The Longest Sunset
Iceland is a land full of stories of small and large revolutions.
Among Iceland’s major revolutions, is the one concerning the use of renewable energy sources for this nation that only 50 years ago was still dependent on oil, while today almost all the energy used 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, manifested even with 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 in 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 has happened near Grindavík in the recent months.
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.
During a flight to Keflavík airport, it is possible to see the sunset for many hours. Staying in Reykjavík during December is like living in a month-long sunset.
What really matters in photography is to be free and the ability to shoot without any preconceptions. The direction will be drawn by intuition and feeling, by having an honest approach and by maintaining focus on the quiet secret and intimate relationship between the photographer and the landscape which he has fallen into.
The ancient struggle of the survival of man against nature forms the background for images that don’t try to give answers. These photographs represent natural elements that are deeply connected to the unknown. There is a surreal aspect to the composition that obscures the interpretation of the image.
