The Longest Sunset

A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL OF US
Silvia Bonaventura – Valeria Bella Gallery

Iceland is a land full of stories of small and large revolutions. One of Iceland’s most important revolutions is the use of renewable energy sources for this nation, which only 50 years ago was still dependant on oil, while today almost all the energy comes from renewable sources and, in particular, from hydroelectric and geothermal power plants.
But revolutions, as we know, start with everyday life and in Iceland there is a great respect for the environment, often manifested through simple gestures such as not sitting or walking on the delicate Icelandic moss that grows at the rate of a few millimeters per year.
Despite the focus on sustainable development, the effects of climate change are transforming the country’s landscape and economy. The Okjökull glacier has completely melted, and scientists predict that the others will also disappear over the next 200 years, including the Vatnajökull, a huge glacier covering almost 8,000 square kilometers. Some research suggests that the weight shift caused by the melting of large glaciers could increase volcanic and seismic activity.
Some Icelandic towns are already experiencing underground tremors that damage pipes and cause sudden flooding, or in extreme cases, lava levels have risen to the point where eruptions threaten to destroy entire towns,
as happened near Grindavík in 2024.

In The Longest Sunset, nature is depicted in all its majestic beauty. The photographer and the viewer are surrounded by breathtaking landscapes that capture the wild and unspoiled essence of Iceland. The photographs are not just static images, but tell a dynamic story of an area undergoing profound change.
In this way, The Longest Sunset becomes not only a collection of extraordinary images, but also a call to action, encouraging deep reflection on the everyday choices that can influence environmental sustainability.
In a world where nature is constantly changing, these photographs act as a bridge between the present and an uncertain future, inspiring greater awareness, and a collective commitment to protect the nature that surrounds us.

This project was realized during December 2022 at SÍM Residency in Iceland.

Shortlisted at  Sony World Photography Awards, professional/landscape category, in 2023.