On Top of the World: Ellesmere Island

On Top of the World: Ellesmere Island is a photographic series created during sovereignty exercise Operation NUNALIVUT 2008, when I was serving as a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot flying the CC-138 Twin Otter in the High Arctic. The work documents the stark, fragile beauty of one of the most remote regions on Earth – an environment of snow, ice, rock, and silence.

The series includes aerial views of mountain ranges and sea ice, encounters with Canadian Rangers on patrol, moments of resupply from isolated camps, and a fleeting meeting with a lone Arctic wolf. Many images were taken from the air, capturing the sculptural forms of the land and atmosphere: ridges cut by shadow, ice fields carved by wind, clouds forming halos above distant peaks.

This body of work reflects both the documentary realities of military service in the Arctic and the poetic qualities of psychological landscape – spaces of isolation, endurance, and the sublime.

RCAF CC-138 Twin Otter in flight, propeller arc visible against pale Arctic sky. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of glacier and mountains on Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Cockpit view from RCAF CC-138 Twin Otter in flight, Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of mountains on Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of mountains and frozen sea ice on Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of snow-covered mountains on Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Cloud formation over frozen landscape, viewed from aircraft. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of mountain ridge on Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial abstract of snow and ice on Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of Canasa's most northern point, Ward Hunt Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Canadian Rangers on snowmobiles crossing Arctic sea ice, visible as distant specks with tracks trailing behind. Ellesmere Island, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Twin Otter ski-plane parked on sea ice with curious Arctic wolf. Royal Canadian Air Force, Ellesmere Island, Op NUNALIVUT 2008, Canadian Forces Station Alert.

Arctic wolf standing on snow, looking directly at the camera. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008, Canadian Forces Station Alert.

Aerial photo of covered on Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

RCAF CC-138 Twin Otter taking off from austere landing strip. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

RCAF CC-138 Twin Otter landing from austere landing strip. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

RCAF CC-138 Twin Otter parked on austere landing strip. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of snow-covered mountainand glacier with deep shadowed valley. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of snow-covered mountain on Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Abstract aerial of snow bowl and sharp ridge, light and shadow in gradient. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

bstract aerial of snow bowl and sharp ridge, light and shadow in gradient. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Twin Otter ski-plane parked on sea ice with crew leaning against the nose. Royal Canadian Air Force, Ellesmere Island, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Sundog halo above Arctic sea ice with silhouetted mountains. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Canadian Ranger temporary camp with komatik sled and tents on the ice. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aircraft wing with RCAF roundel visible over frozen fjord and mountain ridges. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Canadian Ranger pouring fuel iat temporary camp with tents on the ice. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Aerial photo of iceberg and frozen sea ice Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Twin Otter ski-plane tracks on sea ice. Royal Canadian Air Force, Ellesmere Island, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

RCAF CC-138 ski-plane parked on sea ice,Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

RCAF CC-138 ski-plane pilot with shotgun on wildlife watch,Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Ground level telephoto view of icebergs in frozen sea ice. Royal Canadian Air Force, Ellesmere Island, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.

Footprints on snow. Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Canada, Op NUNALIVUT 2008.