SIX TIPS FOR CAPTURING WILDLIFE IN THE ARCTIC

1

THINK ABOUT SAFETY If you’re going somewhere dangerous, you need to think seriously about safety. Consider all the different elements, such as weather and wildlife. Think ahead, especially about what specific dangers there might be. Make preparations and take the right equipment to deal with any issues that come up.

2

OVEREXPOSE YOUR IMAGES Camera metering will make the snow look dark, so if you overexpose your camera by around two stops, then you’ll make the whites look really white, which makes for better-looking images.

3

USE THE ENVIRONMENT For artistic shots, from wolves to polar bears, it’s good to make use of the environment to show just how hostile the landscape is. Use the weather conditions in your pictures too – that really shows the circumstances in which these animals live.

4

STUDY ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR With any wildlife, it’s useful to keep an eye out for their specific behaviour, whether that’s musk ox fighting or wolves hunting. It’s good to learn as much as you can about animal behaviour. I’ve talked to experts who gave me tips, such as not to look wolves directly in the eye when they are approaching because they see that as confrontational.

5

GET THE RIGHT GEAR When you go somewhere that regularly gets to -40°C, you need good specialist clothing. I’ll be wearing the Apex 8000 Montane down jacket, which people have worn to climb Everest. Make sure your hands, face and bodies stay warm and you will need to have your face covered up due to the extreme cold. Taking a box of hand warmers is a must – that little bit of extra warmth helps keep your hands functioning in the extreme cold. You also need a camera and lenses with a very high level of weather-sealing. I use the Canon 1DX MKII, as I know that camera still works even when it’s -50°C out there.

6

KEEP BATTERIES WARM You need to look after all your gear in these difficult winter conditions, which means protecting cameras. Spare batteries should be kept in a warm pocket as the cold will drain them faster than normal.