39 Every day, droves of visitors come to marvel at the natural wonders in newly created car parks, they arrive as a rolling, digitally controlled caravan, snap their souvenir photos, pose for a selfie or a short video with their mobile phones and on they go. Tourists have never been much appreciated by the locals, but after the collapse of the financial system in 2008, they and their money are desperately needed. State-sponsored advertising campaigns are causing the numbers of visitors to Iceland to rise steeply. Despite enormous prices for viewing the unique, almost naked volcanic landscape, Iceland could in future degenerate into the peep show among the Nordic countries. This might be the programme: once to Selfvoss, to Goðafoss to the lagoon, maybe with guides to the dangerous glacier, to the geysers, and then here. Tourist spots are a horror for any nature-loving landscape photographer who doesn’t focus on the wonder of people. Places of longing in nature are also magnets for all photographers. The mobile digital herd is constantly posting these sublime motifs on social media, every visitor is automatically recorded and counted at every car park. Icelanders and Scandinavians rely more than the rest of Europe on the latest technology and statistics; apps and monitoring are used to ensure that no one gets lost. TOURISTS EIN ORANGEFARBENER FLUSS TRIFFT AUF EINE BARRIERE AUS VULKANISCHEM SAND // AN ORANGE-COLOURED RIVER MEETS A BARRIER OF VOLCANIC SAND
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