Tag: travel

Which Gloves for Cold Weather Photography, July 2026

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Introduction: Gloves are a constant source of frustration for any photographer who has ever photographed in really cold climates (not just cool climates). In the 25+ years I have been photographing in the world’s polar regions, I have yet to encounter the perfect glove. It is not for lack of trying; my cupboard is full of gloves I have purchased over the years that have subsequently failed the field test and now gather dust while they await their final journey to the great clothing recycle bin in the sky. Like the perfect Cold Weather Boot, the perfect Cold Weather Glove for photography simply does not exist. The ideal glove is therefore a compromise based on user needs, preferences, and environmental considerations. I previously published a podcast (Episode 92 – Cold Weather Photography Gloves) on this topic back in February 2024, but much has changed in the two-plus years since then, and an extensive update is in order, along with a deep dive podcast on this topic (coming soon). My years of glove frustration have finally boiled over, and in this blog post and the deep dive podcast, I am going to dissect and fully analyse the problems and discuss at length how to develop the ideal cold-weather photography glove. I am also going to discuss some of the popular gloves on the market and dissect the many issues and problems with them.

Transparency: For the sake of transparency, you will not find affiliate links here. The internet is awash with websites that tell you, ‘we have reviewed X products, and these are the best‘. Such websites and reviews are nothing more than thinly veiled attempts to advertise products and make money through affiliate links. I have no interest in selling gloves, boots or bags under the table to make extra money. What you will find here are my straightforward recommendations based on my experience – nothing more.

The Problem: Gloves for cold-weather photography are more problematic than boots because photographers have a very specific need to control our cameras whilst staying warm and dry. This requires a glove that provides a high degree of dexterity (at least in the thumb and forefinger) whilst still offering significant warmth and protection from the elements. Over my years in the field, I have been continually frustrated by over-hyped (and over-priced) cold-weather gloves that fail to deliver on their extensive promises. Gloves marketed to photographers as the ‘perfect photography glove’ are, frankly, (and truthfully) rubbish in the vast majority of cases. Fold back fingers that get in the way (who on earth thought that was a good idea?), and allow ingress of water and snow are but a small example. Whoever came up with the concept of the fold-back finger has clearly never tried to work in blizzard or sleet conditions, whilst lying in the snow and trying to photograph wildlife with a long lens. Whilst fold-back fingers are a woeful design decision, the list of poor design choices in so-called ‘photography gloves’ does not stop there. Gloves that don’t fit properly are commonplace; those that are unfit for purpose, are not windproof, not waterproof, lack dexterity and tactility where it is needed, lack insulation where it’s needed, consist of a liner that is too thin have zippers that cannot be operated by gloved fingers, zippers that break, touchscreen liners that dont work, and are otherwise utterly useless, and the list of problems goes on.

The Problems Bottom Line: Ultimately, the problem is that none of the gloves on the market has been designed by a photographer who has significant cold-weather photographic experience. Most are re-purposed hunting gloves or gloves designed by outdoor companies for various ‘outdoor activities’ (hiking, kayaking, mountaineering, ice climbing, etc). None of which are designed and built from the ground up for cold-weather photography. Those gloves that do claim to have been designed by photographers are, in my experience, garbage. They might be fine if it’s +5 degrees and you are on a tripod, but they are utterly useless in real cold-weather environments. Photographers working in cold climates have very specific needs for their gloves, and these needs differ significantly from those of hunters and other outdoor activities. These needs are simply not being adequately addressed by any manufacturer to date. Understanding these needs is key to good design and to creating a glove fit for purpose.

A Call to Arms: If there is any manufacturer out there who wants to collaborate on the ground-up design of a cold-weather glove system for photographers (a huge market opportunity), please reach out to me.

