Melissa Schäfer. King of the Arctic.

Silent as a ghost, the polar bear walks along the frozen shoreline, its eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of life. The light reflects behind him on the thin September ice, winter is on its way. The air starts to get crispy, the light is about to change. And the king of the arctic is hunting, hunting for life.

The goal of Melissa Schäfer is to capture images of places where humanity’s impact is almost imperceptible. She believes that it is our duty to maintain the wondrous landscapes and biodiversity that we inherited, keeping them intact for the next generation. Her hope is that her photos will remind people of the importance of nature and inspire them to advocate for its conservation.

Follow Melissa on Instagram @melissa_schaefer.