15 stunning images of Antarctica and its inhabitants

The photographer captured glaciers and icebergs, leopard seals and humpback whales. And of course, cute penguins.

Stas Zakharov

Nautical biologist, underwater photographer, diving instructor, expedition organizer and guide.

1.

The penguin proudly examines the Antarctic expanses around. This colony of birds has settled on the top of the mountain range, and every day the penguins go down for food and back to their nests.

2.

Restless neighbor. On the islands of the Subantarctic, including the South Shetland Islands, penguins are forced to share the coast with aggressive elephant seals. Conflicts between neighbors are not uncommon, and penguins should be careful.

3.

Adult and growing male elephant seals have a trunk that grows larger over the years, indicating the age and status of the animal. Large males can weigh up to 4 tons, which is close to the weight of an Asian elephant. Such individuals are very aggressive and when an outsider approaches, they are always ready to show who is the boss. Photo taken on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands.

4.

A humpback whale feeds on krill in Paradise Harbor. Krill are small shrimps that breed in large numbers during the Antarctic summer. It is the staple food for all marine life in Antarctica, from small penguins to giant whales.

5.

Whaling flourished in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including in Antarctica. Fortunately, today these humpback whales are not threatened by humans, and they can breathe freely.

6.

Kerguelen fur seals look at the strange stranger in surprise. These at first glance cute creatures will fiercely guard their part of the coast if they get too close to them.

7.

The freediver swims along the iceberg wall, plunging into the icy waters of Antarctica. The water temperature is about 0 ° C.

8.

Leopard seal poses for the photographer. These huge carnivorous seals are surprisingly very friendly to the person in the water next to them. Taking pictures of the leopard seal underwater was one of the main tasks of our expedition to Antarctica, and after long days of searching and trying, we achieved results.

9.

Although krill make up the majority of the leopard seal's diet, in February, when penguins are forced to get food for their chicks from the water, they often become prey of this graceful predator.

10.

The leopard seal blows bubbles, showing curiosity and a playful mood towards the photographer. Area of ​​Cuverville Island.

11.

Penguins are caring parents. While the chicks are small and do not have special plumage for swimming, the parents will protect and feed them. It is often possible to observe funny and touching scenes from penguin family life.

12.

Penguins are not at all afraid of people, and you can shoot them for hours. Sometimes a successful photographer is able to capture amazing shots.

13.

A deadly smile - the leopard seal displays three-apical teeth. They serve as a filter through which the leopard squeezes krill out of the water. As mentioned above, krill make up 80% of the leopard seal's diet, with the remaining 20% ​​being fish, penguins and even other seals. The leopard seal is the top predator of Antarctica (after the killer whale) and can be called the ecological analogue of the Arctic polar bear.

14.

Every iceberg floating in the world's oceans is a breakaway piece of glacier. This image, taken in Orne Harbor, shows both an iceberg and a glacier of which it was once a part. Icebergs and sea ice are the habitat of seals in Antarctica and the Arctic, and their disappearance in the future could cause irreparable damage to the biodiversity of our planets.

15.

The equipment is packed, clothes are dried on the line, the team is checking the gear. The ship sets off on the return voyage, and the leopard seal sees it off with a farewell wave of its fin.