Simply Curious

I recently returned from my trip to the archipelago of Svalbard. Spitsbergen, as it’s also known, is a beautiful group of islands in the North Pacific about 650 miles off the coast of Norway. It’s a magical place best known for polar bears, but its other arctic wildlife makes it really unique. There are very few places in the high Arctic where you can see so many different species so close to one another. 

One of these species is the walrus. This individual is a young male, most likely in his teenage years. He approached me from the water as I sat high and dry on the beach. It was apparent he was curious as he pulled himself up to the edge of the sand, allowed his body to settle, and then returned my gaze. 

I shot this with a long telephoto lens that allowed me to keep my distance. Staying back is essential when capturing images of the wild animals we love. You can see more photos and a longer description of my time in the islands by visiting the blog I did for my friends at Polar Bears International. This trip, part of the Arctic Documentary Project (ADP), was partially supported by the folks traveling with me. You can also support the ADP by either coming on our next Svalbard adventure or donating to the Arctic Documentary Project through the Polar Bears International website.

Svalbard in Winter with the Arctic Documentary Project