The Amazing Arctic
My wildlife photography often leads to extraordinary adventures
These images were taken on a “floe edge” expedition. The floe edge is where the open ocean meets the frozen ocean. This location was Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It is the 5th largest island in the world and most of the island lies north of the Arctic Circle. Amazing landscapes and wildlife abound here. The ultimate goal was to see and photograph the “Unicorn of the sea”, the NARWHAL. The narwhal has a large spiraled tusk (actually a modified tooth) protruding from the front of its head. Sightings of this whale were great but, unfortunately, not so much for photography.
The Floe Edge, where the ice and ocean meet
It’s usually the lure of capturing great nature PHOTOGRAPHY that draws me to a location, but sometimes just the life experience and adventure prevail; the best images imprinted only in my mind. Such was the case during the Arctic expedition in search of the elusive narwhal.
Arctic base camp
Mountain view of base camp
Arctic toilet tent, a very COOL place to poop
Komatik sleds pulled by snowmobiles; our transport to the floe edge
Rick shooting blue ice formations
Looking very small amid arctic ice
Inuit guide collecting ice to melt for drinking water
Inuit guides testing the ice thickness for safe travel
On an overlook at the floe edge
Polar bear tracks
Ice fissures; a potential danger to arctic travel by sled
Good buddy, Kevin Fitzgerald; always the "funny guy"
Stunning, barren, wind swept, high arctic landscape
A once in a lifetime arctic plunge
Donning a dry suit and ready for some icy water
"Unicorn of the sea", narwhal sighting
Having some laughs performing a "synchronized swim" in the Arctic Ocean