This gorgeous photo of a polar bear bounding across the ice offers a masterclass in deciding whether to shoot in color or black-and-white

The new exhibition Midnight Sun by Sue Flood and Ian Dawson offers a direct lesson in photographic decision-making. A standout image features a polar bear mid-leap between ice floes, rendered in full color. This choice is intentional because the specific hue of the Arctic water provides critical context that a monochrome conversion would lose. Other subjects in the collection, such as Adélie penguins and historic huts, appear in black and white because their visual impact relies on contrast and texture rather than color.

This distinction highlights that color is a creative tool rather than a default setting. Photographers often use monochrome to emphasize shape and weather, particularly in high-contrast environments. When the environment is dominated by texture, stripping away color prevents the image from looking flat or cluttered. The artists demonstrate that knowing when to suppress color is just as important as knowing when to include it.

Beyond the technical approach, the exhibition underscores the necessity of field experience. These images are not the product of fleeting cruise ship excursions. They represent years of repeated travel and the development of local relationships. The photographers spent significant time in the Arctic, waiting for natural moments to unfold instead of trying to force them. For those planning future expeditions, the work reinforces that patience and repeated visits remain the most reliable ways to capture meaningful, gallery-quality images.

Midnight Sun opens at the Royal Geographical Society in London from October 6 to 30. It showcases 132 images that move between the stark power of monochrome and the vibrant, cold palette of the Arctic. Entry is free to the public, offering a firsthand look at how professional nature photographers balance technical choices with the reality of the environment.