Breaking Down the Problem: If we analyse the problem that photographers who want to operate in cold environments face, we can break down our needs as follows:

  1. We require a high degree of touch sensitivity and dexterity in the first pad of our thumb and forefinger (predominantly on our right hand only) so that we can easily and reliably feel the camera controls under our fingers. These two fingers also need touchscreen-support fabric, and for the Canon EOS R1 and EOS R3, a fabric that specifically works with the I.R touch-sensitive Auto Focus button on the back of the camera. To my knowledge and testing, 66º North are the only company that makes a fabric that reliably works with the touch-sensitive Auto-focus button on the EOS R1 and EOS R3. Unfortunately, this fabric is only found on a thin liner that is otherwise useless in snowy environments, as it gets wet within a few minutes. These gloves also have quality control issues with the stitching coming undone. I wrote about these in a previous blog post on the EOS R1 HERE.
  2. On the other three fingers on each hand, we require a high degree of warmth to protect them from the cold. Ideally, this would also be extended to the thumb and forefinger, leaving just the first pad of each with the thinner material noted above in point 1. This extra warmth is even more important on the left hand, which frequently supports a metal lens (or lens foot or tripod) that will be extremely cold in cold weather.
  3. The entire glove needs to be windproof and waterproof1. Not wind or water resistant – but windproof and waterproof. Cold-weather wildlife photographers, in particular, spend a lot of time lying on the ground in the snow. As soon as snow sticks to a merino wool liner or other non-waterproof material, it melts in the body’s residual warmth, and the glove gets wet, leaving cold, wet fingers and rendering it useless. Landscape photographers who often shoot in the rain will be familiar with the problem of non-waterproof gloves. These days, I will instantly dismiss a glove if it’s not waterproof (or if it cannot be made at least water resistant with a spray), as it’s unfit for purpose (see footnote below).2
  4. The seal around the wrist of the glove should be firm, but not tight on the wrist to keep out snow. The seal around the wrist should also be warm. The glove cuff should be designed to fit under an outer jacket, with the cuff against the wrist, not designed to go over the top of the jacket. Gloves with a large snow gaiter-style entry are useless for photographers, as the large opening invariably doesn’t fit over a bulky outer jacket, causing it to bunch up and let snow in.

Battery Heated Gloves: Personally, I find battery-heated gloves a real nuisance. Typically, the batteries are housed in a large snow gaiter around the cuff, which flops annoyingly with the additional battery weight and invariably bunches up against an outer jacket. None of the battery gloves I have tried provides sufficient tactile control for the camera, and if they do, they are not waterproof. In my experience, the batteries rarely last a full day of fieldwork and require daily charging (I have tried a few different brands over the years). At this point, I feel I just don’t need or want anything else in my life that requires daily charging. Nor should it be necessary to use battery heaters if the glove is well designed and fit for purpose.

How We Experience Cold: It is important to note that we all experience cold differently. For me, my hands rarely feel the cold, and my tolerance for cold in my fingers seems unusually high. I frequently go without gloves while others reach for their warmer set. Your tolerance for the cold may very well be different to mine, and you should keep that in mind when making any buying decision. Another important point is that Nature photographers (I include landscape and wildlife in that genre) are typically not all that active in the field. We may hike to a location that requires some degree of activewear, but we often spend a long time waiting outdoors for wildlife or the right light. Thus, the choice of gloves is critical to our comfort level in the field. Many products from active-wear companies are simply inappropriate, in my experience, for cold-weather photography because they do not account for the significant time photographers spend inactive and just sitting or standing around in the field.

The Proposal: I propose that the perfect glove for cold-weather photography should be a two-stage system. That is, it should comprise a base-layer glove and an outer glove (or mitt) that slips over the top of the base layer when temperatures really plummet (let’s say below -10º Celsius, though this temperature will vary by individual).

The Base Layer: The base-layer glove should be designed and constructed around points 1, 2, 3, and 4 above. It should have sufficient insulation in the fingers for temperatures down to at least -10º Celsius. This means it needs to be better insulated than a merino wool layer alone. The first pad of the thumb and forefinger still needs to be thin enough to provide adequate tactile control of the camera, but the rest of the thumb and forefinger can be as insulated as the other three fingers. On the back of the palm, there should be a small pocket with a velcro closure (I prefer velcro to magnets, as it keeps out snow and water better) to optionally house a chemical hand warmer. The back of the palm is the ideal place for a chemical warmer, as it’s over the veins that carry blood to the fingers. This sort of pocket is already found on several base-layer gloves marketed to photographers (which are not waterproof or windproof and thus inappropriate).

The Second Layer: When temperatures really plummet, there needs to be a secondary layer or ‘mitt’ that can be pulled over the top of the base layer. This should not be a fold-back mitt attached to the base layer (as that just gets in the way), but an entirely different mitt pulled over the top of the base layer. This oversized mitt should contain significant insulation and be both windproof and waterproof. This mitt should have a significantly oversized snow gater entry that can be easily pulled over the top of a bulky outer jacket without bunching. Additionally, it should have the ability to slip the thumb and forefinger out through a ‘slit’ so that the photographer can maintain tactile control of the camera, but can put their fingers back inside the mitt if they get too cold. Yes, that means there will be an entrance in the second layer that snow and water can enter, but remember, the base layer is also waterproof in this design.

