Doug Allan: Filming the Frozen Planet

We’re very excited to see cameraman Doug Allan about to embark on a series of talks about his ‘life behind the lens’. Responsible for bringing the incredible sights of the polar regions into our homes, Allan is the man behind a number of ground-breaking wildlife sequences filmed for the BBC including series such as Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet.

Allan will be sharing a wealth of stories based on his many years of filming, photography and unique wildlife encounters, with a ‘behind the scenes’ look at how his team were able to capture rare footage such as this fantastic clip from Antarctica for Frozen Planet:

The 'Life Behind the Lens' talks kick off in Henley on 19th February, and continue around the UK throughout February and March.  Tickets start from £15 and the complete list of venues and dates can be found here

'Encounters at the End of the World'

Antarctica has forever excited the minds of curious travellers, geographers and filmmakers alike, and the renowned director Werner Herzog is no different. His 2007 film ‘Encