Meet the incredible smiling seal! How an intrepid photographer crawled across the ice on his stomach to get these amazing images



Why wouldn't he be smiling? This Canadian Harp Seal gets to play all day in the snow and bask in the sunshine. Life for this little guy looks pretty sweet.

And he is not alone in enjoying life in the frozen far-flung corners of our planet.

He is also a little star as he poses wildlife photographer Keren Su in this remarkable snap.



All smiles: This Harp Seal pup appears to be smiling for the camera at Iles de la Madeleine in East Canada

Keren shot the enchanting images in the remote Iles de la Madeleine in Eastern Canada. He had to travel by helicopter to the distant area and cross the ice to the seals by crawling on his stomach.



With unpredictable weather and not to mention working with animals the 60-year-old showed incredible patience to capture the seal pup at play.

The lensman has travelled the globe dedicating years to perfecting the ideal picture.

And his most recent work also includes the marvellous Emperor penguin in its natural habitat of Antarctica.



Keren, who lives in Seattle, USA, has even cycled across his native China taking pictures using home-made equipment.

Go on, tickle my tummy: This Harp Seal rolls over in the Eastern Canada snowy wastelands, he almost looks like he is asking for a belly rub

Time for a little nap: Puffed up and sleepy this pup catches forty winks in the Canadian winter sun

During his 24 years as a professional photographer he has compiled an impressive collection of captivating images.



But the father-of-one admitted he felt most at home in freezing temperatures coming face-to-face with the wintry wildlife.



Keren said: 'I love taking pictures in the snow just for the thrill of it. I went to the remote Iles de la Madeleine in East Canada to photograph the Harp Seals but I had to be patient because it's only accessible by helicopter and the weather was unpredictable.

'I was only allowed a limited time with the seals and in order to get the pictures I wanted I had to crawl on the ice so the pups wouldn't be afraid of a huge stranger.

'After they had gotten used to my smell I could get closer and closer until my camera was right in front of them.

'When they became relaxed they would behave in the cutest ways imaginable.

It's all about ME! A young Emperor Penguin takes his cue centre stage from the camera on Show Hill Island in Antartica

How did you lot get up there? A penguin struggles to get up onto the ice at Snow Hill Island in Antarctica

'They are only white for a small window of ten days but they are lovely with huge black eyes and fuzzy white hair.

'They are beautiful doll-like animals. They looked directly at me and I could practically see the question mark above their heads.

'I went to Snow Hill Island in Antarctica to photograph the Emperor Penguins and I spent a lot of time crawling on the snowy ice so that I could see the little penguins face to face.

'Winter is my favourite season, it's a romantic and poetic time to photograph animals.'

The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species. Like all penguins it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat.

I'll keep you warm: A penguin keeps her young close in the frozen wastes of Antarctica







