The river tree: Iceland's natural beauty pictured from the air looks like a work of art

By Emily Allen
MydeaMedia

With their strange coloured surfaces and unusual landscapes, these stunning photographs look like they were taken on an alien planet.

But the incredible shots were actually captured aboard a Cessna light aircraft flying over Iceland.

The beautiful images reveal some of the country's most incredible scenery, ranging from explosive volcanoes to colossal mountains.

This incredible shots was actually captured aboard a Cessna light aircraft flying over Iceland

In one photograph, a crowd of people appear like ants in a bath of milk as they take a dip in a lagoon.

 

Another shot appears to show a tree, but is actually a river running into several different streams.

Photographer Sandro Santioli racked up 70 hours of flight time as he took the extraordinary images while holding his camera out the window of the aircraft.

He said: 'I had the idea while shooting Iceland from ground level.

The Veiovotn area of Iceland. With their strange coloured surfaces this stunning photograph looks like they were taken on an alien planet

The Tungnaa area. The beautiful images reveal some of the country's most incredible scenery, ranging from explosive volcanoes to colossal mountains

Skeidarrsandur, Iceland. Photographer Sandro Santioli racked up 70 hours of flight time as he took the extraordinary images

'Aerial shots always interested me, always charmed me. From ground level these landscapes are awesome and stunning, but seeing all of them from above is such a feast for the eyes.

'In particular I enjoy different elements, like seas, lakes, mountains, and volcanoes, being at my disposal to recreate a small world.

'There were many challenges, the first was whether I was able to endure the stress of flying in a tiny, vibrating aircraft that would dip suddenly on hitting the air currents.

Namafjall in Iceland. The incredible shots were actually captured aboard a Cessna light aircraft

The Tungnaarfjoll area of Iceland. Photographer Sandro Santioli took the images while holding his camera out the window of the aircraft

'All this was made worse by the fact that the windows had to be kept open for the majority of the flight.

'The air rushing into the cabin was extremely cold, particularly when approaching and flying over glaciers.

'The cold finds a way to penetrate all the way to your bones regardless of how many layers you happen to be wearing at the time.

Landeyasandur in Iceland. When Sandro was taking the photos from the plane it was very cold in the cabin as the windows had to be kept open

Skaftarjokull Glacier. The photographer said he had the idea for the photos while shooting Iceland from ground level

'Meanwhile, your hands become so numb that you can barely move them. All this happens while you stomach is doing twists and turns.'

Sandro, from Tuscany, Italy, added: 'One of my favourite photos was taken above the 'Blue Lagoon.'

'It is a lagoon with hot springs, surrounded by lava and frequented by people for its curative power.

'It's an awesome place and looks incredible from above.'

The Blue Lagoon with hot springs, surrounded by lava is frequented by people for its curative power

The Tungnaa area. Seeing landscapes from above is a 'feat from above'

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