IN FOCUS: Nima Sarikhani
The London-based photographer recently won the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year People’s Choice Award for his stunning photo of a sleeping polar bear – we caught up with him to find out more about his work
In August 2020, during a time when the world was locked down and beset with uncertainty, amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani was onboard the only vessel operating in the Arctic, making his way towards the polar ice cap. A wildlife fanatic who loves to travel and document the natural world, at this point Sarikhani didn’t even have an Instagram account to share his work.
This was all about to change when, after three days of intense fog, the voyagers came across a polar bear resting on a section of drifting ice. Sarikhani photographed the bear as it slept, naming his stunning photo “Ice Bed”. He entered the image to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and, from a selection of 25 photos, was voted by the public as the winner, an award that was both unexpected and an enormous honour. Natural History Museum director Dr Douglas Gurr told the BBC, “Sarikhani's breathtaking and poignant image allows us to see the beauty and fragility of our planet. His thought-provoking image is a stark reminder of the integral bond between an animal and its habitat and serves as a visual representation of the detrimental impacts of climate warming and habitat loss."
We spoke to Sarikhani to find out more about how he started taking photos, the story behind “Ice Bed” and what it meant to him to be awarded Wildlife Photographer Of The Year.
Q & A
You aren’t a full-time photographer and your first Instagram post is from just a few months ago! Where did your passion for photography come from and when did you start?
I am quite a private person – the only reason I started posting on Instagram was because of the nomination in the People’s Choice award. Had that not happened, I would never have posted at all! I actually started taking photos as a child, back in the mid-80s. My mother loved photography, she taught me all about film photography and using a dark room. I spent hours watching wildlife documentaries with my father, which made me a passionate wildlife fan. So, I am the product of both my parents in this respect. That said, I only started taking photography seriously in the last 15 years. And never professionally, only when work has allowed it!
Where in the world have you travelled to take photos and what would you say your favourite place to take photos is?
The majority of my early work focused on Africa, which has so much to offer. Mostly East and Southern Africa, but I have since started discovering some less trodden paths in places like Gabon – which has incredible natural assets yet is virtually unexplored. I also like to venture out of Africa to wildlife-rich places such as Japan, Finland, the Arctic and Antarctica. And I have just returned from my first trip to India looking for tigers in Ranthambore. They all offer such incredible, yet diverse, experiences. But the polar regions have really stolen my heart, and, if I were to be pushed, the Arctic in particular. Both poles offer landscapes and feelings that cannot be captured through photo or video. The magic of the Arctic is that there is always a chance to find the incredible polar bear.
Do you have a favourite animal to photograph and if so, why?
I am often asked this question! It is a very easy answer for me. African Wild Dogs are by far my favourite! It may be because I grew up with many big dogs at home. But their unbound energy, the caring pack, the greeting sounds, the pre-hunt sneezing, and the excitement of trying to keep up with them on a hunt – it never gets old! It’s a completely different wildlife experience to a lion, for example, which is undoubtedly a beautiful and majestic creature, but one which spends most of its day just sleeping.
Your photo “Ice Bed” is stunning - can you tell me a little bit about the taking of that photo? I know that you were on a three day tour of the Svalbard archipelago….how did the image come about?
I was on a two-week voyage on a Swedish icebreaker called the M/S Origo. It was August 2020, and as far as I am aware it was the only vessel operating in the Arctic during Covid times. There were only eight guests onboard, plus staff. We set off from Longyearbyen up to the polar ice cap at over 82 degrees north – a truly magical journey. At first, tensions were high as the first three days we could see nothing but fog! But, finally, the fog lifted, just as we found the subject bear. So we were very lucky!
He was originally resting amongst a large section of drift ice before being moved on by another, larger male. He made a quick escape and eventually came to investigate our boat – bears are naturally extremely inquisitive. When it was safe to do so, we deployed a couple of zodiacs and observed the bear at a respectful distance, swimming through the ice looking for seals. Having had no luck, he then climbed up on the lone iceberg, carved a little shelf for himself and drifted off to sleep. What surprises many people is that the photo was taken just before midnight! As it was near the end of the Arctic summer, the sun wasn’t setting and the sea was basked in this beautiful, ethereal light. It would be another four days before the Arctic saw its first sunset in four months.
What do you hope people take away upon seeing the image?
The most powerful and memorable photos tend to do more than just display the beauty of nature. They shine a spotlight on a moment, stir feelings, and make us think deeply. There are many ways people have interpreted my image of the polar bear and, honestly, I’m very happy for anyone to extract their own meaning from it.
I have been humbled to see some children (and a few adults!) shed tears looking at it, so there is no doubt this image can stir up a lot of emotion. Yes, it is true that our world is in serious threat due to climate change, and we must pull together to resolve it. But you can tell that the bear is healthy, they are incredible swimmers, and they are highly adaptable. I have no doubt this young bear is happily hunting seals as we speak, completely oblivious of his notoriety!
What did winning the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year People’s Choice Award mean to you?
It was a dream come true! The NHM annual competition is the ultimate prize for all of us wildlife photographers, both amateur and professional, so to feature in any way is a huge privilege. I never thought I would make the cut as there are so many incredible photographers out there. So I was truly honoured and humbled, especially as the award that I won was voted on by the public, which makes it even more meaningful.
When receiving the award you talked about “climate change being the biggest challenge we face” – how does that threat inform the work that you do?
It has a massive overlay on everything I do in my “real job”. As an investment house, we put sustainability and integrity at the heart of all our decisions. One of our largest investments is in a project in Gabon, Africa, which is pioneering a new form of integrated sustainable development that allows countries to develop in a way that minimises costs to the environment and maximises biodiversity preservation. I’m very proud of this project.
You also mentioned that there is still hope. What gives you hope as we try to correct the planet’s course?
There is always hope. It is humans striving for a better world that unfortunately led us to where we are now, but that same ingenuity can be harnessed to help us find our way out. The tides are changing, and social movements will hopefully push for change and drag the politics along. Without hope, all is lost!
Do you have any further photography expeditions coming up that you can tell us about?
Of course! Towards the end of the year, I’m planning a visit to Africa to spot a special black leopard, and I will be visiting both poles again in 2025. Further down the line I would love to explore the Americas more – from the (land based, this time) Arctic, British Columbia, Yellowstone, to the southern areas such as the Amazon, the Pantanal and beyond. There is so much to explore, but not enough time! Biggest dream of mine, though? Without question it would be, when able, to document the wildlife, nature, and landscapes of Iran. The land of my father.
"The most powerful and memorable photos tend to do more than just display the beauty of nature. They shine a spotlight on a moment, stir feelings, and make us think deeply."
Nima Sarikhani
"There is always hope. It is humans striving for a better world that unfortunately led us to where we are now, but that same ingenuity can be harnessed to help us find our way out."
Nima Sarikhani
Nima Sarikhani (Photo: Ole Jørgen Liodden)
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