Taking Photographs in Antarctica

It's definitely not going to be a problem finding absolutely breathtaking subject matter in Antarctica, but how do you go about capturing it on camera?  Well, for starters, it's best not to place too much emphasis on trying, as there's no way you can truly capture this vast and beautiful continent. Just absorb the peace you feel sitting high up on a bank of snow looking out at what looks like hundreds of mountain peaks stretching as far as the eye can see, or the smell, sound and shere numbers of a nesting ground of gentoos on Aitcho Island, or the gentle plink plunk of melting ice when your zodiac driver cuts the engine and you drift slowly alongside a mammoth iceberg the size of a house..... You can't capture that in a picture, but I still can't help but break into the hugest smile when I flick through my own Antarctic photos.   

Aside from remembering to look at Antarctica not just through a lens, you'll no doubt take some amazing shots to reflect on at home.  There's a great website I found giving some really useful tips and hints at taking photographs around the white continent.  Michael Reichmann gives some useful overviews of what equipment he found worked best in Antarctic conditions. It's worth remembering however that all expedition voyages take place during the Antarctic summertime - when temperatures down there are at their warmest and the coastline becomes alive with breeding wildlife (not the howling blizzard conditions of the South Pole that you so often see in the documentaries).  Anticipate an average of around zero degrees.  Still - you'll need to allow for some possible blizzards (it really is known as the windiest continent for a reason!), cloudy weather and also spells of bright blinding sunshine (don't forget your T-shirts - layering is the way to go)! 

Most people take two cameras (incase one fails), and use extensive zoom lenses for wildlife pictures, as well as polarising lenses (that soak up the colours).  Zooms aren't always necessary, as penguins are absolutely everywhere (even if you try your hardest to stay the specified distance away from them).  Chicks in paritcular can be fearless and curious and often feel the need to check that your Wellington boots really aren't edible (and that goes for coat and rucksack toggles too!).  Zooms are of course very useful for capturing close-ups of seals on ice floes or other wildlife best seen at a distance. I kept my camera warm by stuffing it down the front of my parka - remember that batteries run down more quickly in colder conditions, and mechanics can jam. Also ensure that you have your camera in a waterproof bag to keep out any salt spray thrown up on zodiac rides to the landings.  Take a BIG memory card too- you don't want to be limited and have to cull your images half-way through your trip. Click here for a report by Andrew Curry on professional photographer Rosemary Keogh's experiences - somewhat more extreme than many of our passengers will experience! 

Comments

[kookiejar]

Nikki, I am enjoying your blog very much. Most people think I'm crazy when I tell them how beautiful and intriguing I find Antarctica, but I know I'm not alone.