All photos by Tom Hegen. Used with Creative Commons permission.
Last time we followed Munich-based aerial photographer Tom Hegen around his Arctic adventures, we saw him capture icebergs like surreal floating castles, and remind us of what we stand to lose to climate change. In his latest work, he turns to the power of the abstract once more to show us around the frigid region’s unique landscapes. If you’re fascinated with all things Arctic or simply enjoy abstract approaches to landscape photography, this series will surely inspire you.
In The Iceberg Series II, Hegen gives us another view of the incredible icebergs, this time from the Ilulissat Icefjord, a Unesco World Heritage site located on the west coast of Greenland, 250 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. True to his tried and tested aerial photography style, this second installment shows us a breath-taking bird’s eye view of nature’s artwork below.
Hegen aptly describes this series as “a visual study of shapes, patterns, and luminosity.” Indeed, we see the span of the icebergs floating like abstract shapes, cutouts, and smears over the blank canvas of deep, blue-green waters. We even get a bonus snap of whales swimming in the depths — as if to remind us that this otherworldly location is actually home to majestic marine life.
As with the rest of his stunning works we’ve seen so far, this installment is a testament to the power of the medium to transform places — whether as mundane as a quarry or as extraordinary as the Arctic — to appeal to our imagination. As much as Greenland and the rest of the region are dream destinations for photographers, we must admit that this unique perspective shows us that there’s more to these places than what often meets the eye.
Do check out Tom Hegen’s website and Behance portfolio to see more of his abstract landscape masterpieces.