GREENLAND INTO THE ICE CAP
EXPERT HANS STRAND DAYS OF ADVENTURE
8
Photo by David Trud
Thanks for choosing Better Moments for your next adventure workshop. Better Moments was founded in 2011 by Philip Boissevain and me, two experienced veterans of the international professional photography industry. We met when working at Hasselblad, Philip as the Global Marketing manager and me as the Global Photographer Relations manager. Today Better Moments has become the leading photo workshop platform organizing high-end workshops for photo enthusiasts worldwide. You will learn from the world’s most experienced photographers within their fields to refine your personal style and sharpen your technical skills. Additionally, we want you to share your excitement for photography and enjoy great moments in life. And we want you to explore your passion and expand your photographic skills and vision.
Better Moments CEO and founder: Christian Nørgaard Graphic design: Anders Lundgren Text editor: Jeff Grant All images and text in this catalog are under International Copyright Legislation. However, Better Moment’s guests and potential customers may download the catalog for private use, but not for any commercial use. Any violation of the International Copyright Legislation will be reported to the International Court of Justice of International Copyright Legislation Cover photo by Hans Strand
Better Moments mission is to deliver exclusive workshops in landscape, wildlife and travel photography at unique locations around the world. I want you to explore your passion for photography and work and earn from the world’s most renowned photographers who all have excellent teaching skills, local knowledge and experience. Photography with passion, Christian Nørgaard
PHOTOGRAPHY WITH PASSION
Photo by Hans Strand
INTO THE ICE CAP Greenland offers some of the most spectacular and unspoiled scenery on earth. Ilulissat, which is the Greenlandic word for iceberg is a town, beautifully situated at the mouth of the Icefjord, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. The Icefjord is littered with enormous icebergs from the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere, Sermeq Kujalleq. The largest icebergs run aground at the mouth of the fjord at depths of 225-250m, only breaking free during high tide or when the icebergs become so eroded that their points of balance tip. Ilulissat is situated in the land of the midnight sun – the sun does not go below the horizon from May 21 to July 24. This means it has very bright nights throughout May, and very good conditions for photographing stunning icy landscapes.
Photo by Hans Strand
TRAVEL Better Moments’ mission is to deliver exclusive workshops and we want you to explore your passion for photography and work to with the world’s most renowned photographer, Hans Strand during your Greenland expedition
HIGHLIGHTS Evening and night photography in and around the Inuit town of Ilulissat. Landscape photography from sea level inside the ice fjord. Helicopter flight around Disko bay and the mouth of the fjord. Boat tour around Disko bay and the ice fjord.
How to handle equipment with care on location. Private hands-on lessons that can help in taking your photography skills to the next level. IN CLASSROOM Expert review and constructive criticism of the images taken during the day.
Workshops on techniques and shooting strategies for boat, night and landscape photography.
Workflow in Photoshop and/or Lightroom, and printing.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
A Better Moments Certified Photo Instructor is available during the entire workshop to offer assistance with camera settings, the basics of composition, and to generally guide and help-
You will learn how to approach the unique challenges of landscape photography and how to capture expansiveness, dynamic energy and the simplicity of natural landscape photography. ON LOCATION
Portfolio Review.
PRICE & BOOKING
Teaching and training in the best techniques and personal hints and advise. Composition and focus on lines, golden section, perspective, foreground. Work in different lighting and with short/long exposure times and aperture.
Photo by Hans Strand
WIT
TH PASSION
HANS S Hans was born in 1955 in Marmaverken, Sweden. For more than 20 years, the entire world has been his workplace. Photographing everything from the vast expanses of the Arctic, to steaming rainforests and dry deserts.
“My back broke down and I could not sit all day long, like I was doing as an engineer. At this time my great hobby was landscape photography, so I took a chance and became a professional and it has worked since 1990.” MADE IN SWEDEN His work has been displayed in numerous exhibitions and published in many international photography magazines. He has received several awards for his photography, including the Hasselblad Master Award in 2008. Hans has lectured on his photography internationally and published a number of photography books, with more on the way.
Photo by Christian Nørgaard
”Photography is not about capturing what you see, but to interpret what you f
STRAND
feel”
Photo by Hans Strand
CAREER CHANGE After working as a mechanical engineer for nine years he made a career change. “The complexity and the sense of being a part of nature. After all, all living things have their origin in the wild landscape. I have always found myself drawn to the untamed and unmanipulated nature. The wilderness is the mother of all living things. It is always honest and never trivial.” BAD WEATHER IS TERRIFIC As a professional and especially having spent many years in the northern hemisphere, Hans has developed a style very much reflecting his attitude towards weather. “The right weather is important, but not everything. Shooting a rugged landscape like Iceland in sunshine is not what you want. There you want moody conditions to get the right drama in the landscape. On the other hand, you have to work with the light you have at hand and try to make the best of it. You can’t just skip taking pictures because you don’t get what you have anticipated. There are always possibilities in every kind of light. Often landscape photographers regard grey weather as bad weather, but I think it is terrific.”
