The Vanishing Life of the Arctic

I found myself deeply inspired by the work of Icelandic photographer Ragnar Axelsson, particularly his book Faces of the North. The cover alone stopped me in my tracks: a striking black-and-white portrait of an older man with long white hair and a matching beard, dressed in a dark turtleneck and framed by the dramatic landscape of Reynisfjara’s black-sand beach.

Curious, I opened the book, skimmed the introduction, and was quickly pulled into the raw beauty of his images. Each photograph felt like a quiet story — portraits of people shaped by wind, sea, ice, and time. His work captures the Arctic not just as a place, but as a disappearing way of life, and it became a powerful source of inspiration during my time in Iceland.

Who is Ragnar Axelsson?
Ragnar Axelsson is a renowned Icelandic photographer known for his evocative black-and-white portraits and Arctic documentary work. His book Faces of the North established him as a leading storyteller of northern life, and his internationally acclaimed work has been featured in major publications and exhibitions worldwide.— Anouk Sassen