An Arctic Adventure: Landscape and Wildlife Photography in Svalbard
I am not entirely too sure where to begin when composing the description for this video.
This journey was an epic adventure that landed in my lap unexpectedly, and I will be forever grateful and eternally humbled at the opportunity that I was given to join such wonderful people on the ship that was chartered by Brendan van Son and Thomas Heaton. Svalbard is a part of the world I never thought I would ever get to visit, let alone get to co-lead a photography workshop there with some of my favourite photographers!
This epic landscape and wildlife photography adventure culminated in some of my favourite photographs, best memories and new friends!
So thank you all for being awesome 👍
The whole experience was pure magic and I would recommend anyone that gets a chance to visit, grab it with both hands! From the polar plunge into pristine Arctic waters, to epic mountains and colossal glaciers, and of course seeing the mighty polar bear; it's an adventure of a lifetime.
I of course, have to thank Mr. Brendan Van Son, Thomas Heaton and Jonas Paurell for being such wonderful company and giving me continuous inspiration before, during and after this epic expedition. The expedition crew onboard the Polar Pioneer couldn't have been nicer, more experienced hosts and shared their time and knowledge generously with the whole group.
I know this video may seem long but I would be absolutely thrilled to hear your thoughts and comments below. As always, be sure to like and subscribe so you can follow along for more epic adventures both in Portugal, and hopefully, further afield.
Thank you all again so very much for watching!
Cheers, take it easy everyone!
Brendan Van Son @BrendanvanSon
Thomas Heaton @ThomasHeatonPhoto
Jonas Paurell - www.jonasparell.com
This weeks music was very kindly provided by the very talented Josh - AK
/ @aljoshakonstanty
Please go check out his channel and show him some support as his music is a real treat to listen to and epic to use us in a video! Thanks Josh :)
Пікірлер: 66
Svalbard - a place that changed us forever. The experience of being so far North, disconnected from the rest of the world can teach you a lot of things. The remoteness of this place, the untouched nature, endless glaciers and the abundance of wildlife is what makes this place so special, but it also serves as a reminder of our impact on the planet and the effects our actions from far away can have on this remote place and the wildlife that depends on it. 💙 hope you'll like our project to bring young students in Svalbard 😃
@NeilArthurs
3 ай бұрын
A place that changed me also! Epic, fragile and beautiful!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
@NeilArthurs
3 ай бұрын
Ah Thank you very much, I really appreciate that! 😌
Love from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada! Beautiful video! While we have Polar Bear Provincial Park in Ontario, which is spread over thousand of square KMs but inaccessible to average mortals and we do have Wapusik National Park in Manitoba, where one can see polar bears on ice buggies, I think watching them in Svalbard would be a unique experience.
@NeilArthurs
3 күн бұрын
Hello there, thanks a million for the comment ☺️ I am still humbled at the opportunity to have photographed the polar bears in such a wonderful part of the world! 🌍
@HusbandnWifeDuo
3 күн бұрын
@@NeilArthurs Please do share some more videos for amateurs on the photography techniques that you would recommend for situations like Svalbard.
Beautiful shots! Gutsy plunge
@NeilArthurs
10 ай бұрын
Ah thank you very much 😊 yeah the plunge was a great laugh and I am thrilled I did it!
Inspiring
@NeilArthurs
3 ай бұрын
Thank you very much, it was a wonderful adventure!
Great storytelling and great memories! Thanks for sharing this! See you somewhere!
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Ah Jonas my friend, how are you!? Thank you so much for watching and the kind comment 💕 I am delighted you enjoyed it!
Wow... What a trip this must have been, so jealous as would love to shoot such a Landscape... One day!!
@NeilArthurs
Ай бұрын
Ah thanks so much dude! Yeah it was a special adventure for sure 😄 I am super happy to have been able to be apart of it!
Wow what an amazing adventure 👏😁
@NeilArthurs
7 ай бұрын
Yes it was!
Beautiful images Neil.
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Thanks a million Jackie ☺️
Another brilliant video! Makes me want to take a trip to Svalbard immediately!
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Let's go 🤗
Great stuff, Neil. A nice companion to Thomas Heaton's documentary. We'll await Brendan's take on this trip. He's still a few countries behind on his reporting. 😜 I think Jonas is more of an Instagram guy. Always nice to get different perspectives of the same trip. It appears from the comments that it was a great experience for all involved. Look forward to more of your adventures. Carry on. 👍🥂
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Ah thanks so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment 🤗 yeah I am not to sure how far behind Brendan is, I think he may be close to caught up with himself 😂 Yeah the whole experience was just wonderful and such a privilege to be part of!
The winner of all the polar plunges! Amazing stuff, Keith 😂 But seriously, thank you for being an amazing presence on the ship and doing such a great job of documenting everything!
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Ah thanks man, I really appreciate the kind words! It was a genuine pleasure to meet you and share such a wonderful adventure.
Watched Thomas’ take a while back on this trip and absolutely enjoyed. Stunning visuals and great to see it from your perspective man! What a trip and awesome images.
