A professional photographer has combined her love for horses with the stunning natural backdrop of her chosen home, Iceland, in a mesmerizing photo series where nature and animal augment one another’s beauty.
Born and raised in Helsinki, Finland, Petra Marita Leifsdóttir is in her early thirties and living and working in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavík.
The Icelandic Horse
Horse-enthusiast Petra has been drawing and painting since childhood. She was gifted her first digital camera at the age of 13 and that, she said, opened up a big world for her. She soon began to take pictures of her friends and her family horses, not imagining that in the future she would merge these two interests into a career.Petra later went on to study photography and media arts at college before starting her own photography company in Finland.
In 2019, she relocated to Iceland in order to get closer to nature and gain new experiences.
Petra told The Epoch Times: “We are blessed to be surrounded by nature, even in the capital area. We have the world’s cleanest natural waters, pure air, and untouched nature ... same goes for the horses. I want to show the beauty of these graceful and wise animals.
“Horses are sensitive beings with the biggest and kindest heart.”
Between 2019 and 2021, Petra worked on a photo series: The Icelandic Horse. She said that the project, which took place mainly during the summer of 2020 is her homage to Iceland’s singular breed of horse and was one of the “absolute highlights” of her career.
Petra said: “The photoshoots took place at many famous sites in Iceland, such as Skógafoss waterfall, Jökúlsarlón glacier lagoon, and Reynisfjara black sand beach ... many photoshoots were done together with my best friends and our dearest horses. Due to the total lack of tourism that summer, we had the privilege to visit many of these otherwise crowded places without anyone around.”
Transporting horses to each location by trailer, Petra and her friends used their expertise to make sure their horses were happy in each setting before orchestrating a series of dramatic photoshoots. It’s essential that an equine photographer has a “deep understanding” of this sensitive animal and its behavior, Petra said.
“I know how to read their behavior and signals, I know what we can ask from them, and I know how to get them to perform at their best for a picture,” said Petra, who has lifelong experience with horses. “I also know if they need a break to graze in between the shots, or if they are starting to be tired. The shoots are always executed on the horses’ terms.”
Yet Petra added, “they are a part of the scenery here, and belong in nature, so they always felt happy and relaxed during the photoshoots.”
The Dream Shot
One of Petra’s favorite photos of the series was shot on a bright summer night at Skógafoss waterfall in 2020.She said: “Normally this waterfall is crowded with hundreds of people at a time, but this time we were all alone. It was just me, two friends, and two horses. I had my own horse, Héla, with me, which made this photoshoot even more special.”
With the majestic waterfall in the background, Petra had horses running in the river.
Sharing more about the shoot, Petra said: “I figured I would get the best angle if I placed myself and my camera in the middle of the river, so I took off my shoes and walked into the knee-high, freezing cold water. The water streamed down straight from the glaciers, down from the mountain, so I can assure you it was the coldest water I’ve ever stepped into, but I managed to capture my dream shot ... it was totally worth freezing my toes for!”
Another of Petra’s favorite shots was taken under the “magical soft sunset light” at 2 a.m. in a field beside her home. She sat for an hour in the tall grass, watching two weeks-old foals making friends with one another.
“These two foals in the picture were making contact with each other for the first time, beginning with a gentle greeting, but ending in a full-on play session after a couple of minutes,” Petra said.
Another image, taken at Hálsanefshellir cave on Reynisfjara black sand beach, showcases the cave’s unique and majestic basalt rock pillars and is Petra’s most popular print.
An Element of Surprise
The photographer claims one of the most magical ingredients in her photo series is a gift from Mother Nature herself: natural light.During the summer, Iceland experiences 24/7 daylight since the sun never fully sets, and warm-lit photoshoots can be executed in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, during the darkest days of winter, Iceland has only three hours of “daylight,” a soft sunset light where the sun remains close to the horizon.
“I do not use artificial light sources or even reflectors, but work with the current ambient light available,” Petra said. “In my opinion, Iceland has a natural light like no place else ... there’s always an element of surprise, and you really have to get creative ... no two photoshoots will be the same.”
Sharing more about the history of horses in Iceland and their evolving role in people’s lives, Petra said: “Horses are not native to Iceland, but the first horses were originally brought to Iceland by the Vikings. Due to Iceland’s isolated location and harsh climate, these small horses grew to be extremely strong and resilient.”
Over the course of history, these horses have played a huge role in the everyday life of the people of Iceland.
“The horses were used as transportation and for all kinds of farm work, and were very crucial for many people,” Petra said. “These days most of the horses are leisure riding horses, but still today are a big part of the culture in Iceland and have a big place in our hearts.”
Even when taking a road trip across the country, Petra said it’s hard to avoid seeing a hundred if not thousands of horses in the big fields.
“They are an essential part of the landscape,” she said. “These small horses belong here, and thrive here.”
A True Blessing
A horse born in Iceland will spend its first few years living outside in large herds, playing, eating, and napping said Petra. Yet there are no “wild horses” in Iceland; all horses have owners, who ensure they have access to food and water and maintain good health.“Otherwise they get to grow up in a very natural manner, interacting with each other and learning from each other,” Petra said. “They don’t start their training before they are around four years old.”
Naturally curious, friendly, and social, Icelandic horses are eager to work with humans. They love positive reinforcement in the form of cuddles and scratches, and are “always checking pockets for potential treats.”
“It’s a true blessing to be able to live and work in this beautiful country with its pristine nature and magical feel,” Petra said.
Here are some more incredible pictures of the majestic horses in the breathtaking landscape:
