The Whale Hunt

The spring is when the polar ice melts and the whales begin their annual migration to the Arctic. It’s also when the Iñupiat prepare for the whale hunt. This thousand-year-old tradition provides the community with both food and social cohesion. They are legally allowed to catch 22 whales every year. In 2007, Jonathan Harris traveled to Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost city in the United States. Over seven days, he follows the Iñupiat as they prepare for the hunt and eventually catch two whales. He documents the whole trip—from the taxi ride to the airport to the slaughter of the mammals—in 3,214 photos. He takes a picture every five minutes, resorting to a timer while he's sleeping. This stop-motion-style digital documentary takes on a human dimension with the frequency determined by Harris’s heartbeat. By applying filters, we can also zoom in on subplots. The result is a new and dynamic way of telling stories.

Unfortunately, the technology used to make this interactive project available online is no longer supported. However, new solutions to preserve and update projects technically are continuously being explored within the interactive field. Whenever possible, we will bring this project back online.