At this spot, deep in the desolate landscape of Ikateq, dozens of rusted-away oil drums tell the story of a time that once was. They lie scattered on the ground, like forgotten reminders of a military presence long gone. The barrels, weather-beaten over the years, have developed a patina of rust that contrasts beautifully with the natural colours of the surroundings.
The mountains in the background tower imposingly, as timeless witnesses to the landscape that remains untouched in its grandeur despite human traces. The decay of the oil drums seems to have a silent dialogue with the eternal power of nature, which slowly draws the landscape back to itself.
The image exudes an air of melancholy and transience. It shows how the traces of human activity fade in time, while nature continues unruffled. At the same time, there is an intriguing beauty in decay: the textures, colours and patterns of the rust tell their own story, a story of change and adaptation.
This photograph invites reflection on our impact on the world and how nature always triumphs in the end. It is a reminder of the power of time and the unstoppable dynamism of East Greenland's landscape.
My name is Gerry van Roosmalen, photographer and author with a passion for images and stories that touch. After years in the corporate world, I followed my heart and chose photography in 2002. I completed the Fotovakschool in Apeldoorn, specialising in portrait and reportage photography.
Documentary and landscape..
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