Greenland - Eckart Mayer Photography

Large iceberg floating in the ocean, illuminated by the afternoon sun

Huge iceberg ahead

On our way heading north along the west coast of Greenland, we spotted icebergs on a very regular basis. This one was exceptionally huge, and nicely illuminated by the afternoon sun. When you look at their sheer size, one feels happy to know that cruise ships today have lots of technology on board to make sure that they don't hit any of these giants, even in bad weather conditions. (West Coast, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-033)

Red wooden house with white windows and two plastic chairs against green hill backdrop

Greenland village summer idyll

No matter where you go in Greenland, all town, villages and even small settlements come with colorful houses. This tradition dates back to the 18th century, with specific colors indicating the type of building, e.g. school, doctor etc. As a photographer these days, we can enjoy an even larger variety of different colors, that nicely contrast with the green in summer, or the white snow in winter. I found this house with the two plastic chairs in Qassiarsuk. (Qassiarsuk, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-029)

Side view of an iceberg with lots of vertical lines running down into the turquoise water below

Vertical iceberg melting

This is another good example to illustrate why even after two weeks, it doesn't get boring to observe icebergs floating by. This one is characterized by lots of vertical lines, most likely from the meltwater running down on its sides. The many different shapes and sizes, combined with the changing backgrounds and light make each of them unique. And with them melting constantly in summer, you will never be able to get the same photo again the next day. (Akulleq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-024)

Closeup on the textured surface of an iceberg floating in front of a mountain

Iceberg fingerprint pattern

One of the main reasons to take a cruise to the Arctic obviously is to see icebergs. And no matter how many are floating by, it somehow never gets boring. The many different shapes and sizes, combined with the changing backgrounds and light make each of them unique. And when you take an even closer look, you can find amazing patterns that will inspire your mind. (Akulleq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-022)

Blue cruise ship anchored in front of a mountain range, with icebergs to both its left and right side

Cruise ship framed by icebergs

On one of the tours with the zodiacs, I took this photo of our temporary home, anchored in the Akulleq fjord. Being relatively small (~200 people incl. crew), the "Ocean Albatros" could access even smaller fjords where large cruise ships can't go. Despite the fast moving boat, I managed to capture it nicely framed by two icebergs against the backdrop of a mountain. (Akulleq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-025)

Blow of a whale in the ocean, illuminated by the low standing evening sun

Sunset blow of a whale

Spotting whales in the vast ocean tends to be a challenge everywhere. Despite of their size, they remain so small compared to the endless water. In Greenland, this exercise proved even more difficult, and the few times someone discovered a blow, these were far away. However, using my telephoto lens and cropping the image, I got a good view of this giant sunset traveler. (West Coast, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-035)

Partial view of yellow wooden house reflecting in a puddle

Wooden house reflections

During our walk in Qassiersuk, I indulged in my usual "urban exploration photography". And whilst this small remote village was far from "urban", I found a lot of interesting details to capture. One of these was a typical wooden house painted in yellow, reflecting beautifully in a large puddle. (Qassiarsuk, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-030)

An iceberg with the shape of an iceberg floating offshore, with some cloud covered hills in the background

Whale shaped iceberg

Getting up early in the morning on an arctic cruise has the advantage of seeing this unique place in a different light. Most of the days, we had clear skies and warm light from the low standing sun. On route to Qassiarsuk, it was rather foggy, and some low hanging clouds were lingering on top of the hills surrounding the fjord. With a bit of imagination, the iceberg looks like a huge frozen whale. (Qassiarsuk, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-027)

Side view of an iceberg with a polished surface, floating in beautiful turquoise water.

