Arts Design

GORGEOUS OCEAN IMAGES AIM TO SPARK FIRE

Beautiful Whale dolphins break through the blue water of the ocean.

by Paul Nicklen. Whale dolphins break ocean surface.

PAUL NICKLEN

A love affair with water is a love affair with life. For award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist Paul Nicklen, it all begins with the ocean. He expresses his love in astonishingly beautiful images that pulse with passion. They have a powerful ripple effect.

The tops of an iceberg exposed through the ocean.

Nicklen has a particular interest in polar oceans and has specialized in photographing these regions since 1995. He grew up living among the Inuit people in Canada’s Arctic and enjoys ice diving among leopard seals in Antarctica

A mother polar bear and her cubs stranded on a small iceberg in Hudson Strait, Nunavut,Canada.

Nicklen was chosen as one of the 40 most influential nature photographers of all time by Outdoor Photography Magazine. He was granted an honorary PhD at the University of Victoria, for the impact his photography has had on climate change.

A surfer stays upright in stunning turquoise wave swells.

From the translucent swell of pipeline waves that have traveled hundreds of miles across the ocean, to frozen ocean surface patterns to underwater cinematic style drama, Nicklen captures magnificence and offers it up to us, not only for our enjoyment, but also in hopes that it will fire up our passions too and spark action.

A pod of narwhals rest in a melt hole in the spring sea ice.

Nicklen, a National Geographic Fellow, has collaborated with scientists, filmmakers, conservationists and explorers to create awareness and inspire action for global issues and their impact on oceans.

A humpback whale flinging its tail in the air causes a big water splash.

Our oceans sustain life on this planet and they are in peril. Overfishing, pollution, warming sea temperatures, and habitat loss are all putting our oceans, and life itself, at serious peril. And yet, most people in the world don’t yet see or feel the effects and the danger directly.

A dad and his infant son play in the Hawaiian surf.

Nicklen hopes that his photos can help raise awareness and shed new light on this critical situation. Nicklen uses the power of visual storytelling to inspire change.

The spring melt in the Arctic shows the blue ocean as it is seen through the melting ice.

SeaLegacy, an organization co-founded by Nicklen and his wife Cristina Mittermeier, aims to start a global conversation about issues related to ocean conservation and climate change and movement that inspires people to act.

Water flows off the melting ice caps in Nordaustlandet.

Nicklen, Mittermeier, and a team of renowned ocean-focused photographers, filmmakers and storytellers produce powerful media and art for SeaLegacy that give people hope. Hope begets empowerment. Empowerment creates solutions.

Cristina Mittermeier duck dives deep under a large wave in Hawaii to avoid getting tossed around by the immense energy generated by the ocean.

Mittermeier, a marine biologist, photographer, and writer who specializes in ocean conservation issues, serves as President of SeaLegacy. She is one of Sony’s Artisans of Imagery. She sits on the board of the WILD Foundation and on the advisory board for the Wild Seas and Waters Program and the Marine Wilderness 10 + 10 Project. See more about Mittermeier and see her incredible images here.

Emperor penguins swim just below the surface in the blue waters of the Ross Sea Antarctica.

The Paul Nicklen Gallery, in New York City, showcases fine art conservation photography by Nicklen, Mittermeier, and other iconic photographers. Partial proceeds of every print sale fund Sea Legacy’s mission.

Check out Nicklen’s TED Talk and see more of his incredibly beautiful wild water images here.

Two women dive under a wave on their way to a surfing spot near their hometown of Makaha on Oahu, Hawaii.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

A pod of walrus emerging from under the water.

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The famous Pipeline wave creating a blue barrel of water.

IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: by Paul Nicklen. Whale dolphins break ocean surface.
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “Ice mountain.”
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “A mother polar bear and her two-year-old cub stranded on a small iceberg in Hudson Strait, Nunavut, Canada.”
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “The Pipeline.” Oahu, Hawaii.
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “A pod of male narwhal rests in a melt-hole in the spring sea ice.” Commissioned by National Geographic.
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “A humpback whale flings its tail high in the air as it dives down on a ball of herring near Lofoten, Norway.”
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “Children are taught how to understand and enjoy the powerful surf on Oahu’s beaches from a very young age.” Makaha Beach, West Oahu, Hawaii.
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “The Hole Thing.” Polar Obsession Series.
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “Ice Waterfall.”
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “Cristina Mittermeier duck-dives deep under a large wave in Hawaii to avoid getting tossed around by the immense energy generated by the ocean.”
Image: by Paul Nicklen. Emperor penguins swim just below the surface in the Ross Sea. Antarctica.
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “Spiritual Revival.” Oahu, Hawaii.
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “Tusked Titans.”
Image: by BN App - Download now!
Image: by Paul Nicklen. “On some days, the famous ‘Pipeline’ wave on the North Shore of Oahu creates the world’s most perfect surfing barrels.” Oahu, Hawaii.