Svalbard 2

Welcome to the second part of my trip report to Svalbard. I've already received some great comments on the first part. I think the photos below will give you a good impression of some aspects of my trip that weren't covered in my previous blog post.

S/V Meander

Our accommodation for that week was the sailing ship Meander. Originally built in 1946 for fishing, it was converted into its current two-master in 1995. During construction, the hull had already been reinforced to such an extent that sailing in Arctic conditions was no problem for this ship. When conditions permitted, we would go out twice a day by zodiac. We would alternate between going ashore and sailing, for example, among the ice floes near a glacier. All wonderful experiences, of course.

If you ever consider taking a similar trip, I highly recommend choosing a small ship like the Meander. Not only is it much more fun to travel with a small group, but such a small ship is also much more flexible. For example, we were able to get much closer to a glacier than a large expedition ship, which we also saw nearby. And if weather conditions change (quickly), a small ship can adapt much more easily. These large expedition ships often have a fixed route, from which they don't deviate.

In short, take a quick look to get an impression of this beautiful old ship. First, a few photos I took on board.

But when we were in the zodiac or on land, we often had a magnificent view of this old lady. Because, let's be honest, you could easily make a postcard from the first photo below, right?

Ice

Ask someone you know what they think of when they hear the word Svalbard, and chances are they'll mention something to do with ice. And rightly so, of course, because Longyearbyen is located at over 78 degrees north latitude. We've seen ice in all shapes and sizes.

And those glaciers are truly impressive when you're about 300 meters away, and you even see a large chunk of ice break off every now and then. That beautiful blue color the ice sometimes has is also a highlight, of course. Did you know, by the way, that blue color develops because, over time, the pressure on the ice increases? This causes air bubbles to disappear from the ice, making it more compact, which allows it to better reflect the blue light in sunlight.

The chunks of ice that break off and float for a while in the sea or wash up on land sometimes have bizarre shapes. Incredibly photogenic, of course, especially when the light plays a part.

Maar ook als het juist heel erg mistig is, kun je hier prima foto's van maken. Dergelijke omstandigheden schreeuwen natuurlijk om een lange sluitertijd en minimalistische composities.

And of course I also zoomed in a bit more on the ice.

Structures

I didn't just zoom in on the ice, though. The mountains on Svalbard are quite photogenic in themselves, with many beautiful shapes, lines, and textures. And when a layer of snow has fallen, it all comes into its own.

So, anyone who thinks a large telephoto lens can be left at home for landscape photography is completely mistaken. A telephoto zoom lens actually gives you the opportunity to pick out details in the landscape. But even when you're sailing on a ship, a telephoto zoom is practically indispensable; otherwise, the photos often show a lot of water and sky. My Fuji 100-400mm more than proved itself on this trip.

Panoramas

Finally, I'd like to conclude with a few panoramas that hopefully do Svalbard justice, because the landscapes and light are sometimes truly breathtaking. I photographed all these panoramas handheld, because using a tripod would simply be impractical, or even impossible, on board a ship.

As long as you keep an eye on the horizon, Lightroom has no problem merging the photos into a panorama, in my experience.

I hope these two blog posts about Svalbard have given you a good impression of this corner of the world with its beautiful landscapes and nature. So if you ever have the opportunity to make such a trip, I'm sure you won't regret it. It was truly an unforgettable week!