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Paul Nicklen's Polar Obsession Review

Nicklen grew up in northern Canada where he learned about the outdoors from the Inuit people. [1] As a photojournalist, he has spent significant time in polar regions photographing animals like sea lions, whales, and polar bears. [2] His most incredible experience was an encounter with a large leopard seal in Antarctica that approached his boat, got in the water with him, and surprisingly tried to feed him penguins without harming him. [3]

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
75 views5 pages

Paul Nicklen's Polar Obsession Review

Nicklen grew up in northern Canada where he learned about the outdoors from the Inuit people. [1] As a photojournalist, he has spent significant time in polar regions photographing animals like sea lions, whales, and polar bears. [2] His most incredible experience was an encounter with a large leopard seal in Antarctica that approached his boat, got in the water with him, and surprisingly tried to feed him penguins without harming him. [3]

Uploaded by

Lucía Di Carlo
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PRACTICE

PERFECT AND PAST TENSES

DATE: 30/09

STUDENT: Santi

READING

READ the book review of Polar Obsession.

Paul Nicklen’s Polar Obsession

For most people, the Arctic and Antarctica are strange places that we know very little

about. Paul Nicklen’s collection of photographs and stories, Polar Obsession, offers an
excellent

introduction.

Nicklen grew up on an island in Northern Canada, where he learned all about the outdoors

from his Inuit1 neighbors. Ever since that time, he has loved animals, cold weather, and

adventure.

As a photojournalist, Nicklen has spent a lot of time in icy polar waters. He has followed

sea lions, dived with whales, and studied polar bears. One of the most exciting parts of the

book covers Nicklen’s unforgettable encounter with a leopard seal in Antarctica.

As the photographs clearly show, leopard seals are very large—up to 12 feet (4 meters) long

and weighing over 1000 pounds (450 kilograms). They have huge, sharp teeth, and they move

quickly through the water searching for food such as fish and penguins.

Leopard seals can be dangerous, but this didn’t stop Nicklen from trying to photograph

one. When a huge seal approached his boat, Nicklen got into the water. He was shaking with

fear, but much to his surprise the seal treated him gently. She even tried to feed him! The seal

brought him penguins to eat, and he photographed her. Nicklen says it was the most incredible

experience that he has ever had as a photographer.

In Polar Obsession, Nicklen shows us the beauty of the polar world and his passion for it.

He also helps us to understand the importance of protecting it.

2 CHECK. Write the letter of the phrase that completes each sentence.

1. Nicklen’s neighbors taught him all about a. leopard seals can be dangerous

2. Nicklen has spent a lot of time working in . b. a leopard seal


3. Nicklen’s most incredible experience was with . c. its food

4. He was frightened because . d. the outdoors

5. The leopard seal offered Nicklen . e. icy polar waters

3 DISCOVER. Complete the exercises to learn about the grammar in this lesson.

A Find these sentences in the book review from exercise 1. Write the missing words.

1. Nicklen grew up on an island in Northern Canada, where he learned

all about the outdoors from his Inuit neighbors.

2. Ever since that time, he has loved animals, cold weather, and adventure.

3. As a photojournalist, Nicklen has spent a lot of time in icy polar waters.

4. He has followed sea lions, dived with whales, and studied polar bears.

5. When a huge seal approached his boat, Nicklen got into the water.

B Look at the sentences in exercise A. Write the number of each sentence next to the phrase

that best describes the time of the event.

1. Completed at a known time in the past: 1- 3

2. Completed at an unknown time in the past: 2- 5

3. Started in the past and continues to the present: 4-

EXERCISES

Circle the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence.

1. a. She has dreamed / dreamed about going to the North Pole since she was young.

b. She has dreamed / dreamed about going to the North Pole last night.

2. a. I have never photographed / never photographed animals in the wild before.

b. We have not photographed / didn’t photograph animals when we were in Alaska.

3. a. Last year, my grandfather has gone / went to Iceland on business twice.

b. My grandfather has gone / went to Iceland on business twice since 2005.

