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'Spirit of the Arctic'
Deep in the lands of sea and ice, Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) rule the mystical terrain. The below images were photographed over three encounters, totalling no more than six hours. Their diversity and range are a testament to true photographic skill, under a time sensitive situation. In honour of rich myths, legends, folklore and heritage, each image in this collection is named after a word derived from Inuktitut, Old Norse and Icelandic to celebrate the magic of Svalbard and the wildlife which embodies the spirit of the arctic.
'Fjall'
As the low lying cloud brushed over the mountain peaks, a male Polar Bear emerged from the snowy shadows. It slowly marched over the ice and back into the shadows of the towering mountains that rose high into the sky, providing a staggering scale of the bear in the untouched landscape.
'Karhu'
Whilst devouring a Ringed Seal pup, this male Polar Bear kept a watchful eye on its surroundings, protecting its precious kill from other bears. I noticed the glance it gave as it pulled its head upward, and urgently wanted to photograph the control and power that was conveyed in its eyes with every sideward stare before it left the ice in front of me.
'Rándýr'
Sauntering along the edge of the sea ice, I watched a male Polar Bear patrol the platform from which he hunts his prey. I followed the bear with my lens, who, unphased by my small boat, would frequently stop to curl back his upper lip and expose his gums to facilitate the transfer of pheromones through the vomeronasal organ. The slow and calm encounter felt like time had stood still as I and a Bear watched one another in fascination.
'Vetr'
One of my most treasured Arctic encounters was watching this Polar Bear patrol the perimeter of a plateau mountain. It was a simple moment of pure existence, and in that moment, I suddenly realised how quiet the world had become. Silence in the Arctic is like nothing I have ever experienced. Apart from the occasional crackle of ice, there was no sound, so still that you could almost hear the ice compacting under the Bear’s heavy paw. Another thing that struck me in this moment was realising the sheer privilege I had of being in the presence of a Polar Bear, walking in the shadow of a mountain, formed over millions of years.
'ísbjörn'
Toward the end of a monumental encounter, as the Bear turned its back and meandered high into the mountains, it paused and glanced back over its shoulder. For the few seconds that the Bear stood still, I was able to truly admire its striking features: the thick, white fur adorned with frost, the depth of its clean prints in the snow, its lethal claws and dark, wet nose.
'Keisari'
Positioned just off shore in a small boat, I noticed a male Polar Bear, nonchalantly ambling through deep snow. I kept a close eye on the bear as it followed the shoreline, and approached a snow-sculpted embankment of cascading icicles and drift snow that looked as if it had been hand carved. To my exhilaration and delight, the bear plodded over the arch and paused briefly, glancing straight down my lens.
'Ice Bear'
The mosaic of ice flows that so beautifully construct the unearthly landscapes of Svalbard are essential for the survival of Polar Bears. To the bears, any ice which is strong enough to withstand their weight is a prized platform, but, to a photographer, it is the alluring blue ice that is the prize. So, when a male Polar Bear rose up from behind a carving of sapphire blue ice and locked eyes with my lens, I felt like I had won the Arctic lottery.
'Elta'
For almost an hour, I had the privilege of witnessing a young female Polar Bear (known locally as Svetlana) stalk a herd of unknowing Svalbard Reindeer. Using the sinuous landscape as a shield, she cautiously followed the curves and ridges that protected her from spooking the herd before pouncing into action, chasing at immense speed through deep snow and ice.
Until very recently, the ungulates were too nimble for the powerful predators. However, in recent years, a small number of Polar Bears have begun to adapt their hunting technique and, though a rare behaviour to witness, can now be seen successfully chasing and killing their new prey.
Until very recently, the ungulates were too nimble for the powerful predators. However, in recent years, a small number of Polar Bears have begun to adapt their hunting technique and, though a rare behaviour to witness, can now be seen successfully chasing and killing their new prey.
'Snær'
Every animal has its iconic features, and although the distinctive roman nose of a Polar Bear may not be what initially springs to mind when one thinks of the species, it became my ambition to photograph after witnessing it for myself. I thought my opportunity had been lost as the Bear began to meander into the mountains, but, just for a brief moment, it paused and rewarded my perseverance with the most staggeringly beautiful view of its perpendicular portrait.