The Current State of Play: The above glove system, as documented, simply does not exist (as of this blog post), and until a manufacturer takes this feedback on board and builds the ideal glove, photographers will continue to struggle with gloves that are not truly fit for purpose in cold-weather environments.

Additional Design Considerations: Photographers already have a lot of gear to manage. We don’t need to complicate our lives further. Thus, straps and other systems designed to clip gloves to are usually not a good idea. They often get in the way when lying down in the snow and tend to snag on cameras and lenses. A simple clip system to clip a pair of gloves together and to a backpack or jacket is all that is required. Keeping it simple is the key to making the gloves ‘get out of the way’ in the field.

My Current Glove Solution: As noted above, no manufacturer has designed and constructed the ideal glove for cold-weather photography. As such, my current glove system is a compromise based on experience and extensive field testing.

The Base Layer: My current choice for base layers is the 66º North Vik Wind Pro Gloves. These gloves are extremely warm for a reasonably thin liner, but they are not waterproof and need to be treated with a waterproofing spray to make them repel water in the field. They are also extremely expensive for a liner glove (at around $75 USD a pair). However, they are the only gloves I have tested to date that have a touchscreen fabric on the thumb and forefinger, which reliably works with the Canon EOS R1 and EOS R3 I.R Touch Sensitive Autofocus button.

These gloves are thin enough that they provide an extremely high degree of dexterity and tactility for camera control. Once treated with a waterproofing spray, they become sufficiently water-repellent for use in snow, sleet, and rain. In continual or very heavy rain, you may still get wet fingers and hands even with waterproofing treatment. Without a waterproofing treatment, these gloves are not suitable for use in rain, snow or sleet.

In my experience, these 66º North gloves are suitably warm down to about -5 °C without additional glove support. For temperatures below -5º C, I will add a second layer as noted below.

The Mid Layer: My current mid-layer is a pair of modified Hestra Expedition Liner 3-Finger gloves. I use these gloves over the top of the base layer from 66º North when temperatures drop below -5º Celsius. These gloves are incredibly warm and suitable for use (with the liner above) in temperatures down to -35º Celsius, and even colder, depending on your tolerance for the cold. I have modified my pair by making a small 2 cm cut in both the thumb and forefinger on the right hand side so that I can push out my thumb and forefinger to use the I.R touch sensitive pad on the Canon EOS R1.

From the factory, these gloves are not waterproof, but they are quite good at wicking moisture away, and with the addition of a waterproofing treatment, are extremely effective at keeping out snow, sleet and rain in inclement weather. I have not hesitation in using these gloves while lying down in the snow and rain (once treated). They are made from Ripstop polyamide with Primaloft insulation. Reinforced with Chamude in the palm. It has been my experience that Hestra gloves (in general) are extremely well constructed and do not come apart at the seams as many other brands do.

The Outer Layer: My current outer layer is the Hestra Expedition Liner 3-Finger.

Glove Considerations: When assessing the suitability of a glove for my type of photography, I consider dexterity (the ability to control the camera), comfort and warmth for the intended purpose, ease of getting on and off, and long-term durability amongst the most important factors. The ability to withstand water (depending on the intended use) and to keep out snow also plays a major role in my decision-making. Lastly, manufacturer support also plays a role in addressing potential issues. I do not consider price when assessing the qualities of gloves for cold-weather photography since it’s folly to try to save a few bucks at the expense of cold fingers.

Conclusion: Ultimately, the choice of glove is a personal one based on your needs, preferences, and tolerances for the environment in which you work. There are many more gloves on the market that I have not used or tested, and they may or may not deliver great results, depending on your personal needs. There are other gloves I have tested that I feel fail to live up to their claims, so I won’t review or recommend them. The above are products I will stand behind as offering superb performance in their temperature range for cold-weather photography.

