Day 1 – 14. March 2024 We started our first Svalbard photo expedition of the season with an international group of photographers from the US, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. When we embarked MS Virgo, it was -23°C and some wind, but inside our ship, it was very comfortable. In the afternoon we set our course north along the coast.
Day 3 – 16 March 2025 We arrived the drifting sea ice in the morning, around 80.5° North. With -26°C and a northerly wind, it was cold to stay outside photographing the sea ice, frost smoke, and wildlife. We observed a few groups of harp seals, some black guillemots, and one ivory gull, but there weren't many animals on the drifting sea ice at this time of year. However, it was magical to be out photographing, knowing we were the northernmost people on planet Earth!
Day 4 – 17 March 2025 We drifted with the MS Virgo in the sea ice overnight. During our two days in the drifting sea ice we only saw quite thin ice (about 25-30 cm), which was a bit concerning. Normally, the pack ice is connected to the northern shores of Spitsbergen, and the sea ice is usually thicker. After lunch, we decided to spend some time walking on the sea ice at 80.7 degrees North, which was one of the highlights of the expedition. In the evening, we left the sea ice, heading back to northern parts of Spitsbergen.
Day 6 – 19 March 2025 On this day, the light was incredible throughout the day in the northwestern corner of Spitsbergen. Twice, we had amazing photo opportunities of walruses on pancake ice against a stunning landscape. It was one of those days you dream of as a photographer when visiting the High Arctic.
Day 7 – 20 March 2025 We decided to spend the last two full days of our expedition in Isfjorden. The temperatures were still cold, around -18°C, and it was windy, but the landscape outside was stunning. We spotted three polar bears in the distance and two dark-morphed Arctic foxes playing around. The sunset that day was magical - one of the best I’ve ever photographed!
Day 8 & 9 – 21 & 22 March 2025 In the morning, a lovely polar bear decided to walk on the sea ice with great landscape in the background. This was one of the highlights of our winter expedition and truly demonstrated that it’s still possible to photograph polar bears under the new regulations. We also observed, from a distance, a polar bear successfully hunting down a reindeer. In the evening, we returned to Longyearbyen, preparing for our disembarkation the following morning.
Our first Svalbard expedition of 2025 was challenging with cold temperatures and wind, but it was successful with great photo opportunities and sightings. We thank all our guests and guide team for making this a memorable expedition!
Let us know if you want to travel with us on a similar photo expedition to Svalbard.
Text & photo: Ole J Liodden