Low-angle rays of late-summer sunshine warm the northwest slopes of dunes on an Icelandic black-sand beach. Though the volcanic sand is dark, the surfaces of its grains—smoothed and polished by eons of wind and water movement—reflect light nicely at shallow angles. Tucked discreetly between sweeping mountain vistas in two directions and arms of the ocean, it’s easy to overlook simple bits of beauty that reside nearly underfoot.
6 E Hofn, Iceland (19 Aug 14) Looking NW
64.248, -14.9731