Photography Expedition to Svalbard

Landscape & wildlife photography in Svalbard with the Nikon Z8. In this video I spend 10 days sailing around Svalbard on the Polar Pioneer in search of landscape photography and wildlife photography. We run in to a few technical issues with the ship and we encounter tough conditions as well as sublime conditions. We are lucky enough to photograph Polar Bears, Walrus & witness a rolling iceberg. This really was the trip of a lifetime. 10% off your first Squarespace website or domain: www.squarespac...
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[@markroxas7104]

Thomas really knows how to take us to an adventure. He's the Bilbo Baggins of photography

[@timnalichkin]

Yes! ❤🇷🇺🥰

[@dr.felixforster2302]

Xb4t .i 😊kĺ

[@Getoffmycloud53]

Clutching the Z8 mumbling my preciousss….

[@hisownfool1]

He even resembles a young Martin Freeman.

[@500gtsnake]

Wait until he finds a dragon 😂

[@emotivemulsion]

The bear playing with the stick or bone or whatever it was is just excellent

[@elwick_photo]

Who knew polar bears liked to play fetch 😂

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Yeah, that was incredible. She was actually playing fetch with herself.

[@reemalhadrami5274]

@@ThomasHeatonPhoto that just make my eyes extra teary

[@etienne4403]

Wasn’t that a fish?

[@StevenLawson]

I found myself choking back tears watching the polar bear playing and the beluga whales, what an incredible experience. The photography was stunning, too. Terrific stuff Tom.

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Wow! That was indeed some journey! Beautiful photos! Now you've got me excited for Svalbard later this summer 👏😁

[@cgan2013]

First off, that polar bear segment with the music literally brought tears to my eyes!! Quite honestly, one of the best cinematography pieces I’ve witnessed!! What an INCREDIBLE trip!! So happy for you for bringing a dream to life!! The images are calling for another book, dedicated to this trip…I’ll send you my $$$$ now!! Incredible video, sir!! I can only imagine how it was in person!! Well done!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@kathyjurgens7153]

Me as well. I hadn't expected to have tears running down my face. Truly beautiful and inspiring.

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Thanks a lot for your kind words, but I'm not sure I have it in me to produce another book, not yet anyway.

[@MacOSTen]

I’ve been watching many KZbin Togs for years (including Thomas) and this is one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. So expertly put together, it was like watching a BBC documentary. Well done lad. Also good to see you comfy speaking on camera in front of others.

[@NeilArthurs]

Hahahaha thanks for that fine intro 😂 What an absolute pleasure it was to have been part of this epic adventure! All the wonderful people that took part really made the whole experience a complete success!!! The photos are absolutely magic! 👍 Cheers to all 😃

[@Fred-hv2qm]

Totally agree, Keith ;)

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Our pleasure! Glad to have you onboard.

[@clementvillemont]

Neil you were the salt of this trip, glad you were there

[@NeilArthurs]

@@clementvillemont ah thanks a million dude! 😀 It was a genuine pleasure to have met you! 👍

[@NeilArthurs]

@@Fred-hv2qm 🤣😂

[@bryan67thomas]

Thomas, perfect recap of the trip. From the excitement of leaving port the first evening the low of waking up a few days later back in Longyearbyen and then the recovery and high of the bears, the plunge, the walruses and much more. You've told this story so well and I'm so honored that I was able to experience it all with you and all the passengers. Well Done!

[@lostcanuck]

This is why I love your channel. Fantasic photography (dare I say your wildlife stuff could be a new series) along with epic cinematography. Thanks for taking us on this journey with you.

[@shahzebnasir4692]

Thomas woke up and decided to drop a video worthy of being a nature documentary with Nat Geo on us. I can't wait to see this and I hope you travel more this year!! Some of your best videos are when you go to far away lands that most of us dream of visiting! Hopefully the jungles of the Amazon or West Africa are on your list because there really is nothing like landscape photography in a rainforest teeming with life! I hope you get to see Northern Pakistan one day too! There really is nothing like it on earth. A place where the Himlayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountain ranges converge!

