Behind Mountains

For forty-five years, the Icelandic photographer Ragnar Axelsson has observed the farmers of his homeland during the sheep roundups. This centuries-old tradition takes place every autumn and is often carried out on horseback or on foot. In his third publication with Kehrer Verlag, Axelsson presents powerful, atmospheric black- and-white photographs that impressively document the interaction between people and their animals, as well as with the rugged landscape. Majestic rolling hills, besieged by roaring snow and rainstorms, rough lava rock, and massive rock formations convey a realistic and compelling image of the extraordinary connection between humans and nature. Axelsson’s work has been honored with numerous awards, including the Prix Pictet shortlist and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (Honorable Mention).