GIANTS OF THE NORTH

Polar Bears of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

IAN PLANT
GIANTS OF THE NORTH Polar Bears of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Copyright 2016 Ian Plant. All rights reserved. This entire eBook, and all of the photographs and written text contained therein, are the intel-
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I
ts hard to describe the feeling you get when a
thousand pound predator stares straight into
your eyes. To say the least, its a bit unsettling
when you realize that you are no longer at the top of
the food chain. Its a sensation that gets considerably
more intense when claws and muscle suddenly lurch
into shambling motion in your direction. Canon
5DIII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x
extender, ISO 1600, f/4.5, 1/400 second.
Known to science as Ursus maritimes, some-
how simple words (or even fancy Latin ones)
dont come close to doing this magnificent
animal justice. The Sami people of
Scandinavia call polar bears the old man in
the fur cloak, while the Inuit of North
America call it Nanuq, or the more poetic
Pihoqahiak, meaning the ever wandering
one. While these names come closer to
capturing the majesty of this giant of the
north, most of us know it simply by its more
prosaic name: the polar bear. Canon 70D,
Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in
1.4x extender, ISO 1250, f/6.3, 1/640 second.
I intentionally underexposed this image, and
then converted it to black and white to artisti-
cally render the stormy clouds in the background
and the dramatic light on the bear. Canon 1DXII,
Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x
extender, ISO 250, f/6.3, 1/1000 second.
An adult polar bear can sprint as fast as 25 miles per hour, which in terms that might be more meaningful to you if
caught out in the open with a hungry bear nearby, is an astonishing 37 feet per second. Usain Bolt (with his human
record speed of 27.8 miles per hour, which he maintained for 20 meters) could possibly outrun a polar bearjust
barelybut a better strategy for him would be to run with a partner. To wit, dont try to outrun the bear, just beat the
slower guy next to you. Canon 1DXII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 160, f/4, 1/640 second.
Polar bears are the undisputed lords of their icy domain. Their powerful claws can easily haul
out a 200-pound seal from the water. Winter temperatures often plunge to 50F or colder,
but polar bears are well equipped to survive the extremes of the Arctic climate. They are
insulated by two layers of fur, and a thick layer of fat built up from a steady diet of seals.
Although they may hunker down and huddle for warmth when it gets exceptionally cold, it
seems that nothing the Arctic throws its way can phase the well-adapted polar bear.