[@nbonham593]

Wow! Despite the video being 40 minutes, I didn’t want it to end! Fantastic images and a great adventure

[@alisonlyons4691]

OMG!! Thomas this was total magic. Watching the bears in their naural environment brought me tears. The bear playing with what l thought was its prey, a salmon maybe. Cats for instance sometimes throw a mouse or bird around before eating it. What an amazing video, and photographs. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful experience......Alioban

[@sashinger5230]

This is absolutely stunning, Tom. The polar bear footage brought a tear to my eye. ❤

[@garrydelday5816]

Epic landscape, epic wildlife, epic Vlog Thomas 👌 thanks for taking us on the journey with you, so many incredible images 👍

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@stevemuzak8526]

9:03 This is easily one of the best pictures you ever did. Fantastic light and brilliant composition.

[@terryohagan6683]

Please, please, please put a strap on that camera when leaning over the ship, my anxiety can't take much more!

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Your epic long form adventure videos are some of the finest content on the KZbin. Great video as always.

[@wendynewing8834]

Awesome images throughout, and those polar bear photographs are absolutely gorgeous. This is Thomas Heaton at his best.

[@CluelessYoutuber]

The polar bear footage was incredibly inspiring and heart warming. Beautiful vlog, just raw beauty of nature.

[@Jacob-64]

Mind blown completey, the Polar bear was incredible and emotional .....WOW WOW WOW Thomas, you've really outdone yourself with this content .

[@tedkloske9273]

Spectacular footage of what could be the trip of a lifetime. You keep inspiring us! Thank you!

[@PaulCwik-f1b]

I have been watching you for a while and found myself wanting more, so I sign up today to your channel. Totally agree with some of the other posts, about Svalbard this was your best video to date absolutely love it. Keep up the the great work. You mentioned that you might do that trip again please post it if you do. I'd love to go and bring my brother.

[@karenwalter5784]

This was just incredible to watch! I loved every second. And the polar bears…a few others have said it, they brought tears to my eyes too. Incredible creatures and the one playing with the stick, so cute! The walrus picture is gorgeous too, the way you framed them between the mountains was perfection. This entire video and photographs were fabulous! Thank you!

[@DarrenJSpoonley]

Looks like you not only had an insane trip with printable shots throughout but you also conquered the in front of people vlogging :-) which one goes on the wall of the office ?

[@ElusiveFrame]

It wasn't just the experience but also the like minded people around you who made this adventure look so much fun! 😮 This is an incredible one Thomas. I enjoyed every minute of it. 😎

[@WillsWhereabouts]

What an amazing video mate on what looks like one hell of an adventure! The scenery, landscapes and wildlife is what dreams are made of. Cracking video 👊🏻

[@_andy_gibb_]

That was epic! The ice, the mountains, but most of all, the polar bears, walrus, and belugas. What an incredible trip and I'm going to rewatch it on a bigger screen.

[@micheledavies3528]

Oh and forgot to say……eat your heart out Gavin Hardcastle 😂

[@namboozleUK]

The polar bear footage and photos are absolutely incredible. What amazing animals

[@zeballos5757]

Nailed it! Omg I had goosebumps, tears, a full range of emotions. The drone footage of the boat and landscape were top level too! Nailed it!

[@allenahale1]

There are times that I reflect upon the trials and tribulations of my life. I snap back to reality by acknowledging and accepting that if it were not for those trials and tribulations, I would not be where I am today - a very good place and state. So it was with your adventure .... if it were not for the "lost" time due to the engine issue, you would not have encountered those polar bears - an experience of a lifetime! Congratulations.

[@adarajennifer]

I was scheduled to go with you, Thomas, in 2020! Sadly, I could not make it at this time but am glad you had such a spectacular trip!

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Wow Thomas, it makes me want to cry.. knowing ill never get to see or do a trip like that. I watch many videos from you and others and i suffer from mental health and most of the time these videos kill me inside bit at a time but i cant help watch them. You have made ytour dreams come true and for many i am sure they can do the same, for me as i get older and see how little life (time) i have left and the amount of money it takes to live and have these dream come true, it really is starting to hit home.. I struggle to enjoy when watching because my mental health only see the negatives but wow what a trip, seeing that ice turn in the sea, getting so close to the pola bear wow you must be so so happy.. Sorry for the sad comment i just wanted to be honest..

[@nataliebergmann3120]

Hi 🙋🏻‍♀️ just watched your video. It was magical 👌🏻. The polar bear scenes brought tears to my ice…. sooo beautiful 😍. Love every second of the video. Thanks Thomas 🥰👍🏼

[@nataliebergmann3120]

*eyes 😅

[@ElwynR]

What an epic trip 👌

[@matthewwardlephotography]

Brilliant. I need to watch this again. Tempted for next year as well.

