Topic: Greenland (Read 7990 times)

Aboud · « **on:** August 07, 2006, 10:40:21 pm »

I have been trying to find an interesting location and a friend suggested Greenland. Does anyone have any experience shooting there and could you recommend areas or specific sites. I can have about one week on the ground. I would assume the best way in is o fly to Rycavick.

Thanks for your help

Lisa Nikodym · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2006, 09:40:57 pm »

By Rycavick, I assume you mean Reykjavik? That's in Iceland, not Greenland. (Fairly close geographically, but quite different.) Michael (creator of this site) is on his way home right now from a photography trip to Iceland. Check out "What's New" on this site for links about his Iceland trip.

Iceland is the one with weird volcanic landscapes and waterfalls. Greenland is mostly ice sheet. Iceland is easier for visitors to get around in. Which one did you have in mind???

Lisa

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2006, 12:18:30 pm »

Quote

By Rycavick, I assume you mean Reykjavik? That's in Iceland, not Greenland. (Fairly close geographically, but quite different.) Michael (creator of this site) is on his way home right now from a photography trip to Iceland. Check out "What's New" on this site for links about his Iceland trip.

Iceland is the one with weird volcanic landscapes and waterfalls. Greenland is mostly ice sheet. Iceland is easier for visitors to get around in. Which one did you have in mind???

Lisa
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I second the nomination of Iceland. I've been there only once, over 30 years ago, but it still ranks in the top three of places I would like to go back to to photograph again (spectacular variety).

Eric

Lisa Nikodym · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2006, 12:40:28 pm »

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I second the nomination of Iceland. I've been there only once, over 30 years ago, but it still ranks in the top three of places I would like to go back to to photograph again (spectacular variety).

I'm afraid I'm a dissenter (almost the only one I've heard of, it seems). I spent a week in Iceland and didn't particularly enjoy it, either as a vacation or as a photographic excursion. I had spent the week before in Norway, and spent the whole week in Iceland thinking, "Gosh, I wish I'd stayed in Norway another week instead." Opinions and tastes vary! (I really loved Norway, BTW.)

Haven't been to Greenland, though. I have some friends going there next month (as part of an arctic cruise), and will ask them what they think of it.

Lisa

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2006, 09:59:14 pm »

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I'm afraid I'm a dissenter (almost the only one I've heard of, it seems). I spent a week in Iceland and didn't particularly enjoy it, either as a vacation or as a photographic excursion. I had spent the week before in Norway, and spent the whole week in Iceland thinking, "Gosh, I wish I'd stayed in Norway another week instead." Opinions and tastes vary! (I really loved Norway, BTW.)

Haven't been to Greenland, though. I have some friends going there next month (as part of an arctic cruise), and will ask them what they think of it.

Lisa
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I love Norway too (my father came from Norway), but I still have to give the edge to Iceland (sorry, Jan I). Some favorite spots that I remember from 1974: Landmanalaugar (see Michael's home page photo of today), Thorsmoerk, Skaftafell, the black sands at Vik, bubbling mudpits just northeast of Myvatn, and climbing to the summit of Mount Hekla (well between eruptions.) Of course, if you just stop over at the airport in Keflavik, it is all pretty dreary. And Reykjavik has some charm, but the wild interior and the waterfalls and glaciers surrounded by green along the coast are gorgeous.

I look forward to the Greenland report.

Eric

tjotala · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2006, 10:14:42 pm »

Quote

I have been trying to find an interesting location and a friend suggested Greenland. Does anyone have any experience shooting there and could you recommend areas or specific sites. I can have about one week on the ground. I would assume the best way in is o fly to Rycavick.

Thanks for your help
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I've only been there once, but unfortunately the shooting opportunities were severely limited... by several heavily armed gentlemen

Many moons ago my flight from Finland to San Francisco got diverted to Thule Air Base in Greenland due to a fire suppression system that mysteriously went off in the cargo hold somewhere over the North Atlantic. After we landed, the flight crew strongly suggested that we leave all photographic equipment on the plane while they worked out what to do. A friendly but stern contingent of the indigenous population quickly ushered us into a Rec Center and posted some of their friends at the doors to enforce that suggestion. Fortunately it was a lightly loaded flight, so the flight crew was able to move all the luggage into the cabin for the remainder of the flight.

