Iceland Black Sand Beach

Wet black pebbles cover an Icelandic beach beneath a grass-topped basalt cliff. White surf rolls in across the middle of the view, with two dark sea stacks rising beyond the breakers. Low clouds hang over the North Atlantic, but a pale opening near the horizon brings cool blue light into the water.

Pebbles in the foreground range from smooth oval stones to fine volcanic gravel, so the darkest area holds more clues than it first seems. Following the foam lines separates the shore from deeper water, while the column edges give the cliff a strong structure. Near the end, small green ledges and subtle changes inside the clouds help place the quieter upper pieces.