Wildlife Photography

Polar Bears of Norway and Canada Fine Art Photography Prints

Polar Bear photography print as wall art

Pictures of Polar Bears in the Wild in Norway and Canada

A Polar Bear photography gallery of fine art photos of Polar Bears by professional wildlife photographer Joseph C. Filer, capturing these beautiful animals in their natural habitats in Canada and Norway.

Polar Bear photography prints are for sale as Limited Edition Fine Art Paper Prints, Chromaluxe® Metal Prints, and non-glare TruLife® Acrylic Prints. Frames and large-scale prints 6 feet or more in size are available.

My Polar Bear Photography Experience

Polar bears are large and dangerous animals. Even from the elevated perch inside a Tundra Buggy in Canada or on the deck of a small expedition vessel in Norway, I could sense the danger that they could present. I was able to safely obtain my polar bear photos for my portfolio and it was an amazing experience both times.

Facts About Polar Bears

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is found throughout the Arctic region. The polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land, a title it shares with the Kodiak bear. The polar bear, which is much larger than the female, weighs 900 to 1,600 pounds. It grows to about 5.3 feet tall at the shoulder. The tail is 3–5 inches long. The polar bear has strong, sharp claws which are important for digging through ice and for killing prey.

See Related Photo Galleries

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Work directly with me, the photographer and artist, instead of through a gallery art director or manager. I will help you every step of the way, from the selection of the photograph and print style to the status of the printing and delivery process. I can also provide room mockup photos, if needed.

My prints are produced using the highest standards and materials in the industry. For more information, see my Print Options and Custom Framing pages.

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View Slideshow

a young female polar bear standing proud in the snow and ice in Norway — Pride Of The Arctic

a large polar bear moving across the ice and snow at close range in Norway — Big, Bad Leroy Bear

a large polar bear walking across the snow and ice with head down in Norway — Ice Crossing

a closeup of the head and feet of a large polar bear in the ice and snow — Big Bear - Big Paws

a polar bear pausing while walking across the snow and ice — Bear Pause

a polar bear awaking from a nap after being in a shallow hole dug for the nap — Stuck In A Hole

a polar bear stretching after a long nap in the snow and ice — Snow Stretch

a polar bear walking down to the water to get a drink after a nap — Down To The Water

a large polar bear having a yawn after waking up from sleeping — A Polar Yawn

a polar bear looking straight at you on the snow and ice — Morning Bear

a closeup of a very pretty female polar bear standing in the ice and snow — Young And Pretty

a polar bear and its cub standing on the edge of a frozen river in canada — Checking For Danger

a polar bear walking briskly across the top of a frozen lake — Long Traverse

a polar bear on the frozen lake appearing to be in deep thought — Deep Thought

a polar bear walking towards you with its cub in the winter snow — With Mom

a polar bear very close together with its cub in the winter snow — Huddled Together

a polar bear walking across the snow in canada — Snow Walk

a polar bear emerging from behind a bare bush in the winter — Bush Bear

a polar bear walking across blue ice in the winter in canada — Polar Stroll

a polar bear moving swiftly across the ice and taking a look at you — A Quick Look

a polar bear walking across a frozen lake in the winter in canada — Across The Ice

a polar bear walking with its head down across the ice in canada — Head Down

a polar bear that appears to be biting the ice on a frozen lake — Biting The Ice

a polar bear on the ice of a frozen lake with snow falling — Polar Snowfall

a closeup of the head and paws of a large polar bear in the snow — Really Big Paws

The Beauty Of The Dangerous Polar Bear

Polar Bears are extremely large, white, and dangerous mammals. Yet, there is something beautiful about them. As a wildlife photographer, I just had to set aside the time to photograph them. The two best locations to do so are at the edge of Hudson Bay in Churchill, Canada, and on the ice in Spitsbergen, Norway.

Like other bears, they can spend their share of time sleeping. We waited hours for one to wake up from her nap in Spitsbergen. They are truly magnificent creatures. Capturing photos of polar bears has to be one of the highlights of my time in wildlife photography.

History, Habitat and Facts About North American Polar Bears

The North American polar bear, also known as the white bear, is a subspecies of the brown bear. They roam the Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska and live near the ice edges that form on oceans and large bodies of water. These bears can be found in two different areas: The arctic coast and the arctic islands north of Canada.

The Main Threats to Polar Bears

One of the biggest threats to polar bears is climate change. When the ice melts, it becomes harder for bears to find food and hunt. This can be a problem because their fur isn't waterproof and they must drink a lot of water in order to survive. All this combined with melting ice means there's a lack of habitat for these animals.

Another threat is poaching. The worldwide demand for hunting has been increasing over the years, which has caused the price for a bear cub to increase from $200 in 1970 to up to $10,000 today. Poachers are taking advantage of the vulnerability of these animals. The final threat is oil spills. In 2010, an oil spill contaminated around 1,000 square miles in Alaska killing hundreds of bears in one fell swoop.

The White Bear Facts

With their thick fur, these animals cope with temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius. Their fur is not only an insulator (keeping them warm), it's also waterproof (which protects them from getting wet or even soaked).

Here are some more facts about North American Polar Bears:

-There are between 20,000 and 25,000 bears living in Canada and Alaska

-Polar bears have been around for at least 150,000 years

-Polar bears have black skin underneath their white fur

-The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists polar bears as a vulnerable species.

Why is this animal important?

Polar bears are an important animal to discuss because they're an endangered species. Researchers believe that due to the effects of climate change, the population of these animals will continue to decline. These bears live in areas that are expected to be impacted by climate change, which will make it difficult for them to find food and survive. Climate change is impacting these animals in a negative way and has caused their population numbers to decrease. Polar bears need protection from this issue if their population numbers are going to increase again.

Summary

Polar bears are the largest carnivores on earth. The United States has two subspecies, the Alaskan Brown Bear and the Kodiak bear. There are 19,000 to 25,000 polar bears in the world but they are under threat from climate change. They are making less and less of their traditional prey due to the retreat of sea ice which they use as a hunting platform. Polar bears are also threatened by pollution including garbage dumped into the Arctic. These bears are important because they are an icon of the North Pole and an indicator of how climate change is changing their natural environment.