Ice land

Alessandro Carboni's Image

Alessandro decided to visit Iceland, a ‘place of fire, ice and stormy seas’, very different from his Mediterranean homeland of Sardinia.

He travelled to Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon famous for its blue ice. He wanted to convey the remoteness, the power of the elements, and the beauty of the colours. Focussing on a single block of ice stranded on the volcanic beach, he set it centre frame. Using a long exposure and low‑level view, he concentrated on the pattern of black sand left by the withdrawing surf. High winds and spray meant it took many attempts to capture both the pull of the ocean and the subtle colour contrasts of sky, sea and ice.


Behind the lens

Alessandro Carboni

Alessandro Carboni

Italy

The landscape of Alessandro’s Sardinian homeland is his primary inspiration. He prefers to escape the urban environment in search of unspoilt places, where he can photograph the landscape and its wildlife and unveil its magic. His aim is to raise public awareness and to inspire others to care for the environment, which he believes begins with an appreciation of its beauty.

Image details

  • Nikon D700
  • Zeiss Distagon 21mm f2.8 lens
  • 1.3 sec at f16  •   ISO 200
  • Jökulsárlón, Iceland
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.

Support our important work


Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.

Donate now

Discover more

Sign up to our newsletter

Receive email updates about Wildlife Photographer of the Year news, events, science, products, services and fundraising activities. We may occasionally include third-party content from our corporate partners and other museums. We will not share your personal details with these third parties. You must be over the age of 13. Privacy notice.