'Blood Lust'
For much of this encounter, the Polar Bear was occupied devouring its fresh kill but I waited patiently with my camera, eagerly anticipating the moment it would lift its head. As it temporarily soothed its uncontrollable desire to kill, the Bear turned its bloodied face toward the exhaling sound of a nearby Seal in the icy waters. Such an innocent and docile expression is not what you would expect to find on the face of the Arctic’s largest predator, and, if it wasn’t for the corpse that laid between its feet, you would think they were nothing more than just that.
'Isfjell'
After witnessing a variety of rare and extraordinary behaviours in just under an hour, the Polar Bear drifted to the shelter of a pyramidal slab of ice to rest. Within the fjord system, the water was as smooth as glass, and as the Bear wandered closer to the water, it was greeted by its own reflection.
'Hvítabjörn'
Every animal has its iconic features, and although the distinctive roman nose of a Polar Bear may not be what initially springs to mind when one thinks of the species, it became my ambition to photograph after witnessing it for myself. I thought my opportunity had been lost as the Bear began to meander into the mountains, but, just for a brief moment, it paused and rewarded my perseverance with the most staggeringly beautiful view of its perpendicular portrait.
'Elta II'
For almost an hour, I had the privilege of witnessing a young female Polar Bear (known locally as Svetlana) stalk a herd of unknowing Svalbard Reindeer. Using the sinuous landscape as a shield, she cautiously followed the curves and ridges that protected her from spooking the herd before pouncing into action, chasing at immense speed through deep snow and ice.
Until very recently, the ungulates were too nimble for the powerful predators. However, in recent years, a small number of Polar Bears have begun to adapt their hunting technique and, though a rare behaviour to witness, can now be seen successfully chasing and killing their new prey.
Until very recently, the ungulates were too nimble for the powerful predators. However, in recent years, a small number of Polar Bears have begun to adapt their hunting technique and, though a rare behaviour to witness, can now be seen successfully chasing and killing their new prey.
'Veiðimaðr'
According to Inuit traditions, it was the Polar Bear who first taught humans the art of seal hunting, a behaviour that I was blessed to witness and able to photograph. The vivid titian blood and visceral art of survival is heightened by the juxtaposing purity of snow which conveys an abundance of emotion. This behaviour is of course something that all photographers visiting the Arctic wish to capture, but few are granted the privilege of doing so.
'Hvítur'
The evening sun was burning through the wispy cloud, dappling incandescent lustres over the curves and ridges of the mountains. Below the peaks, a male Polar Bear stood proudly on the ice, guarding its fresh kill on the frozen lilypads that surrounded its icy kingdom. The soft light lapped over the powdery snow, hitting each layer of compressed ice differently. As the clouds and the sun worked together in the sky, the landscape was becoming more and more like a painting in front of my eyes. If it wasn’t for the occasional movements of the Bear, I’d think I was staring straight at one.
'Vǫrðr'
From a small boat, I photographed a male Polar Bear as it drifted toward the watersedge. It paused, and stood proud like a guardian of its icy kingdom. The slow and calm encounter felt like time had stood still as I and a Bear watched one another in fascination.
'Tapað'
For almost an hour, I had the privilege of witnessing a young female Polar Bear (known locally as Svetlana) stalk a herd of unknowing Svalbard Reindeer. Using the sinuous landscape as a shield, she cautiously followed the curves and ridges that protected her from spooking the herd before pouncing into action, chasing at immense speed through deep snow and ice. Her initial attempt was lost, and she surrendered, standing helplessly in the tracks of those who escaped her claw before trying again and succeeding.
'Flœðr'
Sauntering along the edge of the sea ice, a male Polar Bear patrolled the platform from which he hunts his prey. Within the fjord system, the water was as smooth as glass, and as the Bear wandered closer to the water's edge, it gently lowered its head to the ocean where it was greeted by its own reflection.
'Jǫrð'
Hidden within the innermost part of the Kongsfjorden and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, I found myself face to face with a male Polar Bear who stood proudly against the icy blue glacier. I hastily switched from my telephoto lens to a wide angle as neglecting this astonishing landscape would be criminal, and photographed the Bear surrounded by the epic environment. As I was doing so, beams of dappled light spotlighted onto the mountainside, casting waves of shadows and shapes across the snow.
'Odin'
An unforgettable encounter with a male Polar Bear reinforced my belief in all life being equal.
