King penguins, the second-largest penguin species, are one of the most breathtaking sights in the subantarctic, especially on the remote island of South Georgia. Standing nearly a metre tall with striking orange and gold markings on their heads and chests, they are elegant, resilient, and highly social. Vast colonies, sometimes numbering hundreds of thousands, blanket the island’s beaches, creating a spectacle of movement, sound, and life. Unlike many penguins, kings do not build nests; instead, they carefully incubate a single egg on their feet beneath a warm fold of skin. Their lifecycle is finely tuned to the region’s harsh climate, and they travel far into the Southern Ocean to feed on fish and squid. Climate change and shifting ocean conditions, however, threaten their food supply and breeding success. Photographing king penguins in their dramatic natural setting is an unforgettable experience — a powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of our polar ecosystems