Above the Arctic Circle in the extreme northeast of Russia, an area known as Chukotka, the terrain and weather are harsh. But even in the tundra, there's plenty of life.
This area is also where miner Ivan Kislov works. It's a tough job in a tough place — but to Ivan, who is also a photographer, it's the perfect place for capturing the often-unseen beauty of nature.
When he's not working, he likes to take hikes to remote, inaccessible places, and he always brings his camera. Out there, he's alone with nature, and the various animals who inhabit it, like bears, birds, rabbits, and foxes.
It's the foxes that specifically capture Ivan's interest, and he's captured some breathtaking moments of these adorable creatures in their natural habitat over the years.
They make great subjects, too, with their curiosity and enthusiasm — and, of course, their unstoppable cuteness.
Check out the quiet but lively beauty of Ivan's photography, and of these magical creatures.
(H/T: BoredPanda)
Ivan Kislov works long shifts as a mining engineer in Chukotka, which is located in the unforgiving tundra of northeastern Russia.
But even in such an inhospitable place, he's able to find the beauty, and the life.
If he has time during his long shifts, he likes to take photos to relax and recharge. He considers the art form a good way to take a break from his work routine.
While foxes aren't the only wildlife he photographs, they've become his most popular subject, thanks in part to how much the Internet loves them.
And after all, who can blame the rest of the world for favoring these guys?
But Ivan also takes pictures of the other animals that make up this frigid ecosystem, like bears, stoats, reindeer, and more.
The foxes, however, are some of the easiest animals to photograph.
Ivan says they are naturally very curious, and will often approach him to see what he's up to, which allows him to get some phenomenal close-up shots.
And we mean really close-up.
He also shoots with wide angle and telefoto lenses, which allow him to get even closer, while keeping a safe distance.
This is especially important with animals like the bears, which can be dangerous to humans.
Besides capturing the foxes at various stages of their lives, he also captures the seasons of the tundra, and its spare, silent beauty.
We can also see the different types of foxes that inhabit this land, with differently colored fur.
While foxes like the Arctic fox change color in the winter, other species do not.
But they're all pretty adorable.
He's also captured many of their social moments.
And plenty of playing babies!
You can see much more of Ivan's photography on his website, as well as on Facebook.
Besides animals, he also likes to photograph people and landscapes, including some dazzling northern light images, so be sure to check those out, too!
And for anyone who needs some fluff to brighten their day, SHARE these adorable foxes!
