Emergence by Ashleigh Scully

This image was taken in Svalbard archipelago, Norway, 2023.

A personal note from the photographer: It was my second day in Svalbard, August of 2023, and we had woken to the crisp, cold air that we were surrounded by none other than pack ice. The cool, blue and white tones stretched across the landscape as far as I could see, and our ice-pushing ship gently glided through. The slightest movement in the distance caught my attention, and my peers began to jump and point. A beautiful female polar bear came out of a fog and curiously began strolling toward our ship. Effortlessly, she dipped into the water, occasionally disappearing behind pieces of ice and I took that as my opportunity to get in position. Moving to a different part of the ship to anticipate her reveal, I set up on the port side, using my mitten to cancel any vibration between the ship and my lens. It was one of those moments where I held my breath and hoped. In seconds, she rose up onto this small piece of ice and raised her nose. Thousands of tiny water droplets poured off of her beautiful coat and she gently raised her right paw ever so slightly. Just as fast as she had risen, she re-entered the icy waters and swam away. This photo’s meaning to me is the epitome of a polar bear in its environment. The Arctic Queen in her home. Documented August, 2023 in the Svalbard archipelago, Norway.

Follow Ashleigh Scully on Instagram: @ascullyphoto