[@martincerny7641]

Absolutely incredible! Thankyou so much for the outstanding images and video, commentary, and for sharing with all of us. Probably my favourite ever video and photos of yours. The wildlife shots were incredible, even more so when you're not a wildlife photographer.

[@karlrichards]

If I could press the like button more I would. Absolutely stunning views, video and photos. I can only dream about one day coming on a adventure like this.

[@frankkristof8859]

What an epic journey! Absolutely breathtaking. Fantastic job as always.

[@KunalRajputStudio]

Really enjoyed watching something on KZbin after a long long time! The story telling and photography - absolutely stunning!! Couldn’t skip a single second..👏👏

[@Eurosully]

Roll isn’t photography! We’re not heading as far north as Svalbard, but we are taking our motorhome to Nordkapp in Autumn this year. Hoping to take some amazing pictures ourselves!!

[@jackbeltane]

Thanks for sharing, I am not familiar with his work but I have been a documentary photographer since 1990 and know how hard being accepted as a photographer can be. Will look up his videos

[@FloKuGrafie]

Amazing Experience. Would be my dream to come on a trip like this sometime. But i don't think this will happen anytime soon. Until then, your videos will do ;)

[@thomasphillips5850]

Spectacular, this is definitely one of your best works. The polar bear sequence was the best ever, the whales as well. And the IMAGES, WOW. I am going to watch this over and over thanks Tom

[@johnobrien4318]

Toms videos are a highlight of my week. This is my favorite. Got emotional watching it. I was on the journey with him. Super Super work. What a class act...

[@AristeidisSfakianos]

The polar bear gave me the chills man! You are slowly becoming David Attenborough's successor?!

[@TravelRunner]

This video was incredible. One of your finest. Thanks for sharing your adventure, Thomas! Cheers!

[@suzannemathia142]

This video actually brought me to tears. So great to see how things went bad ish to spectacular and magical. I photographed Antarctica so it brought back those memories. svalbard will be on my list. One of your best videos..thank you

[@davidparsons3762]

WOW.. EPIC video..loved every second..i will have to watch it again....spectacular

[@scottlawrancephotography5938]

Absolutely brilliant...Fantastic video Thomas..What a journey.

[@ChrisEdgecombePhoto]

Wow, what an adventure, so many memories and some spectacular cinematics and photography. Thanks.

[@cshevlin]

Come on!!!! This is absolutely epic!!!! Amazing video and photos! Thank you.

[@kathyjurgens7153]

Tremendous segment. We very much enjoyed this. All of your photos are compelling. Gorgeous. The segments featuring the polar bears found me unexpectedly in tears. We must do better by these magnificent beings. By all wildlife and wild places. Thank you for such a beautiful episode.

[@thedarkslide]

Polarbear 1: "What's on the menu today?" Polarbear 2: "KZbinrs." Amazing trip, Thomas. My jealousy level is through the roof.

[@Germainmedia]

Wish I could LIKE this video TWICE! Those polar bear photos are AWEsome! Wish you would plan a photo trip to the Falkland Islands. I would be the first to sign up! :)

[@sebastienlecalvez4369]

Photographing Svalbard is my dream. Thank you for sharing. Beautiful video.

[@GodIsReal]

This is so much better than any National Geographic or Discovery film I ever watched.

[@arphoto3370]

Better than National geographic documentary 😍😍😍 Awesome video 🙏👌🏻

[@KellyPettit]

I loved every second of this! I'm a big fan. You are so talented. The only thing that kept running over and over in my mind is climate change. It's clear you're gonna be one of the last to enjoy this epic adventure. Including the polar bears. It's not your fault at all, I get it. That's not my point. But it breaks my heart we live in this world.

[@JamesBillingsPhotography]

What an epic trip! You're turning into a bit of an Attenborough with the bear footage, just stunning. I spent a few days in Ny Alesund a few years ago, might need to dig out my old raw files to see if there's some stuff worth a revisit...

[@thomasdalecki4777]

Thank you for all the beautiful pictures. I will never be there and it is good that not every one can visit great place like this, because we are all the problem of what is happening with our environment. So I’m glad to enjoy your images.

