The Image of Antarctica

Antarctica is all about extremes — it’s the coldest, windiest, and most remote continent on the planet. It’s also the driest, despite being nearly twice the size of North America and almost entirely covered by ice. Its extreme nature helps make our planet habitable, regulating the global climate and powering the ocean currents that redistribute heat around the world. 

However, it’s difficult to get high-quality imagery of Antarctica. The conditions are challenging, and few people go there. Even fewer make their imagery available to use. As a result, Antarctica rarely gets the attention it deserves.

So, in celebration of Antarctica Day this year, The Ocean Agency released a ​new collection​ ​of images ​from Antarctica and the icy waters surrounding it, generously donated by 10 top photographers. The imagery is now freely available on the Ocean Image Bank (an endorsed initiative of the UN Ocean Decade) and can be used to help raise awareness about the importance of the Antarctic and its role in climate change and preserving the health of our planet.

View the full Antarctica Collection.

We thought Antarctica Day would be the perfect day to release the imagery – it marks the anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty on December 1, 1959. This agreement, which designated Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science," is widely regarded as a success in international cooperation. It has been the cornerstone of decades of scientific progress and discovery​ on this remarkable continent. 

Antarctica Day serves as a reminder of the need to protect this pristine environment for future generations and underscores the importance of international cooperation in tackling the challenges of a rapidly changing world. We hope you use the collection to help share Antarctica's beauty. 

The Antarctica Collection is only the start. We’ll be launching a much wider collection of images early in the new year – over 250 images from both ends of our world. We’re hoping with your help, it will get widely shared and inspire more support for the protection of these critically important environments.

The ​Antarctica Collection is made possible through a collaboration between UNEP, UNESCO, and The Ocean Agency, with support from award-winning photographers Adam Maire, Alex Williams, Christine Regent West, Filippo Borghi, Jeffrey Hester, Jens Wikström, Julie Chandelier, Matt Horspool, Tanja Bachmann, and Vivek Mehra.