A solar eclipse is imbued with mystical meaning—many cultures believe it’s a time when demons or animals consume the sun. While astronomers have now provided us with a scientific answer for this rare phenomenon, it remains a curiosity and the inspiration for the newly released episode of Salomon Freeski TV, Eclipse.
Photographer Reuben Krabbe is someone captivated by the solar eclipse, and so in March 2015 he set out to take a photo of a skier during this infrequent occurrence in the northern archipelago of Svalbard, Norway. The story of this demanding expedition was documented by Salomon in partnership with Switchback Entertainment and won Best Film: Snow Sports at last week’s Banff Mountain Film Festival.
Peter Popall, a jury member from the festival expressed his wonder at the magnitude of Krabbe’s undertaking. “[W]e all have different motors which drive us to go out there. Filmmakers and photographers are challenged to catch the right moment,” says Popall. “Certain filmmakers will attempt to achieve things that are deemed by most to be too difficult and inaccessible, like capturing a full solar eclipse that can only happen once or twice in their lifetime.”
For more information on other award winners at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, visit www.banffcentre.ca.
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