4. a. They haven’t seen / didn’t see any bears on their trip so far.

b. They haven’t seen / didn’t see any bears on their trip last month.
Complete the interview with the words in parentheses. Use the present perfect or simple
past.

Sara: How long (1) have you been (you / be) a snake catcher, Tim?

Tim: (2) I have had (I / have) this job for over ten years.

Sara: When (3) have you become (you / become) interested in snakes?

Tim: When (4) I was (I / be) a kid, and

(5) snakes fascinated (snakes / fascinate) me ever since then. When (6 I was (I / be) in middle
school, (7) I didn’t read (I / not read) much about any other subject. During my high school
years, (8) I often was a volunteer (I / often / volunteer) at the local zoo, and then in college (9)I
majored (I / major) in herpetology—the study of reptiles.

Sara: And after college (10) have you spent (you / spend) a few years in Thailand. Isn’t that
right?

Tim: Yes, I was working with Thai snake experts. (11) I really enjoyed (I / really enjoy) my time
with them.

Sara: (12) have you ever experienced (you / ever / experience) any life-threatening situations
since you started working with snakes?

Tim: (13) I worked (I / work) with many poisonous snakes over the years, but (14) (only one /
bite) only one bited me. That was scary!

Since that time, (15) I (I / pay more attention) to the snakes’ behavior.

Sara: Why do you love your job?

Tim: (16) Because I was able to live my childhood dream. (I / be)

Use the words to write questions. Use the present perfect or simple past.

1. what activities / you / always / love / to do

What activities have you always loved to do?

2. what activities / you / enjoy / when you were younger

when you were younger what activities did you enjoyed?

3. you / visit / any interesting places / when you were a child

When you were a child have you visited any interesting places?

4. you / visit any interesting places / recently

Have you recently visited any interesting places?

5. what dreams for the future / you / have / as a child

What dreams for the future did you have as a child?

6. what / goals / you / achieved / in the last few years


What goals have you archived in the last few years?

Complete the paragraph with the words in parentheses. Use the present perfect or present

perfect progressive. Add not where necessary.

(1) Both Hank and Jake have planned (plan) a daily menu.

(2)the man has completed (complete) the online food science course yet because he was sick
for two weeks. The professor is letting him make up the final exam next week. (3)he has
already took (already / take) the course, so (4)he has helped (help) Jake study for the exam.(5)
(already / turn in) his food safety paper. (6) (work) has working hard on his food safety paper,
but (7) (finish)he hasn’t finished it yet. (8) (plan)they had planing the food budget and the
menu for the holiday meal together for a few weeks.

(9) (serve)they hadn’t served the holiday meal yet, but they plan to serve it next Thursday.
Both hope to graduate in December.

Santi let' s talk about the mistakes


Complete the conversations with the words in parentheses. Use the present perfect or

present perfect progressive. In some sentences both forms are possible.

1. A: Have you fInished (you / finish) your assignment?

B: Yeah, and now I’m going to get something to eat.

2. A:have you found (you / find) your keys?

B: No, I’m not sure where they are.

3. A: Is this your phone?

B: Yeah, thanks. I has looking for (I / look for) it everywhere.

4. A: You look exhausted.

B: I am working (I / work) for hours.

5. A: Are you crying?

B: No I have chopping (I / chop) onions.

6. A: (you / hear) have you heared the news?

B: No, what happened?

7. A: How long have pat studied (Pat / study) Chinese?

B: (he / take) he has taking classes for about a year now,

And he has learnt (he / learn) a lot.

8. A: (Julio / take) has Julio took his final exam?

B: Not yet, but (he / study) he has studied all week.

Common questions

Powered by AI

Using the present perfect tense, as in 'Nicklen has spent a lot of time in icy polar waters,' suggests that his exploration and work are ongoing and have relevance to the present. In contrast, simple past tense, used for specific completed actions like 'Nicklen got into the water,' indicates a distinct event with a known timeframe in the past. The choice between tenses affects how readers perceive the continuity and relevance of Nicklen's projects, framing them as part of an ongoing journey rather than isolated achievements .

