The Beauty & Impact of Polar Photography, with Acacia Johnson & Jonas Paurell
06/05/2025In a world of perpetual motion, there exists a realm of profound stillness—where light doesn’t simply illuminate, it transforms. Far from home amid Earth’s frozen tundras, time itself seems suspended in crystalline air. In today’s podcast, we’ll visit these places where time hangs in the balance, and we’ll explore the intrepid mix of endurance, patience, and vision it takes to make pictures there. Joining us for this conversation are polar photography specialists Acacia Johnson and Jonas Paurell.
From making distinctions between Arctic and Antarctic regions, to learning about the unique challenges involved with photographing there, our polar experts share many valuable insights. In addition to tips about packing and safeguarding camera gear in cold weather climates, we also discuss the importance of managing expectations during such trips, especially when faced with a long wait to see wildlife amid the barren stillness.
As Alaskan photographer Acacia Johnson puts it, “… I think going into a trip with kind of a sense of exploration, like the joy of the trip is that you don't know, and it's completely unique to your experience. And whatever you do see is kind of a gift.”
Guests: Acacia Johnson & Jonas Paurell
Episode Timeline:
- 3:37: Acacia Johnson’s upbringing in the wilds of Alaska and leaving the area for photo studies at the Rhode Island School of Design in the lower 48.
- 7:35: Jonas Paurell’s youth in Sweden and the impact his first trek to Scandinavian Arctic regions had on his soul.
- 14:08: The differences between Arctic and Antarctic polar landscapes, plus Acacia’s experiences during a winter in Arctic Bay, with no sun for four months.
- 29:13: Different approaches to storytelling about the Arctic based on subject matter, and capturing an emotion in images that does justice to the landscape.
- 37:31: The logistics of getting to Arctic and Antarctic locations, and expenses involved with working and living there.
- 43:19: The Jubilee Expedition Jonas organized to celebrate the 150th anniversary of a legendary Swedish polar expedition to Svalbard.
51:20: Episode Break
- 51:38: Preparations for a polar expedition and the camera gear Acacia and Jonas pack.
- 1:00:31: Using a large format camera on polar expeditions, plus managing gear in extreme cold conditions.
- 1:06:42: Managing expectations for travelers, misconceptions when planning trips, plus different types of vessels used during expeditions to polar regions.
- 1:16:42: Cultivating an authentic connection to place when photographing polar regions.
- 1:21:29: The changing ethics of photographing in polar regions, plus findings from Jonas’s Jubilee Expedition.
- 1:34:41: What can we, as individuals, do in our daily lives to help mitigate the effects of climate change?
Guest Bios:
Acacia Johnson is a photographer, writer, and a 2023 National Geographic Explorer based in Anchorage, Alaska. Drawn to painterly light and otherworldly landscapes, her work focuses on the environment, conservation, and connections between people and place. Over the past 10 years, she has made more than fifty expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica as a photographer and a guide—always seeking to inspire wonder and compassion for these remote regions during a time of rapid change. Her photographs have been exhibited internationally and have been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, National Geographic and TIME magazines, among other publications. In 2021, Acacia was awarded the Canon Female Photojournalist Grant, and in 2022 she received the ICP Infinity Award for Documentary Practices and Photojournalism.
Jonas Paurell is an explorer, conservation photographer, photo educator, and speaker from Gothenburg, Sweden. One of his most ambitious projects is a 25-year documentation of the Arctic. Through ski expeditions and icebreaker voyages, he has captured both the resilience and vulnerability of Arctic landscapes, emphasizing the fragility of the region and the urgent need for preservation. In 2022, Jonas launched The Jubilee Expedition, recreating the historic Swedish Polar Expedition of 1872 to highlight this region’s rapid melting and the far-reaching impacts of climate change. Jonas is also founder of Terra Photography Expeditions, which offers immersive workshops in both Arctic regions and South American rainforests, helping photographers deepen their connection with nature while refining their craft. Additionally, before dedicating his life to photography, Jonas served as a human rights lawyer for the United Nations.
Host: Derek Fahsbender
Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman
Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein
Executive Producer: Richard Stevens