Wildphoto Team

Ole J Liodden

Founder, Expedition Leader



About Ole J

Ole J Liodden from Norway is a multi-award winning wildlife photographer and the founder and owner (together with his wife Kirsti) of WildPhoto Travel. He is our COO and CFO, and the one who sets course, make plans and secure your overall good experience when traveling with us.

Oles experience as a photo guide and expedition leader has led him to destinations such as Svalbard, Antarctica, Greenland, Alaska, Africa, New Zealand, Russia's Far East, and the Galapagos.

Before Ole became a full-time photographer (in 2003) he got Master's degrees from the University in Ås (Norway) in Natural Resource Management, Resource Economics, and Environmental Politics. He has also studied Wildlife Management, Ornithology, and Mammalogy at the University of Alaska (UAF). Ole has always been interested in environmental conservation and resource management, and now he uses his photography as a tool to get more interest in environmental issues in the Arctic and also marine ecosystems.

Ole J Liodden was chosen as one of the photographers for the Wild Wonders of Europe project – the world’s largest communication project regarding nature and environmental conservation in Europe. He has previously been a Canon Ambassador (2008-2010) and Nikon Ambassador (2010-2012) in Norway. He is now using Sony cameras.

In the past 10 years, Ole has published 7 books about nature and photography. His images have received 3 awards in the prestigious competition Wildlife Photographer of the Year (Winner in 2012) and 9 awards in the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year photo contest. He was awarded The Arctic Photographer of the Year in 2012 by the Global Arctic Award. Ole is considered to be one of the top wildlife photographers in Europe.

In the last few years, Ole has been dedicated to conservation and has founded the Polar Bears & Humans project. This project is about the interaction between polar bears and humans; climate change, hunting, trophy hunting, problem bears, and the commercial skin trade. Ole is also one of the photographers behind the Photographers Against Wildlife Crimes project.

His dedication for polar bear conservation has involved the making ofr the Trade Secret documentary film, released in 2025. As the Golden Panda Overall Winner, this film has received international recognition for environmental impact generally and polar bear conservation specific.

In the news

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25.10 2025  Winning image in GDT 2025

Ole J succeeded with his Royal Penguin image in the prestigues photo competition GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025. The image of Royal penguins in Macquarie Island received a Highly Commended in the Underwater category. This is his ninth awarded image in international GDT photo competition.
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21.10 2025  Golden Panda Award

The Documentary film Trade Secret was celebrated as the Overall Panda Award Winner 2025. Ole J is one of the key persons in the film, where an important part of the film follows his work and passion to reveal the commercial trade and hunting of polar bears.

Books

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Polar Bears & Humans

Given the real impacts that global warming has already had on polar bear habitat, most people assume these bears are protected. If they are aware that polar bear hunting occurs, they believe it is minimal, well managed and carefully controlled – a traditional practice carried out by only a small number of Indigenous people in the Arctic. We tend to believe such hunting is “sustainable” and for “subsistence” purposes, and therefore not a real threat to polar bears. But is this really true?

Films & Videos

Sony Echoes

1. June 2026

A video on the Sony Camera Channel highlighting Ole’s work as a photographer and conservationist, with specific focus on the Polar Bears & Humans project.

Trade Secret

2. September 2025

A gripping exposé of the polar bear fur trade, revealing how conservation, politics and commercial interests collide in ways the public was never meant to see. Ole is one of the main persons on this film about commercial polar bear skin trade.

UK Parlament

26. January 2020

Ole's presentation in the UK Parlament sharing his research into commercial hunting and trade of polar bears. His shocking findings is that more than 800 polar bears are killed each year, with removal of the strongest and fittest bears, leaving the weakest behind to adapt to climate change.

Above the Arctic - Intel

5. October 2017

Is it possible to use drones equipped with thermal cameras in the Arctic to locate polar bears? Ole is collaborating with Intel to test whether this new, non-invasive technology can be used in polar bear research.

Inspired - Nikon D5 official video

18. March 2016

Ole is one of five professional photographers featured in this Nikon Worldwide promotional video, testing the Nikon D5. He was selected to represent wildlife photographers, field-testing the camera in late autumn while photographing grizzly bears in Alaska.