ILULISSAT, GREENLAND‘I photographed this pancake ice from a boat at Ilulissat in Greenland. When the surface of the water freezes the small tidal movement creates these circles.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
VATNAJÖKULL, ICELAND‘I was flying past Iceland’s Vatnajökull, the largest ice sheet in 
LANGJÖKULL, ICELAND‘It was really rainy when this was taken, flying over the rugged landscape south of Langjökull. We were right at the edge where the clouds were breaking up when the light came through.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
EAST ICELAND‘A sandstorm picking up over volcanic-ash dunes backlit by the sun in east Iceland. I thought it looked kind of cool at the fading of the day – my favourite time to shoot.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
ICELANDIC HIGHLANDS‘A geyser in the Icelandic highlands. The water and steam, heated by magma, bubble away at 80-100°C.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
HAWAII, USA‘This is actually in 
HVANNADALSHNÚKUR, ICELAND’Here I am with a group of mountaineers on Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest summit. I have a fascination with the contradictions of this kind of environment, the sense of peace and calm found up here that is completely at odds with the immense danger of the surroundings.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
LANDMANNALAUGAR, ICELAND‘What I like about winter, once the ground is blanketed in snow, is that you can fully appreciate the form of the mountains in places such as Landmannalaugar in Iceland, and not be distracted by the wild, rich colours of the earth.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
THÓRSMÖRK, ICELAND‘A glacial river running through a lush canyon in Thórsmörk, Iceland. For most of the year, the mountain range is white.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
SCORESBYSUND, GREENLAND‘This type of iceberg, in Scoresbysund, east Greenland – where you can see the rock/sand striation – is quite unusual and very beautiful.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
FJALLABAK, ICELAND‘The Red Falls of Fjallabak have geothermal water flowing over igneous rock, making it orangey red.’BENJAMIN HARDMAN
LANDMANNALAUGAR, ICELAND‘I captured this kaleidoscope of colours at Landmannalaugar in mid summer, in the light of the midnight sun, when the snow is at its lowest point. Snow and ice have become my main interest, but the volcanic earth – so raw – is what drives me the most.’
