I Am Vital

The beauty of the Arctic is breathtaking. For as long as we can remember, the Arctic has been associated with inhospitable cold. But the climate is changing, and with it the northern polar region, which begins beyond latitude 66.5 degrees north. Climate change is now happening four times faster north of the Arctic Circle than on the rest of the planet, making the future outlook dire. At the moment it is still possible for polar bears to raise their cubs, but hunting is becoming increasingly difficult on the drastically shrinking pack ice. The disappearance of the ice also affects the marine fauna. The wintry ice bridge between Canada and Greenland is threatened with collapse. The unstoppable melting of the permafrost, which has held the tundra together for thousands of years, is worrying. But the Arctic is still one of the wildest and loveliest regions on earth. A documentary visit to the Arctic - as long as it still exists.

From West Greenland, I sailed 3,728 miles over eight weeks to Nunavut to explore and document the arctic wildlife in Lancaster Sound for those who cannot witness it first-hand. The pinnacle of my expedition was undoubtedly close encounters with the majestic, yet gentle polar bears. For me, there is no better feeling than being close to those magnificent mammals, sharing space with them. I aspire to bring a fresh perspective of capturing wildlife we already know from still photography through video. Videos allow us to observe and document wildlife behaviors from a new approach, revealing the animals in their entirety as well as in a wider habitat and landscape. Now is the time to act; I want my photos to help inspire conservation and to create a larger Marine Conservation Area.