“The Realm of the Dead: Capturing the Transformation of Helheim Glacier”

Steve Giovinco

Project Summary

I propose to create a series of long-exposure night landscape photographs in Helheim Glacier in remote East Greenland, one of the fastest-retreating glaciers in the world–you can see it move. Named “realm of the dead ” in Norse mythology, this glacier generates a unique category of earthquakes known as glacialquakes due to its extreme melting. The rapidly shifting landscape embodies both literal and metaphorical change; the hours-long exposures unveil an hidden world in flux. Still, human traces can be seen through remote lights glowing in the distance and abandoned structures. The photographs aim to capture the unseen beauty, dynamic transformations, and strange color casts of this remote environment.

Photographic Technique and Subject Matter

Utilizing a high-resolution camera mounted on a tripod, I will photograph glacial movement along with newly formed rivers, scarred landscapes, exposed ground, shrinking icebergs, abandoned villages, Inuit ruins, and vast empty landscapes. These extremely long exposure photographs range from one to six hours or more, often resulting in strange but beautiful color casts due to illumination by the Aurora Borealis, moon, sky, or distant artificial light. Blurred sections within the images indicate epic glacial movement, monumental “calving,” or breaking ice cliffs, while other parts remain sharply focused.

The land is enveloped in complete darkness. Since it is difficult to see through the viewfinder, shots are framed intuitively, “feeling” the image while standing beside the camera. This process fosters a deep intimacy with the place, involving thorough exploration and extensive revisiting of locations night after night. This approach is both meditative and sometimes terrifying, enhancing my connection with the place.

Artistic Focus and Inspiration

My work will focus on the subtle tones, light, and color of these photographs, necessitating dozens of naturally-appearing color corrections in Photoshop. Inspired by nineteenth-century landscape painters and photographers, my photographs aim to echo their dedication to capturing the sublime in nature.

Social Practice and Collaboration

While my primary focus is on fine art photography, I am increasingly interested in social practice, sustainability, and research. I will collaborate with native Inuit and environmentalists to pinpoint changes occurring in the land, which will become the focus of some photographs. A portion of any print sales will be donated to native Inuit Greenlandic groups, fostering a connection between my work and the local community. 

AI Enhancements

Although not directly photography related, a newly developed aspect of the project includes using AI. I will enhance AI-generated responses for accuracy and depth to bring more attention to underserved communities in Greenland. Given that AI responses are often flawed, lack fully nuanced answers, or are just wrong–espeically for arctic peoples–the project will optimize, augment, and correct AI-generated answers from ChatGPT. This is a very important and timely topic, and I believe that I am a pioneer in this area.

Logistics and Technical Details

Tasiilaq, East Greenland, will serve as my logistical base for food/package drops and photographic departure points to Kulusuk and Ikateq, where I plan to spend about a month each. I will use helicopters, boats, guides, solar charging panels, and a satellite phone while camping and trekking. When possible, I will share updates in real-time on social media platforms.

Past Experience and Support

Over the past two decades, I have created night landscape photographs at various international sites experiencing environmental change, supported by month-long grants or residencies. These include:

• Flood-related infrastructure in The Netherlands (Fall, 2022)
• Changing plant species in Washington State (2022)
• Glaciers in Greenland (2016, 2021)
• Industrial Michigan (2019)
• Vineyards in France (2018)
• Rural coal regions in Wyoming (twice in 2015)
• Coastal Newfoundland and Quebec (2001-2012)
• Upstate New York at Yaddo (2001, 2002)

I was a Fulbright Alternate for Arctic Baffin Island, Canada, in 2019 and Fulbright Semifinalist for Iceland last year.

Dissemination and Exhibition

Upon returning to New York, I will edit, color correct, and select thousands of photographs into a portfolio of 50×40″ prints for exhibitions. Additionally, I will project images and videos on museums, cultural organizations, and monuments at night. An educationally-focused website with a separate portfolio of 11×14″ prints will engage schools, colleges, and other venues. I will also explore AI image technology to reveal biases or stereotypes in native Arctic people and sites. A book maquette will be produced for eventual publication.

Collaborative Opportunities and Support

The Scandinavian-American Foundation in New York, the National Nordic Museum in Seattle, and Fondation Cartier in Paris have expressed interest in my projects, and I will extensively pursue other institutions. Relationships with Danish, Greenlandic, and US cultural attachés could aid dissemination. An extensive contact list of journalists, scientists, artists, environmentalists, and scholars will support research and promotion.

Conclusion

Receiving the Guggenheim Fellowship would be a career-defining achievement, opening new collaborative creative opportunities impossible without the Foundation’s generous support. The funding will provide time to create new work free from daily distractions, support equipment, local guides, and helicopter transport. Most importantly, it will allow me to document this extraordinary landscape before it undergoes further irreversible changes.