Playful Photos of Polar Bears Frolicking in Flower Fields During Summer
Although we're used to seeing polar bears inhabiting snowy, icy landscapes during the winter, we rarely think about these majestic beasts in any other environments as the seasons change. As summer rolls around, though, it can be amazing to see the kind of shenanigans the furry creatures get themselves into. Polar bears in Northern Canada's Hudson Bay can be found playing in gorgeous flower fields, munching on freshly caught fish, and hunting beluga whales.
While staying at lodges run by Churchill Wild in Manitoba, Canada, wildlife and nature photographer Dennis Fastcaptured these incredible shots of polar bears frolicking in fields of fireweed. Surrounded by bright flowers, the playful bears can be seen rolling around, napping, and poking their heads up amongst the blooms. Come early autumn, polar bears start to wait for ice to reform in the bay so they can return to their winter hunting grounds, but for at least a short time in the summer, they get a chance to enjoy the sunshine and blossoms.
Environmental Portraits and Breathtaking Landscapes Capture China's Rich Beauty
This past summer, Chicago-based travel photographer Ken Koskela spent 17 days in China, where he captured a stunning mix of environmental portraits and awe-inspiring landscapes that highlight the rich beauty and culture of the Asian country. Koskela presents both a macro and micro view of China's countryside, narrowing in from all-encompassing vistas to eye-catching locals in rural villages. Shot with an emphasis on superb light, the photographer's breathtaking images share the stories of individuals and their surrounding environments in a stunning and evocative way.
We had the chance to ask Koskela a few questions about his work and experience in China. Scroll down to read that exclusive interview.
Two Majestic Huskies Walk on Water Across the Surface of a Frozen Lake
Russian photographer and all-terrain vehicle driver Fox Grom was taking a stroll with his dogs when he came across a stunning sight—a frozen lake covered with rainwater, making it appear like his two huskies were walking on water. "I always take pictures of my dogs whilst walking them, but on this occasion there was an extraordinary phenomenon," Grom told the Daily Mail.
Grom's surreal photos show how heavy rainfall transformed the lake's thick ice into a smooth, mirror-like surface extending endlessly into the horizon. The two huskies, Alaska and Blizzard, explore the landscape with avid curiosity. With their gorgeous forms reflected in the water beneath them, and the bottom of the lake visible through the translucent glass, the whole experience looks like a scene from a spectacular fairytale or film.
Gorgeous Photos Simultaneously Capture Life Above and Below Sea Level
In Australian photographer Matthew (Matty) Smith’s series Over/Under, he simultaneously captures life above and below sea level. The gorgeous shots showcase our familiar world of sunsets, trees, and seagulls in the top halves of the photos, while the bottom portions feature intriguing sights of jellyfish, coral, and schools of fish.
Photographing these types of images present some unique technical challenges. There’s a difference in lighting and focus between the two areas, so Smith uses a strobe light for the underwater part of the photo. It helps mitigate the darker scenery with its low contrast and saturation.
Diving is a big part of Smith’s life and photographic practice. He sees Over/Under as a way to share his experiences with a non-diver. “I think it’s [diving] the suspense of the unknown of what lies beneath, the transitional part of moving from one element to the next that feels so magical and the thought of what alien creatures I might encounter,” he writes. “I try to convey to the viewer that majestic feeling in a picture format. It’s maybe the best way I can communicate to a non-diver what it’s all about, to marry a wet and unfamiliar world with a dry and more familiar one"
Nude Yoga Girl Contorts Her Body into Works
25-year-old Nude Yoga Girl isn't aiming to defy Instagram's nudity policy—she instead wants to use her yoga skills to create bodily works of art. "With my account I want to inspire people to realize that everybody is very beautiful and capable of [doing] amazing things with their bodies," she told Daily Mail. "Yoga helped me accept my body exactly the way it is." To promote this message of body acceptance, Nude Yoga Girl twists her naked frame into incredible contortions. So her images are natural and minimalistic, she chooses to photograph these poses in black-and-white. This monochromatic color scheme also helps her hide the intimate parts of her body, so viewers can focus on the artistic nature of her shots.
For many years, Nude Yoga Girl participated in yoga, but this is the first year she's adopted a daily practice. Yoga allows her to display strength and balance, and share an appreciation for the lines of the human body. Onlookers can easily see these elements in her favorite photo (the one above), which she captioned: "We can shape our life. We can shape our body."
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