THE LIGHT AND THE LAND

We know from photographers that we meet in Greenland that the majority is looking for landscapes and wildlife, explore the subtle colors of the destination and like to move from tiny details in rocks and ice to sweeping panoramic stories and back.

The light is the key tool for any photographer and it is harnessed to create drama, contrasts, and bring out emotions in the story of the image which is why photo tours are always a combination of timing and location.

In Greenland, the locations are always a part of our rough, mountainous and contrasting land, sparsely populated in small local communities, dominated by the enormous ice sheet, and shaped by the Arctic climate.

Nightscapes

The night holds a special place in Greenland both because the bright summer nights provide golden hour lighting conditions for hours, but also because in late summer and throughout the winter season the dry climate and lack of light pollution brings our the northern lights and stars on the night skies.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are the obvious attraction of the night, especially at latitudes around and just south of the Arctic Circle near Tasiilaq, Sisimiut, Nuuk, and Maniitsoq where the northern lights are particularly bright from september till april.

The real gem, however, is Kangerlussuaq on the west coast, which is sure to deliver clear skies more than 300 nights a year, and where you can go on northern lights trips with World of Greenland Arctic Circle.

The darkness also brings out other adventures, both nature based and photographic, adding perspective and depth to the experience, and for many photographers night images are a way to combine exciting challenges with an almost therapeutic activity.