© Matt Jarvis
Matt joined our Arctic Adventure trip in June 2019 with a specific intent to see and film arctic foxes hunting at the little auk colony. The tundra was just beginning to escape the cold embrace of winter, meaning that Matt was able to capture a unique range of images that evoked the changing of the seasons.
© Matt Jarvis
With three midnight drives and with our hotel within walking distance of the tundra, there were plenty of opportunities to build a portfolio of classic shots before taking a more experimental approach.
During one of these drives, Matt had a dream encounter come true when this Arctic Fox bounded out in front of him. Matt says "This is a photo I'd always had in mind", so as the fox crossed the white blanket of snow, it was a no-brainer for Matt to switch from his camcorder to a stills camera. He has captured the fox's delightful expression and frozen the moment superbly - truly the mark of a photographer in the making!
© Matt Jarvis
Matt also took some very cool creative risks when we went to photograph red-necked phalaropes on the lagoons. As Matt says, "These sweet birds are extremely tricky photo subjects. They move very quickly and abruptly, dipping and spinning around on the spot, or flicking water in the air, so a fast shutter speed is essential. It's a good moment when you can snap one of these behaviours".
By shooting close to the water with a wider-angle lens, Matt has really captured the characters and attitudes of these little birds, and has even impressively got the mountains of Adventdalen into his shots.
© Matt Jarvis
© Matt Jarvis
© Matt Jarvis
So what did Matt think of his Arctic adventure? "It is a fascinating place where your photo skills are laid bare at the most basic level. Your colour palette is simple, a few tones at most, so more time is spent focussing on composition, framing and emotion. I learned quite a fair bit about photography being here and under Paul and Mattia's guidance".
© Matt Jarvis
© Matt Jarvis
I particularly like the graphic simplicity that Matt has given to his landscape photos. It's always a joy to see clients' photos as they all see the same scene but photograph it in different ways. Matt seemed particularly drawn to patterns and details, whether manmade or natural, from these kittiwakes nesting on the brickwork of Pyramiden to the fine structures of ice crystals and lichen.
© Matt Jarvis
© Matt Jarvis
Matt's photographs really embrace the starkness of the landscape, and how Svalbard allows us to get so close to nature whilst reminding us how small a part of it we are. Looking at these images, I think he's set the bar high for next year! Thanks to Matt for sharing his images with us.
© Matt Jarvis
PHOTOGRAPH THE WILDLIFE AND LANDSCAPES OF SVALBARD YOURSELF!
To photograph the unique landscapes and fauna of the Arctic tundra, join me and Mattia Cialoni in Svalbard next summer for a 5-day photography holiday. This trip will offer you the chance to capture images of Arctic Foxes, Walruses, Whales and a wonderful spread of birds such as Phalaropes, King Eiders and Red-Throated Divers.
All details are available on the dedicated event page.
