Ryland West

Portraits of Ephemerality is a photographic series combining traditional landscape photography with contemporary portrait lighting. Through a mix of lighting techniques, I remove external elements to focus on singular subjects. In the photographs, I explore the shapes and hidden textures of Arctic structures. Taking a minimalist approach, I capture the microtextures embedded in the ice, then pull back to construct a dynamic portrait of the landscape. This body of work reflects the sublimity of the fragile Arctic environment, creating a visual experience characterized by precision and simplicity. The unconventional composition juxtaposes a quietly powerful image with a dynamic landscape, eliciting awe and wonder in the viewer. The tension between the elements constitutes a challenge to the traditions of landscape photography. By obscuring scale, the compositions trigger curiosity in the viewer and encourage them to take a closer look at this remote and unstable area. In Portraits of Ephemerality, I use light to convey the fragility of the Arctic and offer a glimpse of a place few people will ever see.