Polar Bears of Svalbard

Where are all the seals?
On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we went up to 81.2 degrees north looking for polar bears on pack ice. This was my first experience witnessing the polar bear. My first reaction was to mount 600mm lens and grab frame-filling pictures. After the initial excitement, I switched to shorter lenses to capture this magnificent mammal in its glorious but fast disappearing habitat. He had let us observe him in his world, a world that was fragile and threatened by rapid climate change. His future was as precarious and fragile as the ice he walked on. Watching this ace predator pacing on this large drift ice at 81 degrees north, I wondered if he was aware. I imagined a world when these magnificent creatures had plentiful of seals and didn't have to wander for miles and days.
On thin ice
On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. It was looking for food but it had to move carefully on thin ice. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat. His pacing up and down on thin ice had me wondering if he knew what was happening to his habitat. How long had he been out hunting for seals?
End of the line
On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. He was looking for food but he had to move carefully on thin ice. Here he seems disappointed to reach the edge of the ice without finding any food. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat. He looked forlorn upon reaching the edge. Was he aware of how fragile his existence had become. It is amazing to watch how fast he moved on thin ice. This was my first Arctic expedition to see the polar bear in his natural habitat; a few days earlier, we had seen a couple of them on land looking tired and hungry. They were hoping to be lucky for a whale carcass, or else stay hungry until the next freeze up.

Under the mid-night sun
On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. The Artic silence under the midnight sun cast a heavenly glow on this sleepy mother and daughter. This picture was evocative of the emotions of wonder and gratitude it stirred within me.

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