Obscure Presence │ Gunnlöð Jóna Rúnarsdóttir

Reykjavík Museum of Photography

They tend to believe in ghosts, elves, "huldufólk" (the hidden people), some even have connections with these other-worldly creatures. The extreme isolation of people living in cottages decades ago, might have justified their experiences, of hearing and seeing something unknown. But how can we explain this belief today? I interviewed Icelanders who have personal stories related to supernatural experiences and I used these stories as a basis for my images. It came clear to me early on in the process that the majority of the stories had a common theme and a similar atmosphere. In my project Obscure Presence, I aim at showcasing these tales and at creating a body of images that propels this atmosphere related to them.

Gunnlöð Jóna Rúnarsdóttir graduated from The School of Photography (Ljósmyndaskólinn) in January 2018. She has a master’s degree in Photography and Graphic design from Elisavia University in Barcelona. Besides her personal series and long term projects, Gunnlöð focuses on portraits and theatre shoots.

Her website can be viewed [here](www.gunnlodjona.com).

Ob­scure Pres­ence │ Gunnlöð Jóna Rún­arsdót­tir

Coming from a small isolated island with extreme weather conditions and almost unearthly landscapes, Icelanders have a unique connection with the unknown.

Obscure Presence │ Gunnlöð Jóna Rúnarsdóttir