Polished floating iceberg

This is a good example to illustrate why even after two weeks, it doesn't get boring to observe icebergs floating by. This one seems to be carefully polished, and is nicely backlit by the sun. The many different shapes and sizes, combined with the changing backgrounds and light make each of them unique. And with them melting constantly in summer, you will never be able to get the same photo again the next day. (Akulleq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-023)

View through the arch formed by an iceberg, with more ice visible through this natural window

View through an iceberg arch

Amongst the most spectacular icebergs are those that form an arch. Every time we spotted one, there was huge excitement amongst the passengers, not only because they are rare, but also given that these are just temporary before they inevitably collapse. (Eriksfjord, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-031)

Two icebergs floating in a Greenland fjord, with mountains in the background

Iceberg duo with mountain range

One of the main reasons to take a cruise to the Arctic obviously is to see icebergs. And no matter how many are floating by, it somehow never gets boring. The many different shapes and sizes, combined with the changing backgrounds and light make each of them unique. And with them melting constantly in summer, you will never be able to get the same photo again the next day. (Akulleq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-020)

Portrait of a local Greenland male tourist guide smiling against a yellow facade

Friendly local tourist guide

For our half-day visit to Qassiarsuk, we had the pleasure of being welcomed by a very friendly and professional local tourist guide. Visiting this small and remote settlement without him would not have been to exciting. But his insights into the traditions and the daily life of the inhabitants were very interesting. And as nice as this place was now in mid summer, it must be a tough place to stay during dark winter months. (Qassiarsuk, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-028)

Close-up on a large turquoise wave with water spraying from its top against a dark ocean and sky

Turquoise large wave splash

The splash clearly indicates the strength of the wind. Bad weather comes with special treats. During the crossing from Denmark to Greenland, a powerful storm created impressive waves that grew larger and larger over time. The beautiful turquoise color and the white splash of the clean water against the dark sky looked breathtaking. I still took a number of photos from the balcony of our cabin, until this became to dangerous. (Denmark Strait, Greenland, July 2024 - Image ID: 202407-GL-002)

A zodiac with tourists having a closer look at a large iceberg

Zodiac tour along a beautiful iceberg

As nice as it may be to observe icebergs from a cruise ship, the perspective changes a lot to the better once you get into a zodiac or kayak to have a closer look at these transient beauties. With their many different shapes and sizes, combined with the changing backgrounds and light, each of them is unique. And with them melting constantly in summer, you will never be able to get the same photo again the next day. (Akulleq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-021)

360 degree halo around the sun, shining onto a fjord landscape with a floating iceberg

360 degree arctic halo

On the first morning in southern Greenland, we were lucky to see a rather unusual phenomenon. A 360 degree halo effect surrounded the low standing sun rising above the fjord landscape. Apart from the mountain silhouette, the nicely illuminated iceberg made the scenery even more spectacular. (Uunartoq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-017)

Small waterfall dropping over sun illuminated rocks

Waterfalls everywhere…

In summer, the fjords in Southern Greenland all seem to be waterfall country. With temperatures clearly above zero, the ice on top of the mountains melts almost around the clock, resulting in countless waterfalls of all sizes making their way into the valleys. The often colorful rocks make them look very pretty. And if you are lucky, you might get some early morning or evening sunlight, creating an even nicer view. (Prince Christian Sound, Greenland, July 2024 - Image ID: 202407-GL-014)

An empty whirlpool and shower on top of a cruise ship, closed due to bad weather

Whirlpool closed and empty

Due to the heavy storm, the whirlpools on the upper deck of the cruise ship had to be emptied and closed for operation. In any case, I assume few people would have used this facility with the strong motion caused by the large waves. (Denmark Strait, Greenland, July 2024 - Image ID: 202407-GL-005)

Moss- and water landscape in the arctic tundra (closeup)

Tundra natural beauty

A hike through the tundra in Greenland in summer is a unique experience. The entire ground is filled with water, and in the short summer, plants are growing everywhere. Having a knowledgeable guide is quite helpful, also to ensure tourists don't damage the fragile ecosystem. Instead of just quickly rushing through, I took my time to take some photos of the unique flora of the arctic. (Uunartoq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-019)

