Paul Nicklen

Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist who has documented the beauty and the plight of our planet for over twenty years.  As an assignment photographer for National Geographic magazine, Nicklen has captured the imagination of a global audience through over twenty stories that manifest a reverence for the creatures which inhabit isolated and endangered environments, especially in polar regions.  His work introduces audiences to an underwater realm witnessed by few, aiming to generate global awareness of climate change and other wildlife issues.

Nicklen’s sensitive and evocative imagery has garnered over thirty of the highest awards given to any photographer in his field, including the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the prestigious World Press Photo for Photojournalism.  He is equally recognized by the conservation community for his efforts; he was the first recipient of the Natural Resources Defense Council ‘BioGems Visionary Award’.

Nicklen is a co-founder of the non-profit agency SeaLegacy, which seeks to educate the public about ocean conservation through visual storytelling.  In addition, he has published several books including Seasons of the Arctic; Bear: Spirit of the Wild; Polar Obsession; and Born to Ice.

As he has explained, “I call myself an interpreter and a translator. I translate what the scientists are telling me. If we lose ice, we stand to lose an entire ecosystem. I hope we can realize through my photography how interconnected many species are to ice.”