The Explorer
Tom Kokta
Award-winning wildlife photographer specializing in extreme Arctic environments. Over eight years documenting polar bear behavior across Churchill, Svalbard, and the remote Wapusk National Park — one of the few photographers granted repeated winter access to the denning grounds.
Every image on this site is original, field-captured work — no stock, no composites, no AI generation. The photography is the credential.
65
Polar Expeditions
30K+
Frames Captured
81°N
Furthest North
8
Years in Arctic
–50°C
Coldest Shoot
Featured
Featured In
Map
The Expedition Map
Expedition Log
The Journey
2018
Churchill, Manitoba
First Encounter
First winter expedition to Wapusk National Park. Documented den emergence behavior in –45°C conditions.
2019
Svalbard, Norway
Edge of the Ice
Three-week vessel expedition along the pack ice edge. First publication in National Geographic.
2020
Hudson Bay, Canada
The Great Wait
Documented the annual freeze-up congregation — over 60 bears in a single area.
2021
Wapusk National Park
Winter Access
Granted rare repeated winter access to polar bear denning grounds. One of few photographers worldwide.
2022
Svalbard & Franz Josef Land
High Arctic
Reached 81°N. Photographed bears on multi-year sea ice — a vanishing habitat.
2025
Churchill & Svalbard
Mother & Cubs
Year-long project documenting maternal behavior across two populations. Smithsonian feature.
"The best polar bear photograph is the one where you forget the camera existed."
— Tom Kokta