Author: Joshua Holko

  1. Many gloves and liners on the market are not waterproof from the factory, but this does not necessarily make them unfit for cold-weather photography. It is possible, with waterproofing sprays, to make even Marino wool liners highly water repellent. Such sprays typically require reapplication regularly to maintain the gloves’ water resistance. Waterproofing technology has significantly improved in recent years, with many hydrophobic options now on the market. It is possible to treat various fabrics and not just leather for waterproofing and water repellency. ↩︎
  2. I want to tell a recent anecdote about a European company that shall remain nameless (for now) that tried to laughably tell me their photographers’ gloves are not waterproof (a glove marketed specifically for cold-weather photography) because they are designed to be used in temperatures below 0º Celsius when water is frozen. I had to point out to them that it doesn’t matter how cold it is outside; if you get snow on a non-waterproof glove, it will melt from the residual body heat passing through the glove, leaving a wet glove and cold, wet fingers. It took less than five minutes of lying and shooting in the snow with these gloves to end up completely wet through. I also pointed out that photographers can often find themselves on zodiacs in sub-zero temperatures with sea spray, resulting in wet gloves. This was a pair of gloves I (and another photographer I know) returned as ‘unfit for purpose’. To the company’s credit, they did take back the gloves and offered store credit toward other items (which I used for socks, not their gloves!). They have, however, continued to market and sell these gloves to unsuspecting photographers who will no doubt experience wet, cold fingers during field use. ↩︎

Australian Photographic Prize Wildlife Category 2026 Results

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The second stage of the Australian Photographic Prize in the Wildlife category has now been run and judged. This was the primary category I chose to enter into this year’s awards (I also have one photograph in the Natural Landscape Category and two in the Birds category yet to be judged), and I was absolutely thrilled to have all five of the photographs I entered be selected as part of the ‘Top 30‘ in the category. The competition this year was particularly solid, with some really superb photographs, so even making the top 30 was a great result.

The second and final stage of the judging was online and livestreamed to YouTube just a few days ago. Just click the link above if you want to watch the judging for the scores and judges’ comments.  I always find it fascinating to listen to experienced judges discuss photographs. While we won’t necessarily agree with every comment or score, there is invariably something to learn from hearing how different judges respond to an image and what they value in the judging process. One of the highlights for me was hearing Matt Palmer’s comments on my Reindeer photograph. It was especially rewarding because he connected so closely with the mood and story I had hoped to communicate when I made the image. As photographers, we often wonder whether what we’re trying to express is actually reaching the viewer, so hearing that feedback was incredibly encouraging.

Four of the five photographs I entered went on to earn highly coveted Gold Awards, with two of those Gold Awards advancing to the loftiest Gold with Distinction category. A category reserved only for the most powerful photographs that showcase the highest levels of technical prowess, artistry, and emotional impact. I am blown away to have the four highest-scoring images in the entire category! With my fifth image still achieving a very strong Silver with Distinction.

The overall Wildlife category winner will be announced on 13 August. Although my photographs received very high scores during the public judging, the category winner is selected separately during a final private deliberation by the judging panel, with each finalist considered again on its own merits. Whatever the outcome, I already feel enormously fortunate with the results so far, and I’m simply grateful to have had my work recognised alongside so many outstanding photographs. The final scores for each photograph are included below:

South Georgia in Snow Expedition Announcement September 2027

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Today, I am extremely excited to formally announce an all-new expedition to the magnificent South Georgia Island in September of 2027 – One of the world’s greatest wildlife destinations! It has long been a dream of mine to lead an expedition to South Georgia in September. At this time of year, the mountains and landscape will be blanketed in snow, offering a truly extraordinary opportunity to photograph King Penguins in a winter setting!

South Georgia Island, with its precipitous peaks draped in snow and ice, is a place that evokes and inspires the imagination. It is a dramatic Himalayan-style landscape of mountains that plunge almost directly to sea level. It is, as they say, ‘off the charts’ in photographic terms. This unique expedition ventures to this remote sub-Antarctic Island in early September to search for King Penguins amid winter snow.

The main focus of this expedition will be King Penguins, Elephant seals and other local wildlife. In September, the light conditions in South Georgia can be magical. Most commonly, South Georgia expeditions begin in November and run through until March in the Polar summer. With our expedition ship, we will explore in September, before the arrival of the territorial Fur seals and when the landscape is still covered in clean, pristine snow. This time of year offers unique photographic opportunities that most will never experience.

