ARCTIC SERIES—
POND INLET AT THE FLOE EDGE
WITH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE TORONTO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, I SPENT TWO WEEKS PHOTOGRAPHING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN POND INLET, BAFFIN ISLAND IN MAY 2007. WITH 1,315 INUIT, POND INLET WILL TAKE THE BRUNT OF CLIMATE CHANGE SINCE IT RELIES ON NEARBY ICE FOR PROTEIN FROM FISHING AND HUNTING. ACCORDING TO LOCAL RESIDENTS, THE ICE SEASON HAS SHORTENED CONSIDERABLY IN RECENT YEARS, ECHOING A 30% DECLINE IN SUMMER SEA ICE IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN RECORDED BY SATELLITES. POLAR BEARS ALSO RELY ON THE ICE FOR THEIR STAPLE—SEALS. BUT TODAY, THE SPRING ICE PACK DOESN’T STAY AS LONG, SO BEARS ARE STARVING IN SOME LOCALES. AN ICE FREE ARCTIC WILL BE A BOON TO OIL EXPLORATION, BUT THE BEAUTIFUL EXPANSE OF THE FLOE EDGE THAT SUSTAINS THE INUIT AND WILDLIFE WILL BE AT RISK.
Bird Colony, 2007.
