Arctic Polar Bears

Richard and Jingru have ventured to the freezing tundra in Canada numerous times, immersing themselves in the harsh, yet awe-inspiring environment to capture intimate portraits of polar bears. Braving extreme cold and challenging conditions, they documented these majestic animals in their natural habitat, emphasizing the vulnerability and beauty of these Arctic creatures. Their dedication to wildlife photography shines through in these stunning moments of connection between polar bears and their young, each trip deepening their passion for capturing the raw, untamed essence of nature.

A polar bear mother rests in a hollow she has dug in the snow while her three cubs nurse against her, far north of Churchill, Canada.

“Polar Cubs Feeding”

PSA GOLD AWARD — PSA Annual Nature Print 2025

This striking photograph captures a raw and authentic moment of a polar bear mother and her three cubs far north of Churchill, Canada, after leaving their den. The massive mother, her fur lightly tinged with cream, has dug into the snow to rest, providing a makeshift shelter for her cubs as they nurse. Two cubs, with pristine white fur, blend into the snowy Arctic landscape, while the third and the smallest (on the left) the runt, likely the last born—stands out with nearly entirely cream-colored fur, possibly due to thinner fur or natural oils. This little one faces slim survival odds, as runts often struggle to compete for milk and warmth. The mother made the tough decision to leave the den to ensure the family’s survival, navigating the harsh Arctic realities. Shot from a low, face-on angle, this image retains its untouched naturalness, with twigs partially obscuring the view left unedited to preserve the scene’s wild authenticity.—Richard Bailey

A polar bear mother lies in the snow with three cubs cuddled on top of her.

“Patience,” exhibited as “Cute” PSA Gold Medals: Fotovisual Circuit 2022-468, Bong Circuit, 2022-476, Symmetry Circuit, 2022-472, Foto Art Super Circuit, 2022-458, Artistic Vision Circuit, 2022-335, Alp Circuit, 2022-479, Shoot Snap Circuit, 2022-382, 2023 CEWE Photo Awards Finalist—”Our World Is Beautiful,” 2024 PSA HISTORICAL PROJECTED IMAGES COLLECTION

Awards in 17 International PSA and FIAP Exhibitions

A polar bear mother sits in falling snow looking down at her cub, who stands directly beneath her chin.

“Baobei” 珍宝 (“Darling”) A mother sits in heavy snowfall on Hudson Bay with her cub standing right under her chin, her head tipped down toward him as though a kiss is coming. The falling flakes soften everything behind them and leave the two shapes holding the frame.—Jingru Luo

A polar bear mother walks across icy tundra with a small newborn cub following close behind her.

“Gen MM Zou” ‍ ‍跟随妈妈 (Following Mama) Awards in 6 International PSA and FIAP Exhibitions

A mother strides across frozen tundra far north of Churchill while her newborn cub waddles behind, working hard to hold the pace. Cubs emerge from the den at around three months old and have to walk from the first day. The distance between the two shapes is the whole story.—Jingru Luo

A polar bear lies in the snow with its mouth wide open in a yawn, backlit by low Arctic light.

“Yawning” A polar bear stretched out on the snow with its jaws wide open, caught in low backlight that sets the edge of its fur glowing. The open mouth reads as a yawn rather than a threat, which is most of the appeal — a 900-pound predator at its least dramatic.—Jingru Luo

Two polar bears rear up on their hind legs in the snow with front paws touching, as though boxing.

“Boxing Bears” Two polar bears up on their hind paws at Hudson Bay, front paws meeting like boxers mid-round. Sparring like this is play rather than a real fight, most common among young males waiting for the sea ice to form. Two enormous animals with nothing much to do.—Jingru Luo

A polar bear stands in the snow backlit by a glowing sunset over Hudson Bay.

“Polar Bear at Sunset” A polar bear standing on the snow at Hudson Bay with the sunset directly behind it, the low light turning its whole outline gold. Simple composition, warm palette, and the animal doing nothing in particular — which is why it works as a print —Jingru Luo

A polar bear cub stands on its hind legs to reach up and touch its mother's neck in a snowy landscape.

“QQMM” 亲吻妈妈 ( A Kiss for Mama) PSA Gold Medal: 2022 SKP Circuit

Awards in 6 International PSA and FIAP Exhibitions

This tiny polar cub stood up on his back legs and reached up to his mom, gently touching her with his paw and giving her the softest little kiss on the neck. She stood there so calm, like she knew just how special that moment was. Honestly, it was pure magic.—Jingru Luo

Two young polar bears rear up on their hind legs facing each other, noses almost touching, in the snow.

“Nose to Nose” Awards in 13 International PSA and FIAP Exhibitions

"Nose to Nose" –Two young polar bears popped up on their hind legs and squared off inches apart, somewhere between a hug and a wrestling match. Symmetrical, close, and entirely unposed. —Richard Bailey

Capturing the Magic of Norway: Northern Lights and Mountain Villages

Richard and Jingru have traveled to Norway many times, capturing the awe-inspiring northern lights as they dance across the arctic skies. Their photos also include charming villages set against dramatic mountain backdrops showcasing Norway’s rugged landscapes and serene beauty in stunning detail.

The aurora borealis curls into a dragon-like shape over snow-covered mountains and a calm river in Norway.

“Dragon” the beautiful northern lights over Norway shaped like a dragon—Jingru Luo

The aurora over Norway, coiled into a shape close enough to a dragon that the name wrote itself. Snow-covered peaks below, a still river holding the reflection. Aurora shapes this defined last seconds, so the frame is largely a matter of being set up and pointed the right way.

Northern lights over snow-covered mountains and a fjord at night, mirrored in the still water below.

“Feng Huang Dian Shui” 凤凰入水 (Phoenix Touching the Water) PSA GOLD MEDALS: 2020 Rule of Third, 2020 Five Point Circuit

Aurora above a Norwegian fjord, doubled in water calm enough to work as a mirror. The reflection is what carries the image — it needs a windless night, which is not the norm on that coast in winter.

The aurora borealis dances above snow-covered mountains and water in Norway, with reflections on the surface.

“Northern Lights” more fascinating dancing lights across the sky of Norway—Richard Bailey

More of the restless light that fills the Norwegian sky through the dark months, curtains of it moving over the mountains and repeating in the water below.

Red stilt houses with black roofs line the rocky shore of a Lofoten fjord below a snow-covered mountain.

“Stonesthrow” pic taken from atop the highway bridge during wintry icy conditions—Richard Bailey

Traditional red rorbuer standing on stilts along the rocky edge of a Lofoten fjord, a snow-covered peak filling the background. Shot from the top of the highway bridge in icy conditions. The red-against-white is why Lofoten is photographed as heavily as it is.

Swirling northern lights above snow-covered mountains and a fjord at night, with stars visible through the display.

“Whirling Lights” yet another fantastic spark of nature—Richard Bailey

A full-sky aurora burst over Lofoten, the curtains twisting rather than banding, with stars still showing through the thinner sections. Snow, fjord and mountains take up the bottom third and the rest belongs to the sky.

Greenland: Land of the Midnight Sun

A sailboat and floating ice on calm water at sunset near a large rock formation, softened by fog off the Greenland coast.

“Seeking” Shot off the Greenland coast at the time of year when the sun never fully sets, so this light holds for hours instead of minutes. Ice drifting on flat water, a sailboat small in the distance, fog taking the edge off a large rock face. Quiet, and largely empty by design.—Richard Bailey