Photography On A Midnight Cruise On Disko Bay, Greenland
A lovely, intimate detail of ice on the surface of Disko Bay near the town of Ilulissat, Greenland.
Where? - The Location
There I was on a midnight zodiac cruise on Disko Bay near the town of Ilulissat in Greenland. The bay was full of icebergs of varying sizes and, as well as photographing some of the grander edifices, little details such as those above caught my attention.
What? - The Subject
I was drawn to these tiny ice fragments by the light which both illuminated and surrounded them.
Light, color, texture, shape, interesting subject matter and timing are the elements that underpin this photo.
How? - Technical Details
This photo was made with my then trusty Canon 5D Mark II camera. I employed a Canon 70-200 mm f/4 IS lens with a Canon 1.4X Extender which produced an actual focal length of 280 mm on my full frame camera.
After some experience, with both a Canon 1.4X and 2X Extender, I’d have to say that I’m not a fan of extenders and that this was one of the few images I’ve made with an extender/tele converter that provided the required level of sharpness.
The exposure needed to be quite fast due the speed at which the zodiac was moving, but also because of the effective focal length at which I was working. I’m very happy with the result as I feel it’s both technically competent and visually arresting.
Why? - The Experience
We photograph to record not just what it is that we see, but how we feel about what it is that we see. It’s all about the experience, at least as much as the act of making photos, in camera, is concerned.
The next phase, for those who are prepared to move beyond the recorded image, is the adventure that awaits the creative soul on the desktop. Post processing is certainly not for everyone, but it does allow you to move beyond the camera processed image and, through your own, personal response, to realize the full potential within your photography.
So, whether it’s ice floating on the waters of Disko Bay in Greenland or ripples on a lake near your own home, photography has the ability to take you beyond the bounds of normality and help connect you with the beauty that lies on the edge of your everyday experience.