The Bear was devouring a kill, and would briefly lift its head from the visceral meal from time to time to assess its surroundings. On one occasion, as implausible as it sounds, I am convinced that the Bear and I locked eyes. As it glared directly down my lens (probably wondering why I’m so consumed by what it is doing), I was hit by a wave of vulnerability.
Anthropocentrism regards humans as superior to nature, and as a race, we too often believe that we are the dominant species and exploit the natural world for our own gain. Although this is sadly true, a sure fire solution is a staredown with the Arctic’s largest predator to remind you of your place.
'Leika'
The pinnacle one of the many, often unseen behaviours that I was blessed to witness during my time in the Arctic was of a male Polar Bear, sliding down the snowy mountainside.
As the Bear continued on its journey upward, it exhibited body language that suggested it might slide. It carried on with its saunter, then, suddenly, the Bear fell to the ground, extending its forelimbs and pushing off with its hind legs. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing, and with my heart pounding in exhilaration, I tracked the bear down the mountainside, firing off countless photographs of the precious moment.
It is an image that I had seen before and dreamt of experiencing (and of course, capturing) but I had never expected to be in the right place at the right time.
As the Bear continued on its journey upward, it exhibited body language that suggested it might slide. It carried on with its saunter, then, suddenly, the Bear fell to the ground, extending its forelimbs and pushing off with its hind legs. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing, and with my heart pounding in exhilaration, I tracked the bear down the mountainside, firing off countless photographs of the precious moment.
It is an image that I had seen before and dreamt of experiencing (and of course, capturing) but I had never expected to be in the right place at the right time.
'Slǿgr'
Until very recently, Svalbard Reindeer were too nimble for powerful Polar Bears to predate. But, in recent years, a small number of Polar Bears have begun to adapt their hunting technique to successfully chase and kill the ungulates; and one of these Bears, (known locally as Svetlana), allowed me a rare and exhilarating look at her new found skill.
Using the sinuous landscape as a shield, she cautiously followed the curves and ridges that protected her from spooking the herd. Observing her stealthy and considered movements was mesmerising, and when she stopped to calculate her next move, I had the opportunity to photograph her tactical approach with the reindeer blissfully unaware of the dangers that hide just behind the ridge.
Using the sinuous landscape as a shield, she cautiously followed the curves and ridges that protected her from spooking the herd. Observing her stealthy and considered movements was mesmerising, and when she stopped to calculate her next move, I had the opportunity to photograph her tactical approach with the reindeer blissfully unaware of the dangers that hide just behind the ridge.
'ótta-lauss'
For much of this encounter, the Polar Bear was occupied devouring its fresh kill but I waited patiently with my camera, eagerly anticipating the moment it would lift its head. As it temporarily soothed its uncontrollable desire to kill, the Bear turned its bloodied face toward the exhaling sound of a nearby Seal in the icy waters. Such an innocent and docile expression is not what you would expect to find on the face of the Arctic’s largest predator, and, if it wasn’t for the corpse that laid between its feet, you would think they were nothing more than just that.
'Draumr'
After an intense morning hunt, this majestic male laid down to rest on the ice. Much like ourselves, Polar Bears sleep an average of seven to eight hours per day, and frequently nap to conserve their energy. The Bears will sleep with their back to the wind to smell anything from behind, whilst using their eyes to assess what is ahead.
'Acwellan'
For almost an hour, I had the privilege of witnessing a young female Polar Bear (known locally as Svetlana) stalk a herd of unknowing Svalbard Reindeer. Using the sinuous landscape as a shield, she cautiously followed the curves and ridges that protected her from spooking the herd before pouncing into action, chasing at immense speed through deep snow and ice.
After a lengthy chase and with one swipe of her paw, it was all over.
Until very recently, the ungulates were too nimble for the powerful predators. However, in recent years, a small number of Polar Bears have begun to adapt their hunting technique and, though a rare behaviour to witness, can now be seen successfully chasing and killing their new prey.
This was the final frame I took of my encounter, a fitting end to an unforgettable moment in my life.
After a lengthy chase and with one swipe of her paw, it was all over.
Until very recently, the ungulates were too nimble for the powerful predators. However, in recent years, a small number of Polar Bears have begun to adapt their hunting technique and, though a rare behaviour to witness, can now be seen successfully chasing and killing their new prey.
This was the final frame I took of my encounter, a fitting end to an unforgettable moment in my life.
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