In his encounter with the leopard seal, fear and courage played critical roles. Despite knowing leopard seals can be dangerous due to their size and sharp teeth, Nicklen got into the water, driven by courage and the desire to photograph this remarkable animal. This fear-courage dynamic reflects Nicklen's broader career, where emotional bravery allows him to undertake risky and daunting endeavors to capture stunning images of polar wildlife, thus providing unique insights and awareness .

Nicklen's experiences with wildlife in extreme environments demonstrate the necessity of adaptability in the face of unknown challenges. Engaging with creatures like leopard seals in icy polar waters requires quick thinking, emotional resilience, and a willingness to adjust tactics and perspectives. These skills exemplify how professionals must remain flexible and responsive to succeed in dynamic, unpredictable situations, echoing broader life lessons in adaptability to changing circumstances .

Nicklen's educational background, rooted in learning about the outdoors from his Inuit neighbors, played a crucial role in shaping his career in environmental photojournalism. This informal yet immersive education provided him with a profound understanding of natural environments and wildlife behavior, essential for capturing the intricate beauty and challenges of the polar regions. Such knowledge, gained through direct experience rather than traditional schooling, highlights the importance of diverse educational paths in developing specialized skills and perspectives necessary for success in niche fields like environmental journalism .

Paul Nicklen's 'Polar Obsession' not only showcases the beauty and diversity of polar wildlife but also emphasizes the vulnerability of these ecosystems. By presenting the dramatic encounters with creatures like leopard seals, Nicklen highlights the delicate balance of life in polar regions and the threats posed by climate change. This work encourages readers to appreciate the intricate ecosystems of the poles and the need for immediate action to conserve biodiversity and address the impacts of global warming .

The transformative experiences in 'Polar Obsession,' such as the encounter with the leopard seal, illustrate themes of coexistence, respect, and mutual curiosity between humans and nature. These narratives challenge the perceived barriers of fear and danger, showing how respectful and informed interactions can lead to unique, non-threatening engagements with wildlife. They underscore the importance of viewing nature as a partner rather than an adversary, fostering a deeper appreciation and stewardship ethic towards environmental conservation .

Paul Nicklen's upbringing on an island in Northern Canada where he learned about the outdoors from his Inuit neighbors instilled in him a deep love for animals, cold weather, and adventure. This background significantly influenced his work as a photojournalist, as he has spent considerable time in icy polar waters photographing sea lions, whales, and polar bears. His experiences growing up in this environment helped him develop the skills and passion necessary to succeed in capturing the beauty and challenges of the polar regions .

Nicklen's interaction with the leopard seal defies common perceptions of these animals as purely dangerous predators. Despite their formidable presence, the leopard seal approached Nicklen with unexpected gentleness, even attempting to feed him. This encounter highlights the complexity of animal behavior, challenging the simplistic view of wildlife as threats. Nicklen's experience encourages a re-evaluation of how we perceive and react to wild animals, emphasizing understanding over fear, and illustrating the potential for harmonious interactions .

'Polar Obsession' combines storytelling and photography to deepen understanding and engagement in polar environmental issues. Through evocative narratives and striking images, Nicklen invites readers into his world, portraying the unique aspects of polar wildlife and their habitats. This approach not only educates audiences about the ecological significance of polar regions but also personally connects them to these distant ecosystems, inspiring greater empathy and action towards preserving them for future generations .

Nicklen's photography, by capturing both the beauty and vulnerability of polar wildlife, emotionally engages the public, potentially altering perceptions and attitudes towards conservation. His vivid and often intimate imagery of marine animals like leopard seals encourages viewers to connect personally with these distant environments. This emotive imagery acts as a catalyst for raising awareness and fostering a sense of responsibility and urgency towards conserving polar ecosystems amid climate change threats .

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