Photographer Paul Nicklen wants to connect people to the environment. His photos tell people what’s happening in the Arctic and Antarctic. For instance, sea ice is disappearing, affecting polar bears, microorganisms and a host of other creatures and their food chain. With it, an entire ecosystem is disappearing. Yet one picture of a bear dying of starvation can change our perception of the effects of climate change and connect us to the problem, and the issues.

See Paul’s amazing photos on his website and hear him talk on TED: