Paul Nicklen: Polar Obsession

Paul Nicklen's Polar Obsession, published by National Geographic Photograph: Focal Point/National Geographic Society Photograph: Focal Point/guardian.co.uk A young polar bear leaps between ice floes in the Barents Sea, Norway Photograph: Paul Nicklen/NG Photograph: Paul Nicklen/guardian.co.uk Looking towards an uncertain future, a huge polar male bear triggers a camera trap, taking his own picture at the Leifdefjorden, Spitsbergen, Norway Photograph: Paul Nicklen/NG Photograph: Paul Nicklen/guardian.co.uk A kittiwake soars in front of a large iceberg in Svalbard, Norway Photograph: Paul Nicklen/NG Photograph: Paul Nicklen/guardian.co.uk A leopard seal delivers a penguin to Paul Photograph: Paul Nicklen/NG Photograph: Paul Nicklen/guardian.co.uk A large bull walrus returns to the shores of Prins Karl Forland after diving and feeding on clams in Svalbard, Norway Photograph: Paul Nicklen/NG Photograph: Paul Nicklen/guardian.co.uk A gentoo penguin chick peeks, checking for patrolling leopard seals before tempting fate at Port Lockroy, Antarctic Peninsula Photograph: Paul Nicklen/NG Photograph: Paul Nicklen/guardian.co.uk In the Arctic spring, meltwater channels drain towards and down a seal hole, returning to the sea Photograph: Paul Nicklen/NG Photograph: Paul Nicklen/guardian.co.uk Paul Nicklen on assignment at Lewes Lake in the Yukon Territory, Canada Photograph: Lyn Hartley/NG Photograph: Lyn Hartley/guardian.co.uk