Sunlit bow wave of a cruise ship against the backdrop of snow covered mountains

Waves meet mountains

After the rough passage through the Denmark Strait, everyone on board was happy that the storm calmed down. It made way for a beautiful sunny evening cruise through Prince Christian Sound in the South of Greenland. The previously rather scary ocean water reduced to a bow wave which added a special extra to the spectacular fjord and mountain scenery. The warm sunlight illuminated this natural beauty until late in the evening (Prince Christian Sound, Greenland, July 2024 - Image ID: 202407-GL-012)

Evening panorama of the mountains surrounding a fjord in south Greenland at sunset

Sunset over Prince Christian Sound

An evening cruise through Prince Christian Sound late on a sunny arctic summer evening is pretty romantic, except for the temperature of just 5 degrees Celsius. The dramatic landscape with the mountains on both sides of the fjord constantly changed between narrow passages and vast open space. Most of the passengers stayed outside to celebrate the sunset. (Prince Christian Sound, Greenland, July 2024 - Image ID: 202407-GL-016)

Long exposure blue hour shot of ocean waves during a strong storm

Blue hour storm waves

In summer, it doesn't get fully dark in the Arctic, so the blue hours extends much longer. Whilst most passengers were sleeping, I decided to take some more pictures of the ever-growing waves during a mighty storm. Unfortunately, it was to dangerous to go outside, but I still managed to capture the magic of the waves through the windows via long exposure. (Denmark Strait, Greenland, July 2024 - Image ID: 202407-GL-008)

Close-up on a single wave during a storm, with water spraying from its top

Gone with the wind

Zooming in on individual waves, one can appreciate the fine water spray caused by the strong wind blowing off the top layer of water. Just watching this natural phenomenon is rather interesting, provided you are not suffering from sea sickness. (Denmark Strait, Greenland, July 2024 - Image ID: 202407-GL-007)

Arctic moss details

Hiking through the tundra in Greenland in summer is a unique experience. The entire ground is filled with water, and in the short summer, plants are growing everywhere. Instead of just quickly rushing through, I took my time to have a closer look at some of the unique species such as arctic moss. A macro shot reveals the hidden beauty of this resilient plant. (Uunartoq, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-018)

Three mountain peaks lined up behind each other, illuminated by warm evening sunlight

Three fjord mountain peaks

The cruise through Prince Christian Sound late on a sunny arctic summer evening never got boring. The landscape constantly changes, and the fjord provides new stunning views after every turn. The dramatic steep mountains on both sides were nicely illuminated by the warm sunlight. I particularly liked this ensemble of three mountain peaks nicely lined up one behind each other. (Prince Christian Sound, Greenland, July 2024 - Image ID: 202407-GL-015)

About this archive

The Greenland archives contain the highlights of my only trip to this remote place in the Arctic in summer 2024.

Getting there comes with a certain challenge for someone like me who has never been on a cruise. However, since there is no road network in Greenland, it is not an option to fly there and just rent the car.

The only meaningful way to visit the largest island in the world is to explore it by ship. Cruising along the endless coastline itself is magic. However, a trip to Greenland would not be complete without frequent landings. These may be ports, e.g. in the capital Nuuk. Even more exciting are the "wild landings" with zodiacs to access smaller villages or the wilderness. You will learn a lot about the culture of the people living in Greenland. It is sparsely populated with just 55.000 inhabitants on more than 2.1 mio. square kilometers. Most of them belong to the ethnic group of the Inuit. Whilst it geographically belongs to North America, Greenland politically is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

To get there, we took an expedition cruise ship with a maximum capacity of just 170 passengers plus approx. 80 crew. They did an excellent job to make our trip a memorable and fantastic experience. Due to a heavy storm, we had to skip the originally planned visit to the east coast. Instead, we went straight to the most southern tip of the island. From there we made our way up the spectacular west coast.

Please enjoy scrolling through my Greenland archives.

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