Behind the curtain — the path under Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss drops sixty metres off the old sea cliff into a bowl, and because the cliff is undercut, a path runs behind the water and out the other side. Standing in that recess, the fall stops being a wall and becomes a translucent curtain: backlit water in front of you, the green valley and the sky visible through it, and a dark rock ceiling above.

The signature frame is shot from behind, out through the water, with the couple silhouetted or rim-lit against it. Evening is the hour — the falls face roughly west, so late sun comes straight through the curtain and turns it gold; in June and July that light lasts to near midnight, and this is one of the best places in Iceland to use the midnight sun properly. In winter the recess ices over and the path behind is usually closed; the front is still spectacular, so check before promising anyone the behind-the-falls shot.

Everything back there is wet. Spray is constant and comes from all directions, the rock underfoot is polished and slick, and there is one narrow section with a chain to hold. Waterproof jackets, flat grippy shoes and a wiping cloth are the minimum; dresses and suits get soaked, so most couples change afterwards rather than before. Expect the photographer to work in short bursts and clean the lens between every few frames.

A word on crowds and courtesy: the loop behind the falls is one-way in practice and narrow, so a session has to move with the flow rather than hold a spot. Early morning, before eight, and late evening are the windows when it is genuinely quiet. The car park charges a fee; check current arrangements, and never park on the roadside verge instead.