Photo by Hans Strand
A NORTHMAN OF ICE AND FIRE In the late 90’s Hans went on a unique expedition to the icy Arctic. “The Arctic landscape is virgin territory. In 1999 I visited the island of Ellef Ringnes in Northern Nunavut. Hardly anyone has been there since 1904 when the island was discovered, and definitely no one has been photographing there. The silence and the long lasting light are fantastic. It is very minimalistic compared to a rainforest but nevertheless complex. In 2004 I visited Svalbard and was even taking pictures of polar bears. Normally I am not so interested in wildlife photography, but seeing a polar bear in its natural habitat is something very special.” Hans has travelled from the deserts of America to the Tasmanian wilderness and photographed a wide range of landscapes, but when it comes down to the favorites he always ends up in Iceland. “Each year since 2000 I have returned to Iceland to take pictures.” ”I find its landscapes the most spectacular in the world. Nowhere else have I seen landscapes with such complexity and color. I have also practiced aerial photography a lot and have found new perspectives to take my landscape photographs.” THE FIRST ROLLS OF FILM Hans was 25 years old when he bought his first camera during a school trip to the United States. That’s where he took his first rolls of film, on the holy ground for landscape photography since Ansel Adams first captured his iconic images there. But it wasn’t the last rolls of film for Hans Strand either. Today he’s a widely acclaimed landscape photographer with high workshop expertise in the northern landscapes.
Photo by Hans Strand
ITINERARY Since the absolute best light is during the evening and night hours, we will chase our motives in these very hours – the late evening and night. At these moments the light is saturated with pinky red colors and the mighty landscapes will appear in the most beautiful and dramatic way.
photography. Evening. 3 km walk to the inside of the ice fjord and landscape photography from sea level among icebergs and cliffs. Here we will use our wide-angle lenses for shots with dramatic foregrounds of eroded cliffs and clear water pools. We will continue to shoot as long as the light allows.
DAY 1
DAY 4
ARRIVAL IN ILULISSAT
THE BIG LANDSCAPE
Arrival and accommodation at the hotel and briefing on the coming workshop. After dinner we will start our first night with a shoot of Disko Bay, which is the sea between the outlet of the Ice fjord and Disko Island. At this time of the year the bay is packed with icebergs. In the early and late hours of the night the light can vary considerably and provides the conditions for unique images.
We will spend the day in the mountains that beautifully surround Ilulissiat and the ice fjord. Here we will find canyons, lakes and Spring’s first stirring vegetation. There is also the possibility of macro photography and magnificent panorama shots. We plan around the weather today and, if we have the chance, we hike to the edge of the icefjord where we shoot from the east side. This angle is unique since we have the mouth of the ice fjord in the background and, if you choose to shoot in the opposite direction, the ice cap will be featured as a backdrop.
DAY 2 NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY Early part of the day photography in the Inuit town of Ilulissat. The town is quite fascinating, as its appearance resembles nothing outside the Arctic, with its wooden houses in strong colors, boats parked in the backyards and sled dogs in chains. Evening shoot from the top of the hill 2 km south of Ilulissat. From the hill we have a fantastic view overlooking Disko Bay and the mouth of the Ice fjord. At midnight the gigantic icebergs, some 70 meters high, turn a screaming pink color and create a stunning display. Here is where telephoto lenses come into their own. DAY 3
DAY 5 BOAT SAFARI Late breakfast. Digital processing of images from yesterday. Image reviews and feedback on your recent images. We will also go through shooting strategies for boat-based photography. Boat tour in Disko Bay and around the icefjord. Photography of icebergs from the boat. It will give us the opportunity to come closer to icebergs and make to creative compositions of the Arctic Seascape. We will use the warm evening light to give our images an extra dimension.
the Ice fjord. We will make several landings during our flight, and from carefully selected locations, we will photograph the unique landscape. The objective is to fly into the ice cap, where subjects are saturated as abstract landscapes, shaped by deep cracks and streaks in the ice. DAY 7 GREAT LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY Great landscape photography of Disko Bay, the Ice fjord and the surroundings, improvised to maximize the yield of the workshop and to compensate for potential bad weather. For the rest of the day you are on your own. We can recommend a visit to the great local dinner to enjoy the legendary Greenlandic coffee. DAY 8 DEPARTURE Flight home.
