Polar Frame Wall Print

Brandnhmshop

Description

Polar Frame © Dmitry Kokh 2022. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is owned by the Natural History Museum, London.Animal Portraits, Highly CommendedWhen the yacht that Dmitry was sailing on took refuge from a storm in the lee of Kolyuchin, an uninhabited island in the remote Russian Far East, he did not expect to see a figure at the window of a house. There had been a small settlement on the island, abandoned after the break-up of the USSR, and a weather station that had closed in 1992. At least 20 polar bears, mostly males, were exploring the buildings, while females and their cubs remained closer to the shore. It was too dangerous to land, so Dmitry launched his low-noise drone. These bears (part of the Chukchi subpopulation) usually move north in summer, staying with the retreating sea ice – essential for hunting seals. In September 2021, loose pack ice had remained further south and so had some of the bears. Dmitry’s skilful use of the drone, despite the fog engulfing the island, captured extraordinary images. In this double-framed portrait, the bear stares directly at the camera, as if to say, ‘this is my place now.’About the photographer (2022)Dmitry is a wildlife and underwater photographer who tries to capture decisive moments in nature and to show wildlife contextually in its environment. He enjoys the process of creating memorable and beautiful pictures and hopes that they will inspire people in some way to care about and conserve the natural world. His approach is borne out of his enthusiasm and energy - full immersion, staying innovative and focusing on storytelling.

£20.00