Who would have thought that Iceland’s stone trolls comes with a Trump hairstyle? The Rocks & Trolls series reaches its conclusion with this fifth and final installment, bringing together the narrative threads woven throughout the previous chapters. Building upon the melancholic introductions, menacing expressions, and geometric abstractions encountered thus far, these closing photographs focus on three distinctly iconic formations that capture the essence of Iceland’s petrified mythology.

The first of these remarkable subjects is the striking Stone Troll Madman, whose pale, windswept mane commands immediate attention. Rising dramatically from the landscape, this formation features a distinctive tousled crest of light-colored rock that seems to defy natural erosion patterns. The silhouette it creates is unmistakable—evoking the distinctive, wild appearance of a certain political figure known for commanding attention through sheer audacity. This geological anomaly stands as perhaps the most provocative entry in the entire series.

In contrast to this figure’s aggressive prominence, Pétursey emerges as a more subtle presence in the photographic narrative. This 275-meter-high tuff mountain, formerly an island before coastal recession, presents an elegant, towering profile rising steadily from the surrounding terrain. According to local folklore, good elves inhabit one side of Pétursey while bad elves dwell on the other—a duality reflected in the mountain’s composed yet enigmatic appearance. Rather than the elaborate structures one might imagine, Pétursey’s strength lies in its monolithic simplicity: a solid, unified mass that has served as a fortress and sanctuary throughout Iceland’s history.

The final subject completes this trilogy of petrified beings. Hvitserkur, the legendary sea stack rising dramatically from the northern coastal waters, captures the classical troll narrative in its most iconic form. This formation presents what appears to be a creature in the final moments of transformation—caught mid-crossing of a nocturnal fjord, petrified at dawn into its enduring, horned profile. The stack’s distinctive columnar structure and commanding presence have inspired countless retellings of the old stories.

Together, these three locations represent the culmination of an extended exploration across Iceland’s diverse terrains and regional geology. They highlight how natural forces—erosion, volcanic composition, and the relentless work of time—can yield formations that locals have interpreted for centuries as evidence of petrified beings. The photographs present not a resolution to the troll mythology, but rather an invitation to consider the enduring dialogue between scientific explanation and cultural storytelling that defines Iceland’s unique landscape.