Dennis Lehtonen's Aerial Views of Remote Greenland Villages Illuminate an Evolving Land
January 8, 2026
Narsaq, Greenland. All images © Dennis Lehtonen
Greenland is home to only about 56,000 people, the vast majority of whom are Inuit and live on the southern part of the island that’s not covered in ice. The largest city, Nuuk, houses around one-third of the country’s population. And situated just south of the Arctic Circle, residents only see a few hours of sunlight during the day in mid-winter.
Hunting and fishing have traditionally sustained a subsistence lifestyle for Greenlanders, and today, the latter continues as the foundation of the nation’s economy. It’s a stunning island, with dramatic mountains, fjords, and rocky coastlines. For photographer Dennis Lehtonen, who moved to Greenland in early 2023 and found work in its fish factories, the inherent beauty of the region is endlessly enchanting.
Tasiusaq
Siorapaluk
Narsamijit
Kullorsuaq
Using a drone, Lehtonen captures these otherworldly places where time-honored traditions confront our contemporary, globalized world. He aims to photograph all of the approximately 70 inhabited places in Greenland, creating a kind of poignant record.
“With many young people moving to a few bigger cities, it means that many smaller, remote places experience severe depopulation,” Lehtonen says. “It’s therefore highly realistic that some places I have lived in will be closed as I get older.” See more on Instagram.
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/01/dennis-lehtonen-aerial-photographs-greenland/
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