Walrus are incredible animals. We hear about these creatures in story books and such. To see these animals up close is a real privilege. We were lucky on one of our encounters with the walrus to have a curious group. They provided many photo opportunities . This shot is of one walrus as he surfaces to check me out. Only a few feet away.
This is sight that one doesn’t get a chance to see everyday. Some people may be disturbed by it, but it is nature at work. This was shot just about 10 days ago on our Svlabard Photography Workshop. The location of the shot can be viewed on a hap HERE. This bear was quite content with letting us take pictures. I like the Arctic Gull in the shot too. They say if you can see these gulls then there must be a bear close by.
On both of our trips in the recent Svalabrd workshop we visited the Ice Wall of Brasvellbreen. It is hard to describe this location. It is not a Glacier but an ice cap and one of the largest in the world depending on who you ask. The bottom line is it is hundreds of kilometers long and has hundreds of cascading waterfalls and textures. We were fortunate to arrive at this location with the sun sweeping over the face of the ice wall. And this was around midnight. at this time of year there is 24 hours of light in the Arctic. I’ll have more images of this amazing ice wall in the near future.
It’s nice to be back home. I have spent the last three weeks with Peter Cox and Morton Jørgensen cruising the Svalbard area with 2 workshop groups. We were on the prow for wildlife and great landscapes. Overall on both workshops we have a mission accomplished. We had the chance to photograph Polar Bears, Walrus, many birds, whales, glaciers and as in this image above Arctic Fox. The Arctic Fox is a hearty animal having to live in Arctic Conditions for most of the year. For the winter months it is a pure white animal and then in the summer months it sheds it coat and looks pretty much like the image above until late August when it grows its winter coat back. I had the chance to photograph this fox on two occasions in the last few weeks. I have quite a few beautiful images from the few hours spent with this fox and its brother. Look for more soon.
I am now in Oslo, Norway about to start the second leg of my journey back to home to Indianapolis. I have been away for 3 weeks and 16 of those days have been at sea leading two amazing photo workshops in the Arctic region of Svlabard, Norway. This was my second trip to Svalbard and it won’t be my last. I got to share this trip with some amazing people and take so many amazing images. We have polar bear pictures and one of them was on a kill. Walrus and Arctic fox. We shot an Ice Wall that is 100’s of kilometers longs with ware falls at just the right light. We shot a bird cliff where I have never seen so many birds. So, over the coming weeks you’ll find a ton of images here on a daily basis, plus give em a few weeks and I’ll have a trip log of this trip. I am home for a few weeks before leading a workshop in the Palouse. So, let’s start out with a classic Iceberg shot. Funny to all dressed up in winter gear in July.
I’m leaving today to go as far north as possible, Svalbard, Norway. I’ll be leading 2 back to back Rockhopper Workshop tours into the Polar ice and Svalbard area to photograph Polar Bears, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and other wildlife plus some great landscapes including some amazing glaciers. I won’t be back until July 31st and will have no internet. I’ll definitely suffer internet withdrawal but I should be OK. If we do get any signal I’ll put up a post. Otherwise see you back here on the 31st. Maybe I’ll even find Santa Claus.
The fourth of July in America is a time for celebration, parades and cook outs. I plan to them all today and celebrate at the end with fireworks over Indianapolis. This image was made last year at the Carmel, IN fireworks.
The Buffalo Water Works just keeps on giving. I am really looking forward to shooting at this location again. It was quite a remarkable place and today I present another image from my series. This one I like because it looks so industrial. The giant valve and gear driven wheel at the top and add the rust and it just works. The separation from the background works because of this beautiful gentle light that was coming from the skylights.
While shooting at Silo City in Buffalo Michael and I were standing on top of one of the silos and I saw this shot. The silos were a major distribution point for grain to be transported by rail to the east coast. This is a shot of the rail yard all grown over.
This is another shot from the Buffalo Water Works. This amazing place has really drawn my creative side to the surface. I have worked these images to give a certain look. Harsh, contrasty, gritty with a heavy feeling. Everything in this building was meant to last 1000 years. You can feel the weight in this shot.