Paul Nicklen
Visionary conservation photographer
Paul Nicklen is a distinguished Canadian photographer and marine biologist known for his dramatic conservation photography.
With every image that inspires others, every successful expedition, conservation win, every recovering species, or ecosystem, I find my heart fill with hope that it is not too late.
Paul Nicklen
Capturing the essence of nature
Paul Nicklen has gained international acclaim for his breathtaking photographs that bring the beauty and fragility of the natural world to the forefront of public consciousness.
Over his career, he has established himself as one of the world’s leading conservation photographers with a particular focus on polar ecosystems and marine life. His images, often featured in National Geographic magazine, have inspired global audiences to appreciate and protect our planet’s ecosystems.
Inspiring change for the future
Nicklen’s journey into photography was fuelled by a passion for the ocean and its inhabitants, cultivated during his upbringing on Baffin Island in Canada’s Arctic.
His expertise in capturing wildlife in extreme conditions led Nicklen to become a Fellow photographer for National Geographic in the early 1990s.
His efforts showcasing the interconnectedness of life in the ocean and how human actions and climate change are derailing it – especially in polar regions – have earned him widespread recognition.
He has won more than 30 of conservation and photography’s most prestigious awards, including the BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the World Press Photo for Photojournalism. In 2019, he became the youngest person inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame.
In 2014, Nicklen co-founded SeaLegacy with fellow Rolex Testimonee Cristina Mittermeier, a non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation through visual storytelling. The organization’s goal is to support Nicklen, Mittermeier and other photographers to embark on expeditions that capture inspiring and impactful stories of ocean conservation that move audiences into action.
Nicklen continues to push the boundaries of conservation photography, using his lens to advocate for the protection of our planet's most vulnerable ecosystems. His work serves as a testament to the power of visual storytelling in inspiring global change and preserving the natural world for future generations.
He became a Rolex Testimonee in 2022.
