My previous polar expeditions:

Hornsund (Spitsbergen) (08.2009-09.2009) - nature photographer

Spitsbergen, Kinnvika (Nordaustlandet) (08.2009) - researcher

Hornsund (Spitsbergen) (07.2008-08.2008) - researcher

Hornsund (Spitsbergen) (07.2007-09.2007) - researcher

Spitsbergen (07.2007) - tourist guide, photographer

Hornsund (Spitsbergen) (07.2006-09.2006) - researcher

Hornsund (Spitsbergen) (06.2006) - nature photographer

Spitsbergen, Edgeøya (08.2005) - researcher

Hornsund (Spitsbergen) (07.2003-07.2004) - researcher

Nature and photographic expeditions to polar areas

The expeditions aim at familiarizing people with life of polar animals in their natural environment. Most of us have already had a chance to see them in a zoo but only few know what their natural behaviour is like. So, I decided to tell people about behaviour of those animals and show them places where they live. My another goal is to break the false stereotype that north frosty ice land is the home for penguins. These live in the south, whereas, Arctic is the habitat of the polar bear. I do hope that photographs taken during the expeditions can reflect the beauty of the wild nature and will help me to make people understand and protect it.

I wish to show people a bird colony life, places where the animals hatch or prey. It is good to know that most sea birds hatch not elsewhere but in polar areas. This is also a nesting place for numerous goose and duck species. They are countless. Some colonies are made up of hundred thousands of pairs.

It is not only birds but also local mammals which are very interesting to me. Of all polar areas, Arctic is the only habitat of land mammals. Polar bear, polar fox, reindeer, muskox are the most characteristic species. Please also remember that in this area, in particular in arctic Canada, Alaska and continental part of Eurasian Arctic, the variety of life forms is huge, simply it is impossible to describe it.

Both polar areas are inhabited by sea mammals including those living only in the sea as whales, grampuses, dolphins as well as those who live in both environments e.g. seals, walruses, sea elephants being so nimble in water but ponderous and awkward on the land. No wonder that for humans they are almost defenceless and currently are almost killed off.

I am also fascinated by the nature of those areas. Nowhere else the vegetation period is so short but fierce, rich and various as in the tundra. Contrary to appearances, the vegetation there is not so poor as it could be expected.

Polar areas it is not only animals and plants. Which for many years have been attracting scientists and travellers is impassable and unfathomable space full of mountains, glaciers and fiords.

This is the place where climate changes, so widely discussed for some years, are revealing the most clearly. Glaciers melt, sea water temperature and position of water and air currents change. All of this affect not only polar environment but also other parts of the world.

I wish to organise each expedition in a good time and route it to find the most interesting places. I am planning expeditions to the following places: European Arctic (Scandinavia, Spitsbergen), polar Asia (Siberia), Alaska and arctic Canada, Greenland, Antarctica, extrapolar areas for comparison purposes.

Returning from expeditions I will be in possession of plenty of photographs and documented animal behaviour to arrange exhibitions, lectures, presentations and to publish press articles or albums.