Nick Walton discusses wildlife, awards, and surviving the Arctic weather with award-winning Slovakian Canadian photographer Martin Gregus Jr.

What first inspired your passion for wildlife photography?

My inspiration for wildlife came long before my passion for photography. As a kid I always used to visit the zoo or look at animals in books and magazines and model them out of clay and plasticine. It wasn’t until 2004 when we moved from Slovakia to Canada that I got into photography through my dad, at first documenting planes, ships, people and then slowly turning to the abundant wildlife around Vancouver.

In 2016 you completed an epic journey through Nunavut with your father. What impact has he had on your work?

My dad has been a huge inspiration and I will forever regard him as one of the world’s best photographers. Growing up I would watch him turn an ordinary situation into a beautiful image by naturally manipulating light. I followed in his footsteps, and we have worked closely together on many projects about Canada, the Arctic, South Pacific and beyond.

You’ve camped in the ice, crawled through mud and frozen in wait for the perfect image – what does it take to be an accomplished wildlife photographer?

I think wildlife photography is an extremely challenging profession due to the physical and mental strains we face every single day. It can be hard being away from loved ones and it takes a lot of patience waiting for the animals to show up.

You’ve since won several major wildlife awards including last year’s Rising Star Portfolio in the Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards. How do you handle the pressure at such a young age?

Of course, it was a huge accomplishment and a dream come true, but as a young photographer and as a teenager I thought that winning meant that I had made it and it got into my head a little and I became less competitive. I think at that age when someone tells you that you didn’t win, it feels like they were telling you that you’re not good enough and that played with my head a lot, to the extent that I barely entered any competitions until last year.

The 2022 winning images were taken during your 2021 expedition chronicling the summer lives of polar bears on the western coast of Hudson Bay. What does Hudson Bay offer wildlife enthusiasts?

I think Hudson Bay offers tourists the chance to see polar bears and experience the beauty of the north in a very accessible way. Unlike other parts of the world, Churchill is easy and relatively cheap to get to.

You’re best known for your work in the Canadian Arctic, especially with polar bears. What do you hope your images inspire in terms of conservation awareness?

I really hope people can look at my images and see a whole new side of not just the bears, but also of our natural world. We want people to see the animals not just as bears, but as mothers, as kids, as individuals that all have their place in the natural world and that all need to be protected.

Have there been moments when you’ve feared for your personal safety?

With the bears there have been very few moments where I actively feared for my safety. I can’t say the same for the weather, which proved to be extremely challenging and there was a period of about five days where we didn’t know if we would make it.

What are five essential pieces of camera equipment you won’t start a trip without?

My drone, my Nikon D850 and D810 cameras, my 200-500mm and 14-24mm Nikkor lenses; and a GoPro.

What are your tips for taking better wildlife images when we travel?

I think the most important tip is to just take pictures – it doesn’t matter of what – just getting yourself in the mood can go a long way. I can feel it if I haven’t taken pictures in a few weeks, it takes a few days to get back into it.

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