We plan to circumnavigate the island of South Georgia and explore both its east and west coasts. In conditions permitting, we will also photograph the giant icebergs that drift up from the Weddell Sea, as well as explore Drygalski Fjord. Drygalski Fjord is a bay one mile wide, which recedes northwestwards seven miles, entered immediately north of Nattrass Head along the southeast coast of South Georgia. The landscape in this region is breathtaking and not to be missed. In September, the landscape will be bathed in a combination of blue hour and golden light from the sun’s low angle, providing a stunning backdrop for photographing this evocative location.

For this expedition, my company, Wild Nature Photo Travel, has chartered the recently refitted and ice-hardened ship, M.V. Aureum. With a capacity of just 36, we will be an exceptionally small group of photographers for an expedition such as this. The expedition will run for a full two weeks from September 18th until the 2nd of October, 2027 and will begin and end in the Falkland Islands. We expect to have 9 full days in South Georgia, which is a fantastic amount of time to explore the many colonies and world-famous locations such as Saint Andrews, Gould Bay and Salisbury Plain.

Full details on the expedition are now on the website HERE. Twin-Share cabins start from $19,995 USD, and dedicated single cabins are available (while they last). Some cabins are already booked and spoken for, so please reach out if you have a specific cabin in mind. This is truly an expedition of a lifetime, not to be missed.

Please get in touch if you would like to reserve one of the remaining cabins or have any queries about the expedition.

Pallas Cat of Eastern Mongolia Workshop Primer January 2027

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Since 2019, I have been travelling to Eastern Mongolia to photograph the little-known Pallas Cat. I was the very first photographer to subsequently guide a workshop to this region in Winter to find and photograph this elusive wildcat. Since then, many others have emulated my efforts and travelled to this region to photograph this beautiful cat (both in Summer and Winter). Some have travelled solo, while other industry colleagues have guided their own trips based on my research and local contacts. I have always preferred to look forward and innovate, and let others who wish choose to follow. Nearly seven years on from my first trip to photograph this wonderful cat, I still feel the same way about its wild nature and incredible ability to survive and thrive in the harsh winter of Eastern Mongolia. Every trip to Mongolia has proved not just a photographic adventure, but a growth opportunity to learn more about the Pallas cat.

Next January 2027, I am returning to the Steppe region of Mongolia to guide a small group of photographers to photograph the Pallas Cat. This experience is best undertaken in small groups, so I will be taking just five photographers with me. Several places are already spoken for, and only two remain. If you are considering a trip to Mongolia to photograph this wonderful cat, be sure to check on the maximum group size, as it makes a big difference to the overall experience and opportunities.

Photographing the Pallas’s cat in winter is not just about capturing an image of one of the world’s most elusive wild cats; it is about immersing yourself in the harsh, minimalist landscape of the Steppe region of Mongolia, where patience, fieldcraft, and creative discipline converge. For any serious wildlife photographer, it is an experience that offers an opportunity to refine both your technical ability and your emotional connection to the wild. Your first Pallas cat sighting is an experience that stays with you for life.

The Pallas’s cat, often called the “ghost of the steppe”, is an animal that seems carved from the very rock and snow it inhabits. In winter, its dense coat thickens into an extraordinary halo of fur, giving it that unmistakable, almost mythical and even somewhat comical presence. Frost gathers on its whiskers, and its warm breath hangs in the air. Photographic frames become a study in subtle tonalities of white, greys, and muted browns. The challenge of separating subject from environment becomes a masterclass in composition. This species does not tolerate carelessness on the photographer’s part.

These workshops are intentionally small, creating an environment where individual attention and collaborative learning can thrive. In remote winter environments, this matters. There is space to ask questions, to review images thoughtfully, to refine technique in real time. The experience becomes less about ticking a species off a list and more about crafting meaningful images that stand the test of time. Every sighting becomes a shared moment of quiet intensity, reinforcing the idea that wildlife photography is as much about observation as it is about pressing the shutter.

The camaraderie formed in such conditions should not be underestimated either. Small groups working together in remote winter landscapes create a bond rooted in shared anticipation and respect. There is a quiet understanding among participants that what you are attempting is special. Even silence becomes meaningful — the collective stillness as everyone waits for the cat to reappear from behind a ridge. These shared experiences often become as memorable as the photographs themselves.

The images you return home with will undoubtedly be powerful — the frosted fur, the piercing gaze, the minimalist winter compositions. But more importantly, you will return with a deeper understanding of fieldcraft, a renewed respect for wildlife, and a heightened sensitivity to light and landscape. In a world where wildlife photography can sometimes feel crowded and predictable, the winter Pallas’s cat offers something rare: authenticity.

