Travel nominee

At 82° North, the world no longer feels solid. Sea ice stretches to the horizon, fractured into drifting plates divided by dark channels of open water. There are no roads, no markers, no permanent lines. Navigation depends on weather, current, and constant reassessment of terrain that can shift within hours.

Travel at this latitude is slow and deliberate. The surface that appears stable may conceal movement beneath. The edge of the ice becomes a threshold, a boundary between white expanse and deep Arctic sea. Distance is difficult to measure. Sound is absorbed by space and wind.

Within this vastness, presence feels reduced. A solitary bear moves across the frozen field, small against the scale of its environment. It does not dominate the scene but inhabits it, part of the geography rather than separate from it.

This series follows a passage through an unstable frontier where land and ocean exchange roles. At 82° North, certainty dissolves. The landscape is immense yet temporary, powerful yet fragile. To travel here is to enter a place defined by transition, where silence and scale reshape one’s sense of position in the world.

Gio's portfolio showcases both the opulent details of interior design and the grandeur of untouched wilderness.

Gio Fleming is an internationally acclaimed artist known for infusing drama into every landscape she captures. Her work has earned numerous prestigious awards, including Gold Medals at the IPA, PX3, TIFA, and BIFA awards, as well as top honors in the Fine Art Photography Awards. She has been recognized across multiple categories, from Nature and Architecture to Fine Art and Special Photography. Her images have been exhibited globally, including at Head On Photo Festival in Sydney and HIPA in Dubai.

Through her lens, landscapes become cinematic stages where nature’s raw beauty meets the interplay of light and shadow. Each limited series print offers a window into these narratives, allowing collectors to own a piece of her dynamic and evocative artistry.

What distinguishes Gio’s work is her commitment to raising awareness about the fragility of Earth’s wild places. Recognizing the threats of climate change and human impact, she believes photography can be a catalyst for change. Her images not only highlight the stunning landscapes of mountains, glaciers, and polar ice but also convey their vulnerability and impermanence.