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The clan
The clan

The clan

The group's breath in the Arctic light

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Paper
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Sale price€49,00

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The very essence of orca social life: a close-knit, elegant and perfectly coordinated group, moving together in the soft light of an Arctic late afternoon.

Black silhouettes emerge from an icy fjord, crowned by snow-capped mountains and bathed in an almost surreal light. In winter, in northern Norway, light is scarce, but when it breaks through, it becomes magical: warm, low-angled, almost golden. This image is a perfect example.

As the orcas surface for air, their plumes of vapor rise into the cold air, forming a delicate mist. The scene is peaceful, almost meditative. One senses the cohesion of the group, the closeness between individuals, the serenity that follows the intense moments of the hunt.

The prints offered are made on high-end art paper , providing a faithful reproduction of the subtlety of polar tones and the nuances of the animals' breath.
The clan
The clan Sale price€49,00

The story behind the image

"It was an intense hunting day for the orca clans in the fjord. That day, I was able to photograph a feeding—a hunt on a ball of herring—and it was impressive. After feasting, the orcas spend long periods socializing."

The clan gathers, the whole group is there. It's the end of the day, bathed in the wild light of the Arctic. There's little light in winter, but what little there is is absolutely incredible, magical.

This clan moves calmly on the surface, swimming together, probably heading towards a sheltered bay where they will rest. What moves me is the unity: in these animal families, the group comes before the individual.

There's also this divine light, these breaths that I manage to capture in silhouette. On the boat, you can hear them breathing, moving forward. No one was speaking anymore. It was a really, really wonderful moment.

Stéphane Granzotto

Why is this image unique?

This image is unique because it captures a moment of absolute calm in the lives of orcas, just after a group hunt. The group is gathered, perfectly aligned, moving forward in almost choral harmony.

Arctic light transforms the scene into a living painting: a golden backlighting that reveals the breezes, the silhouettes, the subtle reflections on the cold sea. This type of light, rare and fleeting, lasts only a few minutes a day in winter.

Photographing an entire clan in such a readable configuration — adults of different sizes, all close together — is something that only happens with a lot of experience, a deep knowledge of animal behavior and a moment of luck.

The plumes of breath, frozen in the icy air, add a powerful sensory dimension: we see the animals, but we can almost hear their breathing. It is this immersive, calm, and profoundly vibrant force that makes the image so striking.

Art print

Printed on Canson Infinity paper, each artwork is crafted with professional care, certified, and signed by the artist. Prints are available in various sizes, framed or unframed. Each piece captures the richness of golden hues and the depth of the Arctic sea.

The photographer's recommendation

The clan integrates beautifully into warm and elegant interiors with terracotta, sand and natural brown tones.

The warmth of the setting highlights the deep black of the sea and the golden light of the sky. This photograph works equally well:
• in warm living rooms decorated in shades of ochre, caramel, beige or brown,
• in contemporary or classic settings,
• on light or medium-colored walls that enhance the contrast,
• with a matte black frame, perfect for highlighting the silhouette of the clan.

It is a powerful, poetic and contemplative piece, which brings a soothing and profound atmosphere, without ever overwhelming the space.

The artist

Stéphane Granzotto is a photographer, filmmaker, and diver, as well as a Canon Europe and Canson ambassador. His work explores the intimate connections between marine animals and light, in an approach that is both artistic and naturalistic. Discover his complete world on the Biography page.

Place

Northern Norway
Arctic fjord

Species

Orca
Orcinus orca

Device

Canon EOS R5
RF100-500mm f/7.1L IS USM
1/1250 — f/6.3 — ISO 160

The collections

Cachalots

sperm whales

Orques de Norvège

Orcas

Mer

Sea

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Printed on Canson paper

Professional supervision