Silence is a source of great strength. – Lao Tzu
Morton Hilmer, a Danish wildlife photographer finds the silence of the Arctic to be a special place to capture nature and wildlife photography. One wonders if he’s out of his mind to subject himself to such extreme weather, although he seems to have no problem staying in the Arctic for long stretches.
The frigid temperatures have very little effect on Hilmer. That’s probably because he spent two years in the Danish Special Forces as a soldier on the Sirius Sledge Patrol in Greenland. During his tenure there he endured -50-celsius temperatures and rode 10,000 kilometers on a dogsled.
The video shows a fearless Hilmer as he approaches wolves, polar bears, seals, and other Arctic animals while he waits in the dim light of dusk to capture these moments in nature. He says he finds the true essence of nature when the weather is hazardous. While most of us photographers would find this unbearable because of the extreme weather, Hilmer finds solace and strength in the Arctic.
Sometimes we have to subject ourselves into arduous positions to make the best photographs possible. Whether we are photojournalists in a battle or face-to-face with a polar bear, it’s those who push themselves that will find the most beauty in uncomfortable places.
Silence of the North from Morten Hilmer on Vimeo.
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