Northern lights over Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge.
Story and Photos by Ellen Zangla
I love photographing wildlife, wolves in particular. I’ve been fortunate to have had some amazing trips to Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, with phenomenal encounters with wolves, polar bears, and wolverines.
When I talk about my trips, family and friends want to see the photos, but they also ask about the experience: How cold was it? How do you get around to see the wolves? Where do you stay? I’ve always taken some photos to document those aspects, but I’d never really thought about it from a storytelling perspective. I mostly focused on trying to make great wildlife and landscape images.
That changed on this trip, when one of our guides, Jad Davenport, gave a presentation on visual storytelling and explained the key elements you need to tell a good story. Afterward, I deliberately thought about, and took, photos that would illustrate the entire trip to Nanuk, not just the wildlife.
Here are some of my favorite images from the trip, and the story each one helped tell.
1. The Lodge
Sun dog as seen from the viewing tower at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge.
Jad suggested we try to get a unique shot to show the lodge. We spotted a sun dog on our way back for lunch, and by the time we arrived, the sun was positioned perfectly over the lodge, which made this shot possible from the tower. The second image, taken out on the ice, illustrates the vastness and remoteness of the lodge’s location.
The vastness of Nanuk. View of the lodge from across the Hudson Bay sea ice.
2. The Daily Briefing
The Daily Briefing Board at Nanuk. Fire and snow in the background.
Every day, Jad wrote on the board what to expect, along with the wildlife we’d seen so far. Not always a fun read when it’s going to be -40 °C, but it’s better to be prepared. Instead of taking a close-up of the board, I pulled back to include the great room, the fireplace glowing, and the snow outside the windows. Without that context, it’s just a board.
3. Happy Hour
Happy Hour at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. Emma Dickins and Danny Nicholls smiling in the background.
Instead of just photographing the food, I included lodge managers Emma and Danny. I kept them slightly out of focus to maintain emphasis on the spread in the foreground, but they’re sharp enough that you can still see them smiling.
4. Getting Around
Riding into the low sun aboard a komatik.
We spent a good chunk of our time in the komatiks, being pulled by a snowmobile. I love how the low sun lit up the snow kicking up behind them.
5. The Footprint
A rare raised wolf footprint in the snow.
Footprints make great detail shots, and this raised one was particularly unusual. I’ve photographed tracks in snow and ice before, but I’d never seen anything quite like this.
Enlarged. A rare raised wolf footprint in the snow.
6. Resting Wolf
Beautiful wolf resting in the snow, with ice on her face, and a ball of food under her paw.
What’s not to love about a beautiful wolf lying in the snow, with ice on her face? You can feel the wind from the snow blowing in the background. There’s also a small twist: she’s resting her paw on a frozen “snowball,” food of some kind that she’d been eating.
7. The Shake
Wolf shake. Snow flying everywhere.
I love the movement here; she’s shaking snow off her coat and it’s flying everywhere. It also reminded me of dogs shaking off when they’re wet, which makes it a relatable image for a lot of people.
8. Backlit at Sunset
Backlit wolf. Sunset at Nanuk.
Backlighting is always beautiful because of the way it illuminates an animal’s fur, but it’s hard to get it just right. When it all comes together, it’s pretty special. I also love the warm colors throughout. Five minutes later, the sun had set, and all that warmth was gone.
9. Red Fox
Red fox curled up in the snow at Nanuk.
Red foxes in the snow are always spectacular, and this one was a beauty. When we first spotted her, she was lying in this spot, tightly tucked in on herself, probably trying to stay warm in the wind. She got up, ran around for a minute or two, then settled right back into the same spot.
10. Ptarmigans
Triple ptarmigans.
I loved this grouping of three ptarmigans, all in profile. Being able to see their eyes and beaks made the shot.
11. Northern Lights and a Moonset
Northern lights over Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge.
Nanuk is also a wonderful place to photograph the Northern Lights, and this trip was no exception. I woke up early one morning hoping to catch them again. They were gone, but the moon was setting and glowing a brilliant orange-red, which turned out to be pretty spectacular.
Moonset at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge.
This trip shifted the way I think about photography. I’ll always prioritize strong wildlife images; that’s what drew me to Churchill Wild in the first place, and it’s what I’ll keep coming back for. But now I’m also thinking more intentionally about the full story: the cold (which I’m also trying to forget!), the komatiks, the board covered in chalk warnings, and the food. The wolves are definitely the headline, but the story is everything around them, too.
If you’ve been curious about what a winter safari at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge actually looks like, I hope these images give you a better sense. And if you get the chance to go, dress warmly, bring a good camera, and try to take photos that tell the whole story.
About Ellen Zangla
Professional pet photographer Ellen Zangla with one of her favourites!
Ellen Zangla has been a professional pet photographer in Loudoun County, Virginia, since 2009. She specializes in dog photography, cat photography, and family photography that includes dogs, cats, or other pets.
Ellen has won numerous awards for her pet and wildlife photography. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband, son, two dogs, and four cats.
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More about Ellen’s Churchill Wild Adventures
Ellen Zangla Photo of Wolves at Nanuk Selected for Team USA
Ellen Zangla’s Epic Adventure (Part 4). Weather Delay Brings Unexpected Gifts.
Best. Trip. Ever. Polar bear cubs and wolves greet newly minted roommates at Nanuk.
