Captivating Creatures of Winter: A Visual Journey Through the Season

The temperatures are dropping and the snow is beginning to fall, so immerse yourself with a warm beverage and appreciate this collection of winter wildlife photography that showcases the stunning beauty of animals and landscapes globally during the winter months.

Soaring with the geese

A small, unobtrusive drone enabled the photographer to accompany wild geese in flight. These were truly wild—unaccustomed to human presence, unlike other aerial shots—only a few of the thousands of pink-footed geese that migrate northward above the photographer’s residence near Norway’s Trondheim Fjord. The geese pause here to recuperate and forage, and the photographer aimed to capture their morning takeoff, with the blanket of snow-covered terrain stretching below. A clear day in April and impeccable timing were essential. The drone needed to be airborne at the correct location and altitude prior to the geese’s arrival to avoid startling them. Maintaining a respectful distance with a wide-angle lens, he crafted an image that resonates with significance for Nordic people.

Measuring the Depth

Storm clouds set a gray tone across this frigid Greenland terrain—a locale that relatively few wildlife photographers explore. On a still evening, the Arctic fox carefully assesses the water’s depth as it navigates towards a tern nesting site along an offshore island shore. It is springtime, and the fox is shedding its winter coat for its summer fur; however, due to a scarcity of lemmings, it emerged from the harsh winter to find leaner conditions and was more focused on hunting for chicks than on human observers.

Arctic exposure

The aesthetic effect of the river of frost-worn rock debris transitions from a pattern of emerging dark stones to a foreground of almost two-dimensional white forms. This landscape image is crafted by a Nordic photographer who is well-acquainted with the natural features of the high-Arctic island of Svalbard and deeply appreciates the compositions found in such striking wildernesses. He recognizes that in April, such a south-facing slope constitutes a prime habitat for Svalbard rock ptarmigans, as it is where the snow and ice melt at the fastest rate, revealing tundra vegetation. The rock ptarmigans remain in their immaculate white winter plumage, and the impact of backlighting—where the luminosity of their feathers aligns with that of the snow—camouflages them among the stones. Using an ultra-wide, ultra-clear zoom lens on a low tripod, the photographer managed to get close enough to a few resting males—feeling secure in their disguise—to incorporate the white balls of feathers into the patchwork of the snowy landscape.

Den of bears

This image is shrouded in mystery, almost evoking a post-apocalyptic vibe, yet it narrates a genuine story. The bears—approximately thirty of them—have infiltrated a secluded island in the Russian Far East. They were compelled to do so due to the retreat of summer sea ice, resulting in the loss of their primary sustenance—seals residing on the ice. On the island, they discovered an abandoned weather station and have been rummaging through the buildings for food. Here, they peer into the mist after hearing an unusual sound—the low hum of a drone being piloted from the photographer’s boat, which is anchored in the bay below. It was an extraordinary scenario but also a particularly challenging image to capture, necessitating both skill and fortune.

Face to face

Freshsnow serves as both a stage and a backdrop for the clash of power. Tension is evident in the rolling eyes, exertion in the heavy breathing, and prestige in the magnitude of the entwined, evenly matched antlers. It is October, marking the commencement of the rutting season for the Svalbard reindeer – a diminutive breed, now clad in thick, white winter coats, specifically evolved to endure the High-Arctic environment of the Svalbard archipelago. The photographer was tailing one bull along with his small group of females, poised to capture such a moment. To encapsulate the vital components – the fervor of the pushing, with forelegs steadied – while steering clear of the competitors, he utilized a telephoto lens. The owner of the harem (right) triumphed after a quarter of an hour, ultimately throwing his wearied rival off-balance. Yet the capture preserved the stunning symmetry of the two formidable Arctic inhabitants.

Discover more in 60 Years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, available from Smithsonian Books. Explore Smithsonian Books’ website for further information regarding its publications and a comprehensive list of titles. 

Excerpt from  60 Years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year: How Wildlife Photography Became Art  by © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London, 2024; Photography © the respective photographers