When this wicked blizzard came through, I made sure to be out in the worst of it for
photography. I was rewarded with this moody image of a polar bear and her cubs being
buffeted by wind-blown snow. Canon 70D, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x
extender, ISO 1250, f/6.3, 1/800 second.
It is not cold, however, but warmth that now poses the most considerable threat to this apex predator of the Arctic. Scientists are
concerned that rising global temperatures and melting polar ice is resulting in habitat loss and reduced access to their primary
prey, as polar bears rely heavily on sea ice to hunt seals, travel, and breed. Although polar bears are excellent swimmers
(sometimes swimming a hundred miles or more over open water), long swims to reach good ice for seal hunting are often fatal to
cubs and young bears, or to adult bears that are in poor condition. Unfortunately, because polar bears live in remote and
inhospitable areas (for humans, at least), careful monitoring of their population is difficult and expensive. Scientists still dont have
solid estimates of the number of polar bears worldwide, and have very little data concerning polar bear populations in areas such
as Arctic Russia and East Greenland, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. However, we do know that certain
populations of polar bears monitored by scientists have experienced sharp declines in recent years because of reduced sea ice.
Canon 5DIII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 320, f/6.3, 1/800 second.
Polar bears have a slow reproductive rate (by mammal standards, at least), typically producing only five litters in a
lifetime, and there is a high mortality rate with only 40 percent of cubs living beyond their first year. Twins are most
common, and it is not unusual to see a mother bear with a pair or even three cubs in tow. Cubs stay with their mother
for two and a half years before striking out on their own. They seem to spend much of that time playing and mock
fighting, preparing them for the day when they must face the perils of the Arctic without their mothers protection.
Canon 70D, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 1000, f/5.6, 1/640 second.
I was lucky to find this precocious cub early
one morning sitting on the edge of a gravel
bar, bathed in sunrise light. I couldnt resist
the color contrast between the warm light
and the cool blue of the Arctic Ocean in the
background. Canon 1DXII, Canon 200-
400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x extender,
ISO 125, f/4, 1/1000 second.
I always strive to tell a story with my photos. When I spotted this
mother nestling with her cubs during a snowstorm, I was imme-
diately attracted to the triangle shape their stacked bodies
formed. Although understated, this is actually one of my favorite
polar bear photos. Canon 70D, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with
built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/500 second.
I intentionally underexposed this photo of a
side lit polar bear mother and her cub, letting
most of the scene go deep into silhouette.
The result is graphic and dramatic, a more
artistic rendering than would have been the
result of a traditional exposure. Canon 1DXII,
Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x
extender, ISO 250, f/6.3, 1/800 second.
Polar bear cubs are very playful, using any excuse to scuffle with
one anotherespecially when there is fresh snow on the ground.
Canon 5DIII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x
extender, ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/640 second.
A polar bear and her cub nestle together for warmth on a cold,
wintry morning. Canon 70D, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with
built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 800, f/6.3, 1/500 second.
A polar bear passes the remains of a dead whale. Polar
bears will scavenge whale meat when they get the chance.
Although sometimes dead whales wash up on shore, more
commonly whale meat is scavenged from native communi-
ties, which engage in limited traditional subsistence hunting
of whales. Canon 7DII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with
built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 100, f/14, 1/800 second.
A wave from the Arctic Ocean crashes behind two polar bear cubs playing
in the snow. When the ocean freezes, they will depart on the ice to hunt
seals during the long, dark, and cold winter. Canon 5DIII, Canon 200-
400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/500 second.
A polar bear cub gnaws on a piece of scav-
enged meat found on the ground. Although
polar bears can go months without eating,
whenever they have a chance to fatten up
and store energy, they do so with gusto.
Canon 5DIII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens
with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 1600, f/5.6,
1/500 second.
I dramatically underexposed this photo of a polar bear backlit by
the setting sun. I only wanted to reveal the rim lit fringe of the
animal, letting the rest of the scene fall completely into shadow.
Canon 7DII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x
extender, ISO 320, f/6.3, 1/1000 second.
Polar bears conserve vital energy by sleeping as
much as possible. Wildlife photography involves a
lot of waiting for that perfect pose! Canon 7DII,
Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x
extender, ISO 1600, f/6.3, 1/1000 second.
Theres nothing quite like watching two polar
bears face off during a fight. The blowing snow
adds an ethereal mood to this photo. I kept my
shutter speed high to ensure I didnt miss the
action. Canon 70D, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens
with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 1250, f/5.6,
1/800 second.
I photographed this mother with her
cubs backlit by the rising sun. I love
the warm tones and the way the shad-
ows form lines that lead the viewer
from foreground to the background.
Canon 1DXII, Canon 200-400mm f/4
lens with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO
200, f/4.5, 1/800 second.
I watched this pair of cubs wrestle in the water for an extended period of time, they put on quite a show! I shot using my cam-
eras high speed continuous mode to ensure I captured the action. A fast memory card, and a camera with a large buffer and
fast write speeds, are extremely useful for wildlife photography. Canon 5DIII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x
extender, ISO 1250, f/5.6, 1/500 second.
I zoomed out for this photo to include multiple layers of water, ice, and snow
in my composition. When processing the raw file, I cooled the white balance
to capture the dreary, wintry mood of the scene. Canon 5DIII, Canon 200-
400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 1600, f/6.3, 1/400 second.
Polar bears will often dig a shallow depression in the ground or
the snow for sleeping. It offers minimal protection from the cold
and wind, but since shelter options are typically non-existent in
the flat expanses of the Arctic, a shallow hole is better than
nothing. Canon 7DII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens with built-in
1.4x extender, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/800 second.
I love making photos in bad
weather. Blowing snow adds an
ethereal feel, diffusing the light
to create a dreamy lookwhich
was perfect for this photograph
of a mother polar bear and her
two cubs hunkering down
during a blizzard. Canon 70D,
Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens
with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO
4000, f/6.3, 1/500 second.
Although most polar bear fights are mock battles between cubs and inju-
ries are rare, nevertheless the battles can get quite intense! These two
cubs, however, seemed to just be having fun. Canon 70D, Canon 200-
400mm f/4 lens with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/400 second.
Polar bears have an excellent sense of smell. When curious
about something, they usually investigate first by lifting their
heads and sniffing. Canon 1DXII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens
with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 2000, f/5.6, 1/800 second.
A
s for me, I choose hope. Hope that
these magnificent giants of the
north will somehow find a way to
surviveand thriveas their world changes
around them.

Canon 1DXII, Canon 200-400mm f/4 lens

with built-in 1.4x extender, ISO 100, f/8,
1/500 second.
 ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
W
orld-renowned professional photographer Ian
Plant is a frequent contributor to many lead-
ing photo magazines including Outdoor
Photographer, Popular Photography, and Landscape
Photography Magazine; Managing Editor of Outdoor
Photography Guide; and a Tamron Image Master. Ian is
also the author of numerous books and instructional
videos. His personal photographic project, Dreamscapes,
moves beyond the literal to transform subjects into some-
thing unexpected through the photographic process. Ian
travels the world in his never-ending quest to reveal the
hidden side of reality. See more of his work at
www.ianplant.com.
GIANTS OF THE NORTH
Polar Bears of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

IAN PLANT