PRICE & BOOKING
HOME
INTO THE ICEFJORD Late breakfast. Digital processing of images from the day before. Daylight shoot in and around the harbor of Ilulissat. The main source of income for the inuits is fishing and the harbor is a chaos of boats and people, providing an opportunity for interesting documentary
DAY 6 INTO THE ICE CAP Deep and comprehensive workshop on the challenges in aerial and great landscape photography. Evening light and aerial photography of Disko Bay and of the mouth of Photo by Hans Strand
Photo by Hans Strand
GETTING THERE
LANGUAGE
Ilulissat Airport is located approximately 3 km from the city center. Air Greenland and Air Iceland are the primary airlines for passenger travelling to Greenland with flights to and from Denmark and Iceland.
The official language of Greenland is Greenlandic. Most Greenlanders speak Danish and English as well.
VISA The tourist entry requirements for Greenland are the same as for Denmark, except Greenland is not a member of EU or a party to the Schengen agreement. This means citizens of Nordic Countries need only bring a valid identification card. Three-month visa-free stays are available to citizens of EU nations, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Kore, Brunei and several central-European and Latin American countries. Most ex-Soviet and African nationals require a Danish visa.
CURRENCY The currency of Greenland is the Danish Krone (DKK). QUICK GUIDE The Ilulissat Icefjord “Kangia” is one of the most impressive sights in all of Greenland. Great opportunities watching.
for
whale
Landscape photography massive icebergs.
with
During the colder months one may on occasion see the magnificent aurora borealis. Eqip Sermia Glacier, a large glacier in the vicinity of Ilulissat.
WEATHER
EMERGENCY
The average daily temperature in Ilulissat during May ranges normally from -3°C to 1°C. Throughout May, the most common forms of precipitation are light snow, moderate snow, and light rain.
Emergency phone number: 112
IMPORTANT Due to the weather we point out that, we may change our program. We suggest that we all meet in Copenhagen Airport and travel together. Better Moments can organize your flight if needed.
AIRPORT PICKUP Better Moments arrange one pickup and one return to the airport on arrival day and departure day. Most often, none of our guests will wait longer than one hour, as all international flights arrive and depart at the same time.
PRICE & BOOKING
We are in a part of the world where helicopters are use extensively for transport. We will therefore travel in a relatively large helicopter which very likely does not have the option to open the door midflight. We will use the helicopter primarily to reach the best locations.
HOME
Photo by Hans Strand
QUICK GUIDE We wish you to travel with the greatest possible comfort and to know that you have received as much information as possible
Just before taker off for the ice cap. From the left: Tiffin Elmore Johnson, Achim Dittrich, Dirk Sperner, Karsten Weis, Hans Strand, Tom D Jones, Tommaso Colomb, Christer Bjรถrklund.
Photo by Hans Strand
EQUIPMENT Whether this is your first trip or your ”hundredth” workshop with us, it’s always helpful to have a rundown of what items you may want to pack so you have a travel checklist. Bookmark this packing list, because you’ll want to refer back to it to make sure you’ve thought of everything you might want to pack.
CLOTHING A good plan is to dress “layer-by-layer”. You then are well prepared for whatever weather arrives. Wind and waterproof jacket Wind and waterproof pants Rubber boots - with room for extra (wool) socks Hiking boots
Fleece/sweater
NICE TO HAVE
Cap
Sunscreen
Gloves
Sunglasses
Waterproof outdoor cushions - nice to sit on when we sail in the arctics or when we sit and enjoy the scenery on land.
A swimsuit (for hot springs in Iceland only)
A small backpack Binoculars
Wool underwear
CAMERA The camera list is for inspiration, since you know better than anyone what equipment you prefer. Bring you own laptop computer and storage medium Camera bodie(s) Tripod
Cleaning kit for cameras and lenses Rain/dust covers for cameras and lenses
NICE TO HAVE Lens extenders
Charger for batteries
Camera straps for ease of changing from one camera to another
Spare batteries
Graduated filter set
Standard power converter
Filter holder
Lenses, 24-70mm zoom and 70-200mm zoom or similar lenses are very good
Raw processing software
High quality polarizing filter
Memory cards and card wallets
Lens belt
Bag for all camera gear
Memory card reader
Light bag for easy hiking with camera bodies and accessories
USB key to exchange images
Photo by Hans Strand
PHOTOGRAPHER Adeline Heiderscheid was awarded Photographer Of The Month, October 2016 Adeline Heiderscheid participated in the Svalbard 2015 workshop.
BETTERMOMENTS.COM
OF THE MONTH
Each month we select a photographer from one of our many workshops who deserves special recognition. The Photographer of the Month is chosen by the Better Moments workshop experts, including Better Moments CEO, Christian Nørgaard.