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Ah thanks a bunch for taking the time to watch and leave a comment 🤗 I am delighted you enjoyed it! It truly was an epic adventure 👍
Epic polar plunge, you're a beast
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Hahaha thanks dude! I shouldn't have opened my eyes under the water, it was an empty void of nothingness 😃🤗
@johnfranzenphotography
11 ай бұрын
@@NeilArthurs yeah, that’s a good way to startup a panic attack 🙀
Absolutely class man !! You did our nation proud with your gold medal in the somersault event :-) Loved the images you got some I hope you’ll print and put on your wall in warm Portugal to remind you of the cold up north !! Way better than that Heaton Fellas vid too :-)
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Hahaha ah I would be sayin that now 😅 thanks so much for watching and for the awesome comment! Printing pictures is something I am really bad at and would like to change! But with how hot it is here lately I think printing ice would be a great idea 💡 👍
Ah there ya are now up in #svalbard 😮
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
🤗
Great work capturing the feeling of the trip! My favorite is your last black and white photo. Wonderful sweeping lines and delicate tones in the snow.
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Thank so much for watching I am thrilled you enjoyed it! 😀Yeah that last image as I said was my favourite from the trip I am super happy with how it turned out and thank you for the compliment 🙂I hope your journey home wasn't to much of a pain!
Amazing Neil, your excitement is infectious. Fantastic footage and photos. If polar plunging was an Olympic sport it was gold for Ireland 😂
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
hahaha thanks a million Dave I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment! It was a fine adventure for sure!
Nice to meet you Neil! This is the first time your video has come up in my que. You’re a terrific storyteller and photographer, and made me push a cruise up higher on my bucket list. How was the rock and roll? Did anybody get sick? That’s my only reluctance…
@NeilArthurs
7 ай бұрын
Hello there, thank you very much for such a wonderfully kind comment 😄 welcome 🤗 If you are anyway inclined to a journey such as this, then it is absolutely worth it! Such wonderful opportunities to photograph different landscapes and of course the wildlife. A few of the days the boat certainly rocked and rolled. I wasn't physically sick but one of the days I did feel very sick and had to stay in bed 😅 thankfully all of the terrific staff were on hand to help out wherever they could and of course give out the sea sick tablets. It was an epic adventure!
Nature like this makes me crying. So pure, so amazing incredible. Thanks
@NeilArthurs
9 ай бұрын
Thank you very much for the comment friend, you are right, nature is a beautiful thing and should be protected at all costs!
Fantastic vlog. Love the polar bears and those intimate blue ice shots, wowzer. Absolutely epic.
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Ah thanks a million dude! I am delighted you watched and commented. It was an epic adventure! Yeah that blue ice was really something, it blew all our minds!
Hi Neil, huge thanks for putting these moments together. It was so nice to watch the video, and remember. It was a pleasure getting to know you in this trip! Keep going and I hope we meet again! ... and luckily I may also meet some of the folks that commented below :-)
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for the kind comment friend! It was fantastic to have met you too and I very hope we can again at some point too! I am super glad you enjoyed the video 😀
Stunning shots and wow the polar bear sequence is breathtaking!
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Yeay!
Brilliantly put together. What a lucky experience getting to see the polar bears 😮
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Yeay, thanks lynno 👍
I love your blue ice shots, especially the abstracts. Wow. And I so regret that I didn’t get a landscape shot at the last walrus spot. You got a beautiful image there. The videos really show how stunning it was. Thanks for putting this together and for your part in the trip!
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Thank you very much for the kind comments! Yeah the blue ice was a real stand out moment eh? A wonderful experience for us all to share in!
What a great video! Your ice images are so beautiful and inspiring. And you captured Portia, the polar bear, at her best, being so playful. This expedition was truly one of the most spectacular trips I have ever taken. The on board staff and photographers were so helpful and knowledgeable. The whole group was enthusiastic and eager to experience every new thing. Their enthusiasm was infectious. I feel so lucky to have been part of this and to have met so many friendly, talented photographers.
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Ah thank you very much! 🤗 I am delighted you liked it 👍 it was such a wonderful experience for us all and one that will not be forgotten! Getting to meet so many wonderful people and spending time with everyone was the highest highlight of the trip! 😊
Very enjoyable video, such a great adventure and great photography.
@NeilArthurs
10 ай бұрын
Ah thanks so much for the comment, yeah it was a really great time! 😊😃👍
Great Video, Neil, " . . . look at this colosal glacier, I have not idea what it's called" I love it, I've been struggling to remember the names of everything we saw. Thanks for shooting all the video, the memories they bring back are incredible and the video sequence of the polar bear chokes me up I just can't believe I had the experience to see that with my own eyes. I agree it was a pleasure to meet 2 of my favorite photographers Brenden & Thomas but I can honestly say it was a pleasure to meet you and Jonas as well. I gladly travel with any of you again, you all brought something special to the trip. Till next time, keep up the great work!
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Haha ah man, me and names never seemed to get along. I have a head like a shiv as my mother would say 😂 thanks so much for your kind words and it was a real joy to have such a wonderful time with so many wonderful people ☺️
Hi Neil,amazing photos and video!! what time of year was this? I am going in late June with my son and I am super excited!!
@NeilArthurs
26 күн бұрын
Ah brilliant 😃 you are going to have such a wonderful time! It's really a special adventure there 😁 We were there early June so I think late June would be perfect, the ice will have melted a touch more and you should be able to get a bit deeper into it all then we did. I really hope the bears are all out while you are there so you can see them! They are really wonderful 👍 Have a great time!
What an amazing adventure Neil... Your excitement and enthusiasm is infectious 😊 I felt I was there with you!!
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Yeay thanks mam! 😁
WOW what an amazing adventure, loved it!! Great images and video, keep it up.
@NeilArthurs
11 ай бұрын
Ah hello there! Thanks so much for the kind comment ☺️ super glad you enjoyed it 😁
Epic trip!
@NeilArthurs
9 ай бұрын
Ah thanks a million for watching! It was an adventure for sure :)