The innocent bystander.

Wide skies, tiny plants and stillness all represent the Arctic tundra to me. Yet, those vast landscapes are not free of people. Indigenous communities have lived in the Arctic for thousands of years. Ecologists are a recent addition to the scene. Here, I captured a typical moment of fieldwork, where we are reorienting ourselves after finishing a set of botanical observations. Often these moments are opportunities for reflection, or lighthearted chat during a hard day of work. Meanwhile, the plants just crack on with their life, exactly like themountain avens (Dryas integrifolia), craning its showy flowerheads towards the sun.
by Jakob Assmann