The dramatic landscape of Iceland is the subject matter of Victoria Pearson’s superb photographs, on show at the O3 Gallery, Oxford Castle, until February 14. Victoria is a self-taught artist who only began taking photography seriously when she visited Australia seven years ago. Since then, she has never looked back. Her aim now is to take beautiful images of the world’s natural wonders that people can live with and identify. Her exhibition makes much of water in the form of glaciers, waterfalls and post-glacial volcanoes that have erupted for 200 years and now supply hot water to much of the population. Victoria’s dramatic pictures capture the way snow clings to mountain tops too.

Several images include a rainbow set against glistening water cascading from a high cliff. Skogarfoss Waterfall is a particularly beautiful example. Capturing that rainbow on camera was not a lucky fluke – it is a permanent fixture, and something that weaves a colourful dimension into the scene day after day.

Her picture of the Gullfoss Waterfall, which tumbles from on high, depositing enormous quantities of water into a deep meandering gorge, are spectacular and encapsulate the feeling of wonder she experienced while witnessing this natural phenomenon.

While her most of her pictures appear to have been taken miles from human habitation, look carefully, as some offer hints of civilisation intruding on the scene.

Not all her photographs are landscapes seen through a romantic filter. Victoria has added a remarkable study of a modern metal sculpture of a Viking ship named Sun Voyager, which can be found on the Reykjavik shoreline. She has also included a night-shot of the Communications Museum, making much of the lights glowing from the narrow windows of this attractive building.

Victoria has provided a written documentary of the things that intrigue her about Iceland’s history. She has also described in some detail the geothermal hot springs, gorges, geysers and waterfalls that inspired her collection.