Photograph by @paulnicklen for @natgeo. A female polar bear rejects the amorous advances of the largest male polar bear I have ever seen. His face was covered in scars which meant a healthy life of battling for the right to breed. I sat quietly with this couple for over 16 hours at -30c in Svalbard, Norway, waiting to photograph a rarely witnessed behavior of breeding. The moment never materialized as they walked out onto thin sea ice but I felt privileged to sit quietly with these two majestic symbols of a changing Arctic. I am dedicating this upcoming week to bears on @paulnickeln so please feel free to #follow me. #gratitude #wildlife #nature #@natgeocreative @thephotosociety by natgeo http://ift.tt/1ffvTjs – Gatlinburg Garden Castle Rainbow Tower Library Imagination Station Temple Water Spirit Guardian Labyrinth Treasury Magic Healing