Photographer Kulisev Displays Works on North Pole

Photographer Kulisev Displays Works on North Pole

Bratislava/Murmansk, July 22 (TASR) – Slovak photographer and explorer Filip Kulisev held an exhibition at the most unorthodox place in his career – putting his works on display on Wednesday (July 21) at the northernmost locale on the planet, directly on the North Pole, TASR learnt on Thursday.

“If we take into account that both Poles, the Mariana Trench and Mount Everest are the limit points of our planet, then the North Pole is the first of them that I have managed to visit. I’m quite happy,” Kulisev told TASR. On the North Pole, he exhibited a selection of 22 photographs he had taken on all the continents across the world.

The selection featured the national parks of Tanzania, the Hawaiian Islands, the heart-shaped mangrove shrubs of New Caledonia and the scenic beauty of northern regions of Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard. Also included was Slovakia, which was represented by the Spis Castle. Visiting the North Pole as part of an expedition organised by Poseidon Expedition, Kulisev also signed there the limited edition of his latest book entitled Element.

“The North Pole is a magical place. We came here during the longest day on the planet, which lasts precisely half a year, later to be replaced by an equally-long polar night. Another interesting aspect of the place where all meridians intersect is that whatever direction you set out from there, you’re going south,” said the photographer, who made the trip to the North Pole aboard the state-of-the-art nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Years of Victory.

Measuring 160 metres in length and 30 metres in width, the colossal ship is driven by two nuclear reactors with an installed power of 342 MWt. “The ship was designed to be capable of continuous operation for four years. In case we didn’t manage to do everything within the planned 12 days, that provided a reassuring confidence boost,” quipped Kulisev, adding that the short trip was spiced up by unusual swimming performances. “Even at the North Pole it’s possible to swim. The water was one degree (Celsius) below zero and even my wife Zuzka took a dip.”

Poseidon Expedition vice-president Jan Bryde is enthusiastic about the cooperation with Filip and Zuzana Kulisev. “We’ve made plans for a number of joint projects. Filip will photograph polar areas in the Arctic and Antarctica on our boats and we’ll present these pictures at other expeditions across the world,” he claimed.

Over the past two decades, Filip Kulisev has become one of the top nature landmark photographers in the world, acquiring the highest European Master QEP qualification (Qualified European Professional Photographer) as one of only two photographers in the world to do so. He has authored eight books, capturing his travel stories and the beauty of nature, and has held almost 200 individual exhibitions in Slovakia and abroad. By seeking beautiful and unique photography spots, Kulisev intends to contribute towards the protection of biodiversity and the natural wealth of the planet.