New Year Reflections from Greenland with @jeanne_d_arctique

When it comes to the end of the year, the theme of reflection always comes to mind. We try to summarize if the year has been one that will be looked on fondly or rather one that we might want to put in the back of our minds. As a way to look back through her year, Pam (@jeanne_d_arctique), went out despite the harsh conditions, to shoot and compile photos into an album called new year resolutions which showcases a mix of moody, reflective, and magical images of Greenland's winter landscape. Using the Sprocket Rocket, a few color films including LomoChrome Turquoise, and the Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens, she finds a way to express her inner turmoil and thoughts throughout the year, and presents them with this body of work.

Pam captured these photos in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, situated in the southwest part of the island. Due to its proximity to the Arctic, sunlight is scarce and nights are longer. With an average temperature of around 7.3 °C (45.1 °F) and extreme weather conditions throughout the year, it is remarkable to see the passion and dedication Pam puts into her photography. These conditions can cause damage to cameras and film, but her determination to try and capture the perfect shot is truly admirable.

Shooting in Nuuk can be very challenging since it is very dependent on the weather. It is often too cold and you have to take precautions regarding the lives of the batteries or very simple cameras. Other things that can be challenging is all the storms we have. Several times during the winter season we do get hurricane-like storms where we are prevented from going out due to both the strong wind, but also snow and/or rain. Not good conditions for your cameras and film. But other than that I try to do my best to take my camera with me whenever I am out, especially when I am out hiking. There is always something to capture and that is why this is such a wonderful hobby to have, although an expensive one.

Among all her gear she is most drawn to the Sprocket Rocket. Beyond capturing every scene with its unique 1:3 panoramic aspect ratio and 30 mm focal length, she finds that the Sprocket Rocket is a reliable camera for the most intense of conditions. Not having to worry about the battery failing in the icy weather, as well as the portability due to its lightweight, she hopes to be shooting more with this camera in the coming year and seeing how far she can take it.

Some of the most striking photos from the album were taken with the Sprocket Rocket during a firework-filled New Year Sky. When asked about the process she told us:

I used a tripod and Sprocket Rocket camera and I had a timer on my phone while I exposed it for around one minute as the new year was shooting in.

Besides the Sprocket Rocket, Pam changes the landscape of Greenland using the LomoChrome Turquoise, pairing it up with the Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens. The frigid temperatures get a splash of warm hues with the Turquoise creating orange skies that seem as if the sun is shining bright. On the other hand, when the actual sun is out, the color shift to blue creates this magical feeling akin to being in a sci-fi-based winter world. The Daguerreotype lens captures the frozen surroundings with great detail. Rather than trying to capture it all Pam takes great care in composing shots, with some favorites being the house with the backdrop of the moon, and when she's overlooking some parts of the town on top of a hill.

Those two are always a pair where there is nothing but lovely surprises. I need to be careful with my camera if I am out in extreme weather either by low temperatures or strong hurricane-like wind. So I always keep the camera tugged in a camera bag and only take it out whenever I want to take a picture. This is where the Daguerreotype Achromat comes in handy because it is quite robust even here in the Arctic.

Looking at these photos, the main takeaway is a feeling of reflection. The landscapes have a mix of calmness and violence, showcasing how the weather can be breathtaking yet terrifying. In a way, it can showcase the rollercoaster ride of a year for Pam, but at the end of it, there is something hopeful and positive.

A lot was going on my mind when I was shooting this album. Particularly a lot of endings I was experiencing in my life at that time. And I reflected on how it had formed me and how much love I actually had in my life. For the past year, my resolution was to be successful at work and I managed to achieve it. But it came with a price such as a stress leave. For this coming year, I am hopeful to be able to live a little bit more and have good experiences and also that the world is a better place. Another thing is to use the Sprocket Rocket more since I can just take it with me whenever and wherever I go. That could be my new year resolution for 2024.

As we prepare for the new year, this album serves as a reminder to reflect on our achievements from the past year. If you feel the need to, you can follow Pam's example and find a creative outlet to express how the year has treated you and to recognize the things you have accomplished. Like Pam's new year resolution, be kind to yourself in the coming year and don't forget to keep striving towards your goals!

We thank Pam for her wonderful photos. Be sure to keep up with her by following her LomoHome. What's your new year resolution? Share with us and comment down below!

written by rocket_fries0036 on 2024-01-02 #gear #people #places #landscape #new-year #arctic #sprocket-rocket #lomochrome-turquoise #daguerrotype-achromat