Photographer documents 700 Icelandic sheepfolds

Photographer Anna Fjóla Gísladóttir has photographed around 700 sheepfolds across Iceland for a new book, Morgunblaðið reports. Her research also uncovered information about more than 1,000 folds in total.

Speaking to Óskar Bergsson on Morgunblaðið’s Dagmál programme, Gísladóttir said some folds were well known and easy to find, while others came to light through calls to farmers, who often suggested further places to look.

She initially thought she could complete the photography in one summer. But during the following winter, she found information on another 100 to 200 folds. Last spring, 180 still needed to be photographed; she completed that list before the book went to print.

Gísladóttir has information on about 300 additional folds that are either difficult to locate or no longer visible. “Some have simply disappeared,” she said.

She found no accessible, comprehensive register to help with her research. She also contacted heritage managers, but said only one offered assistance: Magnús on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.