A single place has just become available on my 2024 expedition to photograph Arctic Fox in the far north of Iceland in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. This is an expedition dedicated to the photography of the Arctic Fox – One of Nature’s greatest feats of engineering. To get an idea of what this workshop entails, be sure to Read the 2023 Trip Report. Full details of the expedition are available on my website at http://www.jholko.com/workshops. If you would like to photograph Arctic Fox in the north of Iceland in Winter this coming February, please drop me an email to register your interest. You can also watch the Adobe Spark Presentation online.
The photograph of the month for September 2023 comes from my 2022 expedition to the East Coast of Greenland (Read the Trip Report). Icebergs and fog are a match made in photographic heaven, and we were extremely fortunate to encounter heavy fog on several occasions during this expedition (with a bit of luck, we will have more fog later this month when we are cursing the Scoresby Sund fjord system on my 2023 expedition). The stillness of the ice, drifting slowly on gentle currents, in combination with the softness of the fog, creates a beautiful sense of tranquillity in this photograph. Balance is critical to both composition and processing in this style of photograph. A heavy-handed approach to post-production can quickly destroy the subtle tonalities, and likewise, overtly aggressive cropping leaves the image with too much tension. Open space creates a sense of place and helps provide a sense of calm.
My 2024 wildlife and aerial masterclass workshop to the world’s oldest desert in Namibia, is now sold out – thank you. It was in 2018 that I was last in Namibia (Read the Trip Report), and I have been itching to return to this incredible photographic location. The 2024 masterclass has been designed from the ground up to take in not only the best of Namibia but also luxurious accommodations in private game reserves. We will also have multiple private doors-off helicopter charter flights to photograph the expansive dune sea around the Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei areas.
There are also just a few spaces available on my 2024 Zululand South Africa ground-level masterclass workshop before it will also be sold out. Full details are on my website at www.jholko.com/workshops. Or, you can drop me an email for further information. If you have ever wanted to photograph African wildlife from ground-level, this is the workshop for you.
My time at home has run out, and very shortly, I will return to the airport for the long-haul flights from Melbourne to Sweden in Scandinavia (via Doha this time). It has been more than two months at home, the longest I have been in Melbourne since the COVID pandemic, and I am very much looking forward to returning to the field. The trip ahead hopefully holds some unique photographic encounters with the wolves, bears and wolverines of Finland, as well as epic (Daniel, that’s just for you!) landscapes in Greenland and Iceland. Very much looking forward to sharing these experiences with all participants. As always, I will do my best to update my blog and podcast from the road. See you in Sweden.
In the realm of nature’s grandeur, few phenomena hold the power to captivate the senses, like the luminosity of icebergs. As a photographer drawn to the magic of polar landscapes, I have been entranced by the enchanting glow that emanates from these frozen behemoths. In this post, I invite you to embark on a journey into the luminous elegance of icebergs. This phenomenon transcends the ordinary and offers a glimpse into the extraordinary beauty of our world.
Imagine standing before an iceberg, bathed in the soft light of the polar twilight. A symphony of light and ice unfolds—an enigmatic dance where photons and frozen water collaborate to create a luminous spectacle. The ethereal glow that emerges from the heart of these frozen giants is a testament to the harmony of nature’s elements, casting a spell that awakens the photographer’s soul.
The luminosity of icebergs is a painter’s dream—a canvas adorned with a palette of iridescent hues. As sunlight interacts with ice crystals and trapped air bubbles, a range of colours emerges, from the purest white to deep shades of blue and turquoise. This spectrum of colours is a visual feast that mirrors the ever-changing mood of Antarctica, offering a diverse range of creative opportunities for photographers.
The interplay of light and shadows on icebergs is a spectacle that defies description. As the sun’s rays caress the ice, intricate shadows emerge, sculpting the iceberg’s surface into a dynamic work of art. These shadows narrate stories of eons—of icebergs shaped by time, currents, and the forces of nature. Photographing these interplays is a celebration of the iceberg’s transient beauty and a tribute to the passage of time.
The luminosity of icebergs isn’t just a visual spectacle—it’s an opportunity to delve deeper into the essence of these frozen wonders. Through my lens, I strive to capture the exterior brilliance and the emotional resonance that emanates from within. The luminosity becomes a metaphor for the resilience of life in extreme conditions, the fragility of our environment, and the urgent call for conservation.
Exploring the luminosity of icebergs is a spiritual journey—a quest to capture the intangible, to translate the sublime into the tangible. It’s a reminder that photography is not just about documenting scenes; it’s about channelling the magic of the world around us into a visual language that stirs emotions and ignites awareness.
As photographers, we are entrusted with sharing the luminous elegance of icebergs with the world—a responsibility to convey their visual splendour and the urgency to protect the fragile ecosystems they represent. Through our lenses, we strive to transform the luminosity of icebergs into a beacon of hope, inspiring others to marvel, reflect, and stand united in safeguarding the natural wonders that grace our planet.
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