Safe Waters Ilulissat, Greenland
Safe waters on the edge of the massive Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland.
The Ilulissat Icefjord is a huge, ever-changing body of ice off the West coast of Greenland.
Located in Disko Bay, 250 km (155 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, this huge expanse of ice is best explored on a midnight cruise.
Greenland - Where Water And Sky collide
In this case the photo was made during a long overnight evening hike I undertook in late July.
From memory I started the hike around 9pm and didn't get back to my hotel till around 5am the next morning. It was a big effort, but well worthwhile.
It’s true that most folks could probably complete the hike in two or three hours. But I’m a photographer and, given I’d traveled all the way from Australia, I really didn’t care how long I was out there.
And why would I? Photographing in such a surreal landscape was an incredible experience and I was determined to make the most of the opportunities available to me.
To be able to explore and photograph, on the edge of the wilderness, was amazing. The fact that the light was soft only enhanced the experience.
It's interesting how the reflection in the photo links the quiet pool of water in the foreground with the sky above.
It reminds me of that famous quote, as above so below, which was very much in my mind when I made this photo.
How to Photograph All That There Is
The icebergs in the middle of the frame give a hint to the wildness of this location. But how you make a photo is at least as important as what you’re photographing.
The photo was made at 24 mm on a full frame Canon 5D Mark II full-frame DSLR camera. (These days I use a Sony a7R ii camera).
Wide angle lenses place emphasis on the foreground but, as a consequence, make the background look smaller and further away.
That's why the section of ice through the mid ground doesn't seem that dominant. But, believe me, it contains huge blocks of ice, some probably the size of sky scrappers.
I photographed the Ilulissat Icefjord and much of the surrounding landscape with a variety of lenses.
But, as the image at the top of this post was about the relationship between sky and water, the 24 mm focal length was the best option.
The ice helps to describe the location in which the image was made and serves to separate the foreground water from the background sky.
In doing so it helps to enhance the sense of three dimensional space in the photo.
About To Travel?
It’s my view that photos that open our minds and our imagination to more than what's immediately on display are likely to elicit a deeper, emotional response from the viewer.
And that’s a good thing, something we should all aspire to.
“Sometimes what’s suggested is so much more important than what’s described.”
Dreamlike light illuminates a gigantic iceberg on the Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland.
How to Make Your Dreams A Reality
I can't wait to return and explore more of the harsh beauty of Greenland. It's just such an incredible place where so much of the landscape is on the monumental scale.
In my case visiting Greenland was an extra bonus I added onto a photography expedition to Iceland.
It's a long way from my home in Melbourne, Australia. However, given that I'd realized a near life-long dream to travel to Iceland, the extra expense of adding on the Greenland component to my trip seemed like a no-brainer.
Sine then I’ve made it back to Iceland, with a side trip to the fabulous Faroe Islands. I’m constantly dreaming of a return trip to all three countries.
Travel and photography, what a life! It works for me, and I hope it does for you as well.