And authenticity, in the end, is what separates a good photograph from a lasting one.

Author: Joshua Holko

Svalbard Winter Wildlife and Landscape Expedition Trip Report April 2026

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In April of 2026, I ran my annual ship-based Winter / Spring expedition to the Svalbard archipelago. The expedition ran from the 7th of April to the 15th of April and offered outstanding wildlife and landscape opportunities over the nine days. This was an unseasonably warm winter year with average temperatures hovering around 0º Celsius (plus wind chill), a full 15-20 degrees warmer than they should have been. It was also the year that saw it necessary to steam farther north than ever before to reach the pack ice.

Day One: Departure Day – Once we had all boarded our ship, M.S. Freya, at 16:00 and after consulting the latest ice chart and discussing with the captain, I decided to head south instead of north this year. There were several reasons for this decision, not the least of which was the current bunker fuel price, driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Heading south would mean using less fuel than heading for the northern edge of the pack ice, but also provide an opportunity to visit and explore other regions of the archipelago. With a large amount of close drift ice off the south-east coast of Spitzbergen and very little toward the north, it made more sense to head south. There was also significant fast ice in the Bellsund area that boded well for Polar Bear encounters. Once our mandatory safety briefings were undertaken, we set sail with a course of 180º. For our first evening, we overnighted at the stunning glacier front in Bellsund under soft, overcast light.

Day Two: Bellsund –  Around 7am in the morning, before we had even had breakfast, we spotted our first Polar Bear (a large male in excellent condition) walking the snow-covered shoreline and heading for the glacier front directly in front of our anchorage. Grabbing warm clothes and cameras, we photographed the bear as it walked directly in front of the glacier, slowly making its way around the glacier’s face. We also spotted a second, smaller bear (likely a female that the larger male was following) that disappeared into the moraines and was not seen again. This proved to be an outstanding encounter that offered superb opportunities to capture the bear in the grand landscape, with the glacier as a backdrop.

A polar bear in front of a blue glacier is a rare sight, one I’ve seen only a few times in my career as a polar photographer. This encounter proved truly extraordinary, with all participants coming away with stunning images of the bear in front of the glacier. This type of encounter requires the alignment of a great many elements, including a cooperative bear, good snow and ice conditions, soft light, and the right temperatures to avoid heat haze. Fortuitously, the perfect storm unfolded in front of us on just day two of our expedition!

Day Three: Exploration of Bellsund Area – On our third day, we continued our exploration of Bellsund, heading into Van Mijenfjord, where we had our very first encounter with fast ice and Walrus on ice. The walrus on ice also proved to be an exceptional encounter and my first opportunity to use my new polecam system – an upside-down monpod with a cage to mount my iPhone for control of the camera. In the evening, the wind began to reduce, and we turned our attention north for Lili-hook Glacier.

Day Four: Heading North – During the evening of our third day, we steamed out of Bellsund and headed north for the Lilliehook Glacier, arriving shortly after breakfast. We were greeted by soft, overcast light and gentle fog hanging over the glacier’s carved face. After lunch, we continued north up to Smerenberg, where we anchored during dinner to position ourselves to head up to the ice early in the morning. With the new 500m regulations in place, the opportunity to try and find a polar bear outside the 12-mile limit in international waters was a major factor in the decision to head north. The two photographs from Lilihook glacier below are courtesy of guest photographer Bill Hughlett – thank you.

Day Five: Pack Ice – Just after midnight, I had the captain fire up the engines, and we steamed north, hoping to find the edge of the permanent pack ice (which, according to the latest ice chart, should have been around 80º). The further north we steamed, the worse the conditions became, with the swell increasing to roughly 3 metres, making the conditions more than uncomfortable. Crossing 81º North, we had still not encountered pack ice (unheard of this time of the year). At 81.20 degrees North, I made the difficult decision to turn the ship around and head back south. With swells showing no sign of abating and no sign of the pack ice, we retreated south to the northwestern corner of Svalbard, arriving early in the morning before breakfast. We learned later in the day from the coastguard vessel that had been shadowing us but had continued north, that the edge of the ice was already at 82º.6 north, a full 80 nautical miles from our most northerly position and at least another 10 hours steam north! The large storm that preceded our arrival in the north, in combination with the unseasonal warm temperatures, had ripped up and pushed the remaining ice far north – out of our reach on this expedition. For the ice to be already this far north (in excess of 82º) at this time of year is unheard of and does not bode well for the summer pack ice in 2026.

