Arctic Blue

The north Norwegian islands above the Arctic Circle i, are a photographer’s paradise - especially in winter. While the sun struggles to rise much above the horizon, the light remains mercurial - the half-light of dawn and dusk lasting for hours. At the same time, the high latitude and physical challenges of working in the middle of the Arctic winter offer both photographic rewards and a sense of lasting satisfaction in overcoming the elements.

As this collection of images shows, a particular challenge is how to handle the strong blue cast that permeates the semi-darkness. To my mind’s eye, rather than trying to compensate and warm my images up, I have chosen simply to embrace ‘the blue’. It is not coincidental that photographers and visual artists describe blues and cyans, as the ‘cold’ end of the colour spectrum, while reds and oranges are ‘warm’. I hope these images not only convey the strong connection I feel to this remarkable environment, but also the sense of enduring cold and being alone with the elements in this unforgiving but starkly beautiful place.