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Mud and invisible gas. I’m not sure there are two less photogenic things to capture in nature, but they were central characters in my recent long-term photography project documenting permafrost thaw in the Siberian and Alaskan Arctic. Permafrost is defined as soil that has been frozen for more than a year, and it can be found in a vast belt circling the Arctic.

A poignant photo of a polar bear sleeping on an iceberg (above) has captured the People’s Choice Award in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. The touching image, named “Ice Bed,” was shot by Nima Sarikhani of the UK in Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago.

For venturing out of the beaten path, Channel Islands National Park is one of my favorite hidden gems in the National Park System. Almost undeveloped, the islands offer a rare opportunity to experience primeval and wild coastal California landscapes and seascapes. Fewer than 90,000 land on the islands each year, making Channel Islands National Park one of the least visited national parks in the country.

If you’ve wondered what life was really like for some of the world’s best outdoor photographers, the below video from National Geographic is a good place to start.