The ice chart below shows the dramatic difference over just three days, as a combination of Arctic Storms, unseasonably warm weather, and the shifting of the polar ice cap ravaged the polar pack ice. In my many years of polar photography, I have never seen the ice this far north at this time of the year.

Day Six: Exploring Woodfjorden – With better weather and calmer waters surrounding us, we explored the Woodfjorden area and surrounding systems by ship and took our first zodiac cruise, encountering a small huddle of walruses and a cooperative bearded seal that provided some wonderful photographic opportunities. In the afternoon, we encountered a mother polar bear and a two-year-old cub high on the mountainside, which we observed as we glided silently along the coastline. Sadly, this bear had been collared by researchers, and although it was wonderful to observe, I felt the photographic opportunities were somewhat limited. Bears that have been collared, otherwise tagged, or otherwise interfered with by researchers are typically extremely shy and virtually impossible to approach even from a distance. Sadly, polar bear research in Svalbard remains invasive, despite there being no real justifiable reasons. Much of the research being conducted has already been done and ultimately is continuing simply so that the Norwegian Polar Institute can maintain its government funding. This night, we anchored in one of the sheltered fjords, positioned for an early-morning steam-up to Moffen Island for a potential winter landing.

Day Seven: Moffen Island – We arrived just before breakfast at Moffen Island in calm seas and mercifully still waters. After breakfast, we went ashore via zodiac to photograph the large haul out of Walrus and the Glaucos gulls that frequently hang around. Winter landings at Moffen are a rare treat, and we spent a couple of hours ashore here photographing the wildlife. In the evening, we visited Fuglafjorden to photograph the spectacular glacier there and enjoy a BBQ on the back deck of our ship.

Day Eight: Steaming South – After our evening BBQ, we began our steaming south for Isafjorden and Borabukta, arriving around noon, where we took a zodiac cruise for ringed seals on the fast ice edge. This was a zodiac cruise I particularly enjoyed, with the combination of beautiful snow-covered fast ice and soft, ethereal arctic light. It was one of those settings that one dreams of photographing a Polar Bear.

Day Nine: Expedition Conclusion – We returned to harbour as contracted around 18:00 in the evening on the last full day of our expedition. Over the course of the nine-day trip, we travelled 832.5 Nautical miles, encountered and photographed six Polar Bears (including a mother with a two-year-old cub), and had numerous encounters with Walruses, seals and other wildlife. Of course, the landscape at this time of the year is stunning with the mountains wearing their winter armour, and we took every opportunity to photograph the scenery throughout our expedition. My sincere thanks, as always, to all who participated and made this expedition a success.

The 2026 expedition reminded me, as it does each year, that Svalbard in winter is a place of paradox: stark yet tender, harsh yet comforting, desolate yet full of life. It is a place where patience is rewarded, where minimalism sings, and where every track in the snow tells a story worth listening to.

As we completed our 832.5 -nautical-mile journey and began the long voyage back to Longyearbyen, I was struck once again by the importance of returning—not just physically, but mentally and spiritually—to places like this. Places where the wild still rules, and where we are reminded, as always, that the greatest gift of the Arctic is its silence—and how it teaches us to listen.

Wild Nature Photo Travel will return again next year, 2027, to lead another winter expedition aboard M.S Freya in search of miraculous wildlife encounters and ice-covered landscapes. This is a rare opportunity to explore one of the Arctic’s most remote and pristine landscapes at the height of its frozen majesty. Designed specifically for keen nature and wildlife photographers, this small-group expedition offers intimate access to Svalbard’s breathtaking winter wilderness, including encounters with walrus, Arctic foxes, and polar bears, all set against a backdrop of towering snow-covered mountains and sculpted sea ice. With 24-hour twilight and the potential for moody, ethereal light, this is a once-a-year chance to capture the Arctic in its most cinematic and atmospheric state. Guided by Wild Nature Photo Travels extensive field experience and deep knowledge of polar conditions, this trip is not just a photographic expedition—it’s an immersion into the raw soul of the Arctic. Spots are extremely limited. Adventure with purpose—photograph with intention.