Harp Seals in the Sea Mist
- Svalbard Photography Expedition
- How to Get to Svalbard (and what to do once you are there)
- Svalbard Photography Tour
- A Snowmobile Trip to East Svalbard
- Svalbard Photography Expedition on the M/V Freya
- Landscapes of Svalbard
- Harp Seals in the Sea Mist
- Falling in Love with the Arctic Walrus
- The Bearded Seal - A New Favourite
- Minke Whale Surprise
- Polar Bears (a.k.a. pixel bears)
- The Birds of Svalbard
- Reflections on Our Trip to Svalbard (and Svalbard Departure Tips)
Our very first wildlife sighting of the expedition were mum and calf harp seals — a species we hadn’t even expected to see. Even better, the conditions were absolutely magical. The sea was shrouded in a rare, thick mist, with the soft Arctic sun filtering through in hazy beams. My instinct is always to keep the sun at my back when shooting, but our expedition leader instructed the captain to position the ship so we’d be shooting straight into the sun. The backlighting lit up the mist and ice, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that made for some of the most dramatic and ethereal shots of the trip.
Harp seals get their name from the distinctive dark, harp-shaped markings that adults develop across their backs. We could clearly see their spotted coats and their frozen whiskers, which amazingly stay sensitive enough to detect tiny movements underwater — a crucial skill for hunting beneath the ice.
For context, here’s an iphone photo (and despite the low angle light, this was right around noon).
If I’d had internet access, I would’ve been searching for the best places to photograph harp seals. I’m pretty sure Eastern Canada is the spot — but it doesn’t look like anyone runs tours there right now. If you know of one, please contact us!
Next up — Falling for the Arctic Walrus
