Meet Paul Nicklen, A Photographer Who Almost Froze To Death While Capturing Images

It isn't hard to ‘pretend' being a photography maven on social media.  Owning a DSLR and starting a photography page on Facebook or Instagram has become everyone's cup of tea, thanks to the super-simple process available on these social media tools.  But what sets a real expert apart from amateurs is the quality of images and the sheer dedication that is reflected in their work.

But when we talk about dedication, we don't really expect a photographer to risk their life for their work. Paul Nicklen, however, has a different opinion.

Paul is a Canadian photographer like no other. Since 1995, Nicklen has worked as a full-time photojournalist specializing in the Arctic and Antarctica, where the climatic conditions are worse than what we can imagine.

He is so dedicated towards his work that even when he couldn't feel his fingers, he kept going by watching his finger hit the shutter button on the camera. His mind-boggling shoot only comes to an end when the early stages of hypothermia start to set in and everything starts to slow down. The results were definitely worth the risk.

Have a look at some of his shots:

Within mere days, the fragile, abundant and beautiful fjords of Northern Norway are in danger of a policy change that will open them up to oil drilling. I believe it is my obligation to make others aware of the risks and the species that will be affected. Species like this majestic humpback whale and the herring it feeds on, but also orcas, sperm whales, and Atlantic cod, plus the world's largest cold water reef. All of this stands to be severely impacted by man's quest to add to the current global oversupply of oil. So many people left powerful comments earlier in the week; THANK YOU!!!! For those who still want to lend your voice, please leave a comment below and mention both Norwegian Prime Minister candidates @jonasgahrs and @erna_solberg, asking them to leave the oil in the ground. For more information, join our efforts to halt this proposal (link in bio). Join @Sea_Legacy and lend your voice. #Turningthetide #LofotenForever #oilfree #fossilfree #LoVeSe #Lofoten #oilintheground

A post shared by Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) on Sep 10, 2017 at 9:14am PDT

I love images that create a sense of place for a species like polar bears.  A receding glacier provides the backdrop of a polar bear drifting on a piece of ice while waiting for a seal to float by while doing the same thing.  With a top predator like a polar bear, it is all about patience.  Lancaster Sound or Tallurutiup, Nunavut is one of the richest polar marine ecosystems in the world and at @sea_legacy we are excited to see that the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association recently announced an agreement on the final boundary for a National Marine Conservation Area.  With @natgeopristineseas  #NMCA  #nature #ice #beauty #glacier #ice #marine

A post shared by Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) on Aug 19, 2017 at 3:21pm PDT

My dive partner and long time friend, @goranehlme prepares his gear to follow me under the ice in the Ross Sea of Antarctica.  It was the best visibility  I have ever seen.  The 28F water was dark but once my eyes adjusted to this underwater realm beneath the ice I could see for hundreds of feet.  For me, this journey has been about relationships. Relationships with nature, wildlife and ecosystems but also, relationships with people.  Goran has been at my side on many of my more extreme expeditions. #gratitude for amazing friends with whom I have shared this journey. @sea_legacy. #nature #ice #diving #adventure #expeditions #teamwork #maxeffort

A post shared by Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) on Aug 3, 2017 at 9:40am PDT

Narwhals jockey for position and gently cross tusks as they push for a breath of air. They are diving under the sea ice in an attempt to access the thick schools of polar/Arctic cod. Soon after taking this image, I slipped into the water and was caught in the middle of two courting male narwhal.  One narwhal never realized that I was there and started to rub my neoprene clad head with its tusk.  @sea_legacy  #unicorns #unicornsofthesea #narwhals #climatechange

A post shared by Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) on Aug 8, 2017 at 7:17pm PDT

Nicklen recently shared his life story and bits from his career in an interview in a YouTube show- ‘While the Water Boils'.

He not only clicks breathtaking pictures but also puts in his best efforts to change the world through his work. The ace photographer, who is currently working as a photojournalist with National Geographic, wants to draw attention to fragile ecosystems, climate change, and other issues affecting polar wildlife. That's exactly why he takes photographs in some of the world's harshest environments.

In the interview, he made some revelations, "I went off to university to become a biologist, but I became frustrated that we weren't affecting change with that science."

He further added, “I thought if I can become a photographer and if I can get a job with say, National Geographic, now I have the chance to reach a hundred million people to bridge the gap between the important science and the public."

With whopping 3.5 million followers on Instagram, Paul has realized the potential of this “millennial bait”. With his unbelievable photographs, he first draws people in and then, when he has captured their attention, he tries to teach them something about the animal or landscape shown through the caption.

What makes the risk-taking worth for him is the fact that he is able to make a connection with people through his work and is able to make his contribution towards the conservation and welfare of the Polar Regions and animals. He is also the co-founder of ‘Sea Legacy', a non-profit organization which is working towards “a mission to create healthy and abundant oceans, for us and for the planet.”

If you want to learn more about him, you can watch his interview here:

We are spellbound by how he uses his passion for photography to make the world a better place and we hope other people follow suit.