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Arctic Wildlife Photography in Svalbard

byYashpal RathoreAvailable online and takes projects across IndiaStarts from₹4,500 per printView full gallery

The Arctic is not just about the polar bear, it is about the vast, fragile silence of the ice. I document the lives, struggles, and quiet moments of this ecosystem through wide-angle environmental portraits and careful observation.

A polar bear in its vast environment. I chose a wide-angle lens here to show the scale of the Arctic landscape, with the storm building over the mountains, to emphasize the pristine but fragile nature of this ecosystem.

My first sighting on a Svalbard expedition: a subadult polar bear cub sleeping on an iceberg, looking like a teddy bear. We watched from a safe distance for two hours as it rested, a truly adorable and peaceful moment.

A polar bear mother and her cub cuddling together in the snow to conserve energy. This is a tender moment that showcases the strong maternal bonds in the animal kingdom.

A high-key image of a lone polar bear trekking across a vast, white expanse of snow. This minimalist style emphasizes the solitude and scale of the Arctic wilderness.

A large male walrus resting on the beach. By approaching the colony slowly and cautiously, we were able to get very close and capture detailed portraits against a dramatic sky.

The beloved Puffin, swimming in the icy waters of the Arctic. Their colorful beaks provide a vibrant splash of color against the cold blue sea.

A Puffin in action, taking off from the water's surface with powerful wing beats.

A pair of curious Harbour Seals resting on a rock. One seems to be waving "Hi!" Seals are a primary food source for polar bears and a key part of the Arctic food web.

A pair of Black-legged Kittiwakes perched on an iceberg, with the deep blue of a glacier in the background. Thousands of these birds breed on steep cliffs during the Arctic summer.

A Bearded Seal relaxing on a floating piece of ice, perfectly embodying the chill lifestyle of the Arctic.

About Arctic Kingdom: Life on the Ice

It is tempting to simply use a telephoto lens to capture a tight portrait, but I often prefer a wide-angle lens. Showing the polar bear within the context of the vast, shifting Arctic landscape tells the real story of this ecosystem. It requires hours of waiting in a Zodiac, often in freezing conditions, just to find the right composition where the bear looks like a small, precious part of the ice.

Arctic expeditions to Svalbard since 2022 — Approved by the tribe
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Yashpal Rathore

Available online and takes projects across IndiaStarts from ₹4,500 per print

I am Yashpal. I traded engineering for the wild a long time ago. I head up to the Arctic regularly to document its inhabitants, from walruses to polar bears, because I believe seeing these animals in their own world changes how we treat our own.

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