[@trishf29]

Thanks for pointing me in this fabulous direction via your newsletter, Tom! I hadn’t seen it! Look forward to your 2024 adventures in Svalbard with Simon, just hope they will be as fantastic as this, except for the engine breakdown! Love your books, and the way you have described taking the image😊🇦🇺

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video, Fantastic Location, I never imagined you would see waht you saw! Fabulous images, loved the polar bears, the walrus and the whales, thanks for sharing

[@wildbillgreen]

Absolutely spectacular. I had two whiskeys during this one. Nat Geo quality. I’m getting me one of those f-ing yellow bags!

[@trevorridgers2923]

Awesome video Tom, would love to see more content like it. As for the polar bear video, amazing just amazing and the accompanying music hit the right spot. Thanks for sharing this adventure. It's incredible to think that in a few decades time this type of environment may no longer exist..........

[@davidrippin9222]

This is just spectacular Tom... amazing images and a wonderful story to accompany them - thank you! I spent some time in Svalbard a number of years ago (I'm a glaciologist so I worked on the glaciers around Ny Alesund). Seeing your images really makes me want to go back more than ever!

[@huwalban]

Stunning, but every time you hung your camera over the side of the ship I flinched. Dropping the thing would have been a disaster. I'd have definately had a strap or something attached the camera to me.

[@chrisdrake447]

Just watched this on a 55” HD TV instead of my usual 9” iPad screen. Wow!!!! Just wow!

[@Earagunde]

Absolutely inspiring travel, magic moment with the belugas…🥰🥰🥰

[@stevebalogh4375]

Buddy OMG!!! Fantastic photos and location, you are a very lucky to have been there. Thanks for sharing this.AMAZING

[@tysonator5433]

The group of walruses with mountain backdrop at 40.46 is just epic image....

[@JimmyCheng]

awesome video Thomas, been watching your video on and off for about 2 years already, it's like hanging out with an old friend at this point.

[@Yorkshirewild]

Hi Thomas, I’ve followed you from the start, yes the start and I’ve never commented but now…Wow. This is magnificent and your true Calling, fabulous.

[@JeffMaron-gi6rd]

Absolutely fantastic video Thomas......I'm sure Morten would have loved to be there with you!

[@julioamaral4391]

What a lucky guy! I've been to South Georgia, Falkland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula twice, I got some unforgettable shots, but never got a Zodiac ride such as yours! Congrats man! Cheers from South Brazil.

[@rob.maramé]

Wonderful stuff Thomas. I felt drawn into your adventure and experience. So we’ll presented and inspiring photographically

[@AccessiblePhotography]

Really enjoyable video. I was due to go to Svalbard back in 2020 but you know the reason that didn’t happen. I’d love to be on next years voyage. I guess saving hard now might help. Thanks for taking us with you.

[@chrisloghry4005]

Bravo! Thanks for sharing as always 😃 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 4 thumbs up!

[@michaeltillman886]

What's up Thomas? I love what you did with this video. It really looks as though you really had big fun. Would I ever do a trip like this? Yes, if I had the money; in a hart beat! I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, right off Lake Erie. I'm no stranger to cold weather. I know what you're saying, "there is no comparison.," and you're right. But I've seen days back in the day where the day time high was, -0 degrees Fahrenheit, and the night time lows was -20 for over a month. I can adjust. Anyway, this was great. I'm glad you had fun. God Bless You Thomas. Peace!

[@JANDAVE08]

Thomas man ! Thank this was your best ever video. Stunning images galore and the perfect soundtrack. Loved it. Safe travels.

[@benlyons8253]

Wow, fantastic video. Your best vlog for years. I had to stick a like on this one, I don't usually these days, I'm not into minimalist and I hate most square format pics. But credit where credits due, I loved this one 👌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 (By the way I know you had quite a few square format pics in here, but the photography was stunning).

[@bothhemispheresphotography5031]

I came here directly from your "oops, I like the Z8" video :-) Super glad I did, gorgeous work (both the photos/video you shot on the trip, and the beautifully done video covering it all). This video really should have more views than the gear video, but, well, gear (I have a Z8 myself, which is why I was drawn to that video first).

[@floridasuburbannature]

Whenever I watch landscape photographers in the far north I'm waiting for atmospheric optics. Usually if there is a halo, they don't notice it. Thank you for noticing haha! It's an amazing introduction to your beautiful images in this video.

