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© Simon Vandepitte

The Arctic in Pictures: Winners of the Arctic Council Photo Contest 2025

May 12, 2025
In connection with the launch of the second edition of Pathways, the Arctic Council Magazine, the Council hosted a photo contest, inviting people across the Arctic and beyond to share what the Arctic looks like through their lens. The Arctic Council received 200+ images in the following categories: Pathways, Life in the Arctic, Plants and Animals and Landscapes. These are the winning photos in each category.

Category: Pathways


© Megan Brief

First place photo by: Megan Brief

"Overconsumption of the Arctic threatens all life on Earth."


© Piotr Damski

Second place photo by: Piotr Damski

“Greenland dogs in Uummannaq during seal hunt.”


© Theofanis Deligiannis-Virvos

Third place photo by: Theofanis Deligiannis-Virvos

"Svalbard, 28 April 2023."

Category: Life in the Arctic


© Aviaaja Schlüter

First place photo by: Aviaaja Schlüter

"After an evening of midnight sun, icebergs, and humpback whales, our engine ran dry. We drifted into Oqaatsut, where this kind gentleman not only sold us fuel for our little boat but also shared his freshly caught seal. Before heading home, we sat together and enjoyed the warm liver—an unexpected and generous end to the adventure."


© Melynda Ehaloak

Second place photo by: Melynda Ehaloak

"Sharing a quiet moment on the Nuna."


© Don-Jean Léandri-Breton

Third place photo by: Don-Jean Léandri-Breton

"Researchers at work on the rugged cliff of Krykkjefjellet monitoring seabirds at their breeding colony in Svalbard."

Category: Plants and Animals


© Simon Vandepitte

First place photo by: Simon Vandepitte

"Long-tailed skuas are among my favorites from the north—not just for their graceful appearance but for the fierce, killer instinct beneath their elegance. The midsummer sun provided perfect conditions to capture this striking bird before it resumed its reign of terror over the tundra."


© Susan Christianen

Second place photo by: Susan Christianen

“Common eider ducks (Somateria mollissima borealis) are resilient and iconic Arctic seabirds, migrating and breeding across the Northern Hemisphere from Greenland to Svalbard. This photo by Susan Christianen captures them in Ilulissat, Greenland.”


© Explore.Svalbard.O.N

Third place photo by: Sandy Netzel

“Arctic terns rest on the rocky shores near Sveabreen, a moment of stillness in their incredible journey.”

Categoy: Landscapes


© Karli Zschogner

First place photo by: Karli Zschogner

"Ice roads are essential transport lines from essential services to connecting families for remote northern and Arctic communities for the winter months. For the Western Canadian Arctic Inuvik-Aklavik Ice Road, which is monitored and maintained by Infrastructure of the Government of the Northwest Territories and plowing by Aklavik Gwich'in-Inuvialuit company K & C Contracting, it is generally open from the end of December to the beginning of May. However, with climate changes including warmer winters (and warmer summers), there are ongoing concerns of more frequent delays for it to be safe in winter 2023-2024 as the photographer reported, on the lack of alternative transport options where expensive small plane services are the only other options."


© Jarle Tryti Nordeide

Second place photo by:

"The last few kilometers along the road east of Berlevåg, with the rough Barents Sea on the right, you pass this reddish-grayish-blackish rock wall. The reddish colors stand out clearly from the gray parts of the rock wall, although I helped the reddish ones a little."


© Scott Bice

Third place photo by: Scott Bice

"U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy encounters pancake ice while conducting scientific research in the Chukchi Sea."

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