Nansen Polar Expeditions: Arctic Awe

Nansen Polar Expeditions co-founder Audun Lie Dahl shares the raw power and beauty of the High Arctic with his award-winning photos taken aboard his company’s world-class expedition ships. 

Photography courtesy of Audun Lie Dahl

Audun Lie Dahl has been caught in the gravitational pull of high latitude exploration since his first trip to Svalbard when he was eight years old. And his passion for experiencing—and sharing— the unique adventure, wildlife, beauty, wildness, and stillness of the high latitudes with others has only increased as the Nansen Polar Expeditions fleet continues to grow.

“When you have passion for something,” he says, “you put more into it. And I love taking like-minded people to these remote areas, and I love being there and taking pictures myself. I’m lucky in that I get to combine work and passion in a very meaningful way.” 

His photos speak for themselves. And since I’m pretty sure you’ll want to join Audun and his team on one of Nansen Polar Expeditions trips aboard M/V Villa to the Arctic next summer, here’s the website so you can find out more about seeing these amazing sights for yourself. wefollowheroes.com.

01 Swimming polar bear

After we dropped anchor at Kvitøya, this polar bear got curious. It ran into the water and started swimming toward us. There was heavy swell, and in between the waves the bear appeared every now and then. Photo taken with a 400mm lens. 

02 Kittiwake on glacier ice

Photo taken with a 400mm lens. 

03 Curious polar bear

on the sea ice north of Svalbard.

04 Meltwater River, Bråsvellbreen

This shot won the Nature’s Best photo competition in 2018.

05 Fjord and ice

in the southernmost fjord of Svalbard. Taken from the vessel while cruising.

06 Polar bear, backlit

On the easternmost point of Svalbard, you will find the island Kvitøya, or “White Island,” one of the most inhospitable places I have ever visited. This is the land of the polar bears, and they were roaming around on top of a glacier when the sun was setting behind them. Photo taken with a 400mm tele lens.

07 Kittiwakes

feeding in front of a glacier. The rich meltwater coming from below the glacier provides food for the whole Arctic food chain.

08 Villa

cruising the fjords of Svalbard in May. Photo taken with a 100-400mm lens.

09 Kittiwake

cleaning its feathers in front of a blue glacier on the west coast of Svalbard.

10 Bearded seal

resting on the ice after feeding. The red face comes from digging the iron-rich bottom.

11 Zodiac cruise

One of the highlights with our guests is to drop the Zodiacs in the water and take them closer to nature and wildlife. This photo is from one of the magnificent fjords of Svalbard in spring. Photo taken with a 40mm lens.

12 Mum and cub

Frame Villa in the distance. Photo taken with a 100-400mm lens.

13 Mum and cub

We watched them with binoculars for hours from a long distance before we decided to launch Zodiacs and take a night cruise in the fjord. After we had been out for hours watching the bears from afar, the mother turned and came walking on the fjord ice and passed us as though we weren’t there at all. Photo taken with a 100-400mm lens.

14 Glacier front

and Villa anchored up on the Lilliehookglacier.

15 Villa

anchored up on the east coast of Svalbard.

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