[@Angrboda999]

At 4:08 leaning over the edge of the ship with an unharnessed camera just held in the hand made me feel very uncomfortable - maybe because I assume everyone's as clumsy and accident prone as me. Brilliant video though.

[@jakesutherland]

What an adventure! Thanks for taking us along for this experience :)

[@safder007]

Amazing Video Thomas! Thank you 👏🏼! The video was very inspiring , as is typical of all your videos, but this was a notch higher than the usual 😊. A question, when you were on the Zodiac, what lens(s) did you typically have? I am about to get in one of those Zodiacs for an upcoming trip, so looking for suggestions 🙏🏽, thank you!

[@marcisroaming]

Heyyyyyyy, I can't cross my fingers EITHER! My family ridicules me for this. I hope yours doesn't.

[@salomekruger4176]

What a fantastic photographic place, which I would not mind experiencing myself. Just one HUGE problem - I could not survive such cold weather (from Namibia). But thanks to you, I could travel to Svalbard and experience its beauty while freezing my toes off for your sake (it is currently winter here, and I am sitting almost on top of the heater.....)

[@Mel-95]

Fantastic video, especially the polar bear encounter. An up-and-down adventure, as all good ones probably are. I was surprised to see how you managed landings off the Zodiac. I have seen other polar photography KZbin videos with stringent rules for what was allowed on land: nothing on the ground except your boots -- no backpacks, camera equipment, tripod feet, etc. -- the rationale being to avoid contamination. Your voyage was different. What did they tell you about landing protocols? Thanks.

[@trevorsneath4665]

You scare me, Tom. Get one of the wrist straps from Peak Design or Small Rig for some security. Especially when wearing thick gloves. Amazing place, great vid, great photos... as usual 🙂

[@aubgoodwinSRCphotography]

PS would be good to see what you can do with the tamron 35-150 F2-2.8 for us Sony shooters happy to lend you mine but al need to be with you (NOT ON CAMERA) as this could scare your audience msg me i live 5 mins away for you don’t worry I won’t post your address am fat not stupid 👍

[@ThaOrangeBlues]

Holy sh*t, this trip must have been an amazing experience! Epic landscapes, wildlife and images :) Next year bring a rugby ball for the beluga whales to play fetch! :D Haha, lovely :) And if photography doesn't pay off, you could always start commentating water sports, especially polar plunging! :D

[@aharshephotography]

Just WOW!!!... My favourite image is the black and white one with the lone polar bear and the mountain. The "Environmental Wildlife" one. It didn't feel like 40 minutes of video, I wanted more!. I watched the footage of a Polar bear chilling and playing with a stick 3 times. What an experience. I would love to join your next expedition if the time and budget permit! :)

[@jackstutts6439]

Hi Thomas. It been a while since I watched your channel. But I had to watch your new Z8 video. So of course, I had to watch your Svalbard video. Glad I did. A super video. The images are beautiful. I'm glad you're thinking about doing some environmental wildlife shots. If anyone can pull that off you can. I don't typically watch long form video but this one was amazing. Do more of them.

[@Mattuner]

Tom, I never expected to cry while watching your videos. But the segment with a polar bear got me. 🥺

[@RodAllsopp]

More of this please, although it would be nice without ads 😉. Absolutely cracking film making! Worthy of being shown on BBC at 7pm 👏👏

[@fiizzy3884]

I am utterly gobsmacked. A great video but the photos are incredible, even by your standards, Thomas 👏👏👏👏👏

[@AlexandraStarr1974]

Wow, been saving this one ever since I saw it uploaded a few days ago, worth the wait? by eck was it! 28:44 has to be my new fav Thomas Heaton image, that pose is just adorable, well done!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@AliasJimWirth]

Absolutely fantastic, Thomas Heaton, absolutely fantastic. National Geographic worthy presentation, content, and images. Nat Geo is my yardstick for this kind of content. Well done sir, well done. Cheers!

[@nerrelloader4226]

Wow, what a journey. So glad the hiccup was only minor. You've come away with some spectacular photography. All your clients should have been extremely happy with theirs too! Wonderful memories to last a lifetime.

[@cynthiaisenhoff8777]

I did an Expedition Cruise to the Arctic this June too...with Oceanwide. The best trip ever...brand new ship, very posh, amazing experience!!!