"If we lose ice, we stand to lose an entire ecosystem."

Those aren't the words of a NOAA researcher or a green evangelist. Those are the words of Paul Nicklen, a successful photographer whose stunning images of the Arctic and Antarctic have appeared in prime spots from National Geographic Magazine to the BBC.

The poles are more than Nicklen's prime shooting location. He grew up in Canada's Arctic, with the outdoors as his playground. Like any human who sees his home disappearing, he is doing what he can to save it: Turning his lens on the beauty and wonder of the endangered lives there.

"I knew someday I was going to do something to share news about it and protect it."

Nicklen spoke more about his passion, and his pictures, during a recent TED Talk.

(PHOTOS: Antarctica's Stunning Landscape)