At the gates of Valhalla by José Miguel Picón Chimelis | Iceland’s Otherworldly Beauty

In the heart of the image, a basin forms where waterfalls and rivers converge, creating a circular formation that draws the eye inward. This natural basin feels like the focal point, as though it serves as a portal, an entryway to something beyond—perhaps the mythical Valhalla itself. Above, the sky is lit with the vibrant, swirling hues of the aurora borealis, casting shades of green that curve across the sky in a graceful arc. The combination of the aurora’s curves and the shape of the basin creates a striking visual symmetry, making the scene appear almost like a gateway to another realm, as if one could step into the unknown and cross into the afterlife of Icelandic mythology.

The photograph evokes the timelessness of Iceland’s landscapes, where nature’s power and beauty have shaped not only the land but the legends and stories of the people who have lived there. The subtle reference to Valhalla, the Norse hall of fallen warriors, adds a sense of awe and reverence to the image. Chimelis’ dedication to explorers and adventurers resonates here, as the scene feels like a reward for those who venture into the remote corners of the world in search of something extraordinary.

In At the gates of Valhalla, the merging of earth, water, and sky creates a breathtaking vision of Iceland’s natural wonders. The image seems to echo the idea that some places are so powerful, so untouched, that they feel like thresholds between this world and the next, where mythology and reality intertwine. The aurora’s light guides the way, and the basin at the center beckons as if inviting the viewer to stand at the edge of the known world and peer beyond, into the sacred and the unknown.