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The blow
The blow

The blow

The golden breath of the Arctic giant

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Sale price€49,00

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This photo captures the precise moment when a humpback whale exhales its breath in the rare, low-angled light of the Arctic. Against the backdrop of the fjord's towering cliffs, this powerful jet transforms into a golden cloud, suspended in the cold air, almost motionless.

The landscape is monumental. The mountains seem to sculpt the light, while the dark, calm sea creates a perfect surface to receive the breath of the marine giant. This photograph combines the raw power of the breath, the graphic beauty of the backlighting, and the majesty of the Norwegian fjords.

It's an image of contrast: still yet full of energy, silent but immensely alive. A true Arctic scene, captured in its purest magic.
The blow
The blow Sale price€49,00

The story behind the image

"That's a humpback whale that you can see in this picture, photographed in a place I particularly like in the fjord, at the foot of vertiginous cliffs which, for me, represent the mineral strength of this incredible place.

As is often the case, there is little light at this time of year. The sun is very low, barely touching the mountain peaks. It feels like a permanent sunset — even though it's not even 2 p.m.

Just before polar night falls, a humpback whale powerfully projects its breath more than ten meters high. The sound carries for hundreds of meters.

This isn't a close-up: it's an atmospheric photo, and that's what I love about it. The vastness of the fjord, the soft light, the silhouette of the breath... It's a very gentle moment, yet very deceptive, because it was extremely cold that day.

The true beauty of humpback whales lies in these giants from the ocean, who also cleverly profit from orcas hunting herring in the waters.

Stéphane Granzotto

Why is this image unique?

This photograph is unique because it captures a phenomenon as simple as it is spectacular: the blow of a humpback whale, transformed by the Arctic light into an almost unreal golden column.

The vast, stark landscape creates a scene where scale is palpable: the whale appears small against the gigantic cliffs, yet its breath fills the image. It is this duality—an immense animal but an even larger fjord—that gives the photograph its full visual power.

The light is exceptional: a light that only exists in the Arctic, a few hours a day, a few weeks a year. Soft, lateral, warm despite the extreme cold.

Finally, the composition highlights the tranquility of the scene: no sudden movement, but a calm, majestic presence that invites contemplation. A rare, precious scene, difficult to anticipate and even more difficult to capture at the perfect moment.

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

Thanks to its golden breath and the softness of its light, The Blow works equally well in bright interiors as in deeper atmospheres.

The photograph highlights this particularly well:
• contemporary, natural or minimalist styles,
• neutral palettes (beige, sand, soft grey),
• warm materials (light wood, wool, linen, textured rugs),
• a matte black or white frame depending on the desired atmosphere.

It is a soothing, contemplative image, perfect for a living room, an office, an entrance or a relaxation space where you want to add a touch of grand nature.

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

Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae

Device

Canon EOS R5
RF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
1/250 — f/2.8 — ISO 100 — 200mm

The collections

Cachalots

sperm whales

Orques de Norvège

Orcas

Mer

Sea

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Printed on Canson paper

Professional supervision