Photographer Waits 8 Hours to Capture Polar Bear's Gaze

Audun Rikardsen screamed with joy so loudly he probably woke every polar bear within miles.

The Norwegian wildlife photographer had just reviewed footage from an underwater camera he'd rigged beneath a seal's breathing hole in the Arctic. At 4am, a female polar bear had approached and peered directly into the lens, creating a perspective few humans ever see: life from a seal's point of view.

But getting the shot required extraordinary patience. After the bear arrived, Rikardsen waited eight hours for her to move away before retrieving his camera.

His image "Icy Window" earned Highly Commended status in the Animal Portraits category of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026. It's the latest achievement for Rikardsen, who previously won the Birds category in 2019 and Oceans: The Bigger Picture in 2025.

The competition's shortlist reveals hundreds of stunning moments captured by photographers worldwide. Japanese teen Sora Miyazawa photographed an Eastern Japanese toad navigating Tokyo streets after rainfall, showcasing how wildlife adapts to urban environments.

In the Arctic again, Norwegian photographer Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen documented an orca repeatedly lifting a deceased calf to the surface in a Norwegian fjord. The behavior, difficult to witness but important to record, may represent an attempt to revive or protect the young whale. A 2026 study suggests this mourning behavior occurs more widely across killer whale populations than scientists previously understood.

Young photographers also shined. UK photographer Jack Crockford captured swifts returning to London after migrating from Africa, freezing their aerial acrobatics in a single frame. These remarkable birds spend almost their entire lives airborne, landing only to nest.

Why This Inspires

These images remind us that remarkable wildlife moments happen constantly around the planet, from Arctic ice to city streets. Photographers invest countless hours in challenging conditions to bring us glimpses of behaviors we'd never otherwise witness. Their dedication helps us understand and appreciate the incredible diversity of life sharing our world, even in unexpected places like Tokyo sidewalks and London parks.

The overall winners will be announced October 13, 2026, followed by an exhibition at London's Natural History Museum starting October 16.

#