The aerial and marine logistics necessary to take this image was provided courtesy of Greenpeace International during a research trip of Greenland. The Arctic Sunrise, the base from which the series of photographs was made is a 50 foot Ice breaking tug, first used as a sealing ship. Now owned by Greenpeace International it services a tiny single engine helicopter. The combined logistical ability of these two craft and their pilots made this trip possible. We were able to fly over parts of Greenland where people simply cannot go, without this rare expertise. A ship operating as a mobile helicopter pad, sailing far into the frozen fjords that surround Greenland’s coast, gave us a head start. From there we could fly further in with a lightweight, four seater, single engine helicopter.

This machine is more akin to a flying machine or micro-light, lightweight and maneuverable enough to fly through the twisting paths made by ice and melt-water. When the conditions allowed we’d unbolt the doors on one side making two open platforms for myself and the cameraman to sit and film from. This would give us unique access, and possibly added to the urgency of many of the images. I sought refuge from the exposure, by making exposures in my viewfinder! A rattling door-less 1970s helicopter 600 metres above only broken ice and melt water, days away from any possibility of rescue is scary

The work has so far been shown in Eight Magazine and New Scientist in the UK, with European and US magazines taking an interest, with a view to more publication in 2006.

Nick has specialised in environmental photography for the past 12 years, and worked with Greenpeace for the last eight years, working in Greenland and the Arctic regions of the Northern hemisphere. Other clients include WWF, Christian Aid, and his work has been published in Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times and many more. Photographer since 1994, EPUK member since 2001.

See more work by Nick Cobbing