The Arctic is a place of contradictions. The tranquil beauty of the white tundra and the cool blue waters belies the harshness of the conditions. The creatures there seem simultaneously savage and playful. The glaciers stand enormous and powerful, and yet climate change has put the entire region in peril.
Polar Obsession, a free photography exhibit at the National Geographic museum, explores these contrasts through story and image.
Polar Obsession showcases the work of Paul Nicklen, a nature photographer whose passion for the arctic region stems from his upbringing in northern Canada. His enthusiasm for the subject matter adds a personal touch to the exhibit, taking it far beyond just pictures of cute animals in the snow.
The photos are grouped into short stories, accounts of Nicklen’s months spent in the arctic developing personal connections with the wildlife. One chronicles Nicklen’s journey tracking a male polar bear, who himself was tracking a female. It becomes a sort of reverential love story, told in the form of stunning photography.
National Geographic Society
In a series of photos taken underwater, Nicklen recalls an incident that demonstrates nature’s nearly-magical benevolence. Shortly after submerging himself, Nicklen was approached by a female leopard seal. The seal, apparently realizing how helpless and out of his element the photographer was in the icy water, immediately swam off, caught a penguin in its mouth, and delivered it to him. When the penguin escaped, the seal repeated the gesture. It was, Nicklen supposed, trying to feed him.
Some of the stories Nicklen tells of his arctic experiences would be nothing short of unbelievable if not for their accompanying images. The pictures bring his stories to life, fulfilling the exhibit’s intention—to make this unique, far-removed world real for everyone else.
Before becoming a photographer, Nicklen was a researcher aiding in the struggle to protect the arctic. When he became frustrated with the abstract nature of his work, he decided that he could use photography to enlighten people about the impact of climate change in the Arctic. Nicklen’s feelings toward photojournalism and its power to inspire action are carried subtly but effectively throughout the exhibit. The stories and descriptions never get overly sanctimonious though, and only occasionally mention the danger of climate change in the arctic. The focus is instead more positive, concentrating on the beauty, the mystery, and the uniqueness of the arctic. The images are allowed to speak for themselves.
Polar Obsession is a modestly-sized exhibit, consisting of about 40 photos and a handful of written accounts. Unfortunately, the gallery itself detracts a bit from the experience. The lighting is sometimes sparse and the exhibit runs awkwardly into an unrelated photo gallery. These shortcomings are outweighed, however, by the inspiring quality of the photography.
The exhibit’s title, Polar Obsession, is perfect. Paul Nicklen clearly is obsessed, and he succeeds in inspiring that obsession in others.