Closer to the topic, though... going over the pole in the other direction is an excellent opportunity to catch a ~4hr sunset, and possibly depending on time of the year some aurora borealis as well.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and what little I saw of the Air Base itself was the very picture of "bleak desolation"...

JoRi · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2007, 04:44:04 pm »

Well back to Greenland the big neighbour of Iceland.
The way to go to Greenland is via Copenhagen and then to Kangerlussuaq (the main airport) and then further on to one of the minor towns with DASH 7 planes. Actually you can have a very nice experience at Kangerlussuaq. You arrange for transport to up to the inland ice. Get dropped and walk through the landscape with musc-ox and reindeer and a lot of glaciers. The Russell-glacier is magnificant, but there are lots to experience if you love silence and a 100+ miles view.
Well Greenland is expensive if you leave Kangerlussuaq. But Illulissat (Jakobshavn) is where the vere fast glacier comes out (moves 25 m per day) and a little further north Eqi is a very beautifull area. You can go there by boat from Illulissat. There is a hut village (5 huts) and it is possible to hike in a rather restricted area (restricted by the inland ice and glaciers. But it is very beutifull. Was in Kangerlussuaq two years ago and in Illulissat and Eqi last year.
If you are interested I can try to find a travel agency that arranges tours.
Best
Jorgen

JoRi · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2007, 04:29:50 am »

Hi Aboud
News : May 24th a new flight to Greenalnd was established. From Baltimore/Washington DC to Kangerlussuaq. Flights will be on Thursdays and additional from mid June to end august on Mondays. Price (hope that you are sitting down) from 1000 US$ to 2200 UD$. Not cheep, but you save the trip to Copenhagen (thats many hours etc.).
You can find more on : www.airgreenland.gl (the site is in Greenlandic, Danish AND English).
and on: www.greenlandtravel.gl
Enjoy your day and hopefully Your stay in Greenland
Jorgen
PS. Beware of the mosquitoes.

Aboud · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2007, 08:53:49 am »

Hi Jorgen, Thanks for the flight info. I am about 2 hrs. from Baltimore, so this is good news. Next month I am heading to Scotland, but Greenland is definately on my agenda. What is the best time of year to go there?

Quote

Hi Aboud
News : May 24th a new flight to Greenalnd was established. From Baltimore/Washington DC to Kangerlussuaq. Flights will be on Thursdays and additional from mid June to end august on Mondays. Price (hope that you are sitting down) from 1000 US$ to 2200 UD$. Not cheep, but you save the trip to Copenhagen (thats many hours etc.).
You can find more on : www.airgreenland.gl (the site is in Greenlandic, Danish AND English).
and on: www.greenlandtravel.gl
Enjoy your day and hopefully Your stay in Greenland
Jorgen
PS. Beware of the mosquitoes.
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JoRi · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2007, 01:49:07 pm »

Hi Aboud
The best season? Depending on what you want. End of july is pretty awsom. And if you go a bit north the sun never sets. In Kangerlussuaq (which is just 30 miles north of the polar circle) you will have light all day and night till middle of august. Mid august is quit nice too (and not so many flies and mosquitoes). The hunting season on reindeer and musk-ox starts August 1st. So it is advicable to be in the sanctuary areas (where the animals go as well). Well there are no trees so the hunters do have a clear view and they spare the amunition for the animals.
End of June is spring in Greenland and can be very beautiful.
If You want to experience the sledgeride (with dogs) you have to come during winter time. The two towns for that is Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg) and Illulissat (Jakobshavn). Sledge dogs are not allowed south of the polar circle.
have a nice trip to Scotland (and enjoy the single malts in the highland)
Jorgen

joedecker · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2007, 02:02:08 am »

My only visit to Greenland was limited to cruise/zodiac/hikes in the fjordy coastal areas of East Greenland (Scorsbysund, Kong Oscar's Fjord). I was there for a couple weeks in September 2006. September was nice because of the color in the "dwarf arctic birch" and arctic willow, yellow and red ground-cover species of the more common trees of the lower latitudes.

I was delighted with the photographic opportunities, even have a solo show of work, primarily from Greenland, opening on July 27. I'm also working to try and figure out how to afford a return trip--if not to that area, I'd at least like to get onto the ice cap.

Most of the images currently in my new images gallery ( http://www.rockslidephoto.com/cgi-bin/gallery.pl?gallery=1 ) are from Greenland, or, barring that, Svalbard.

Author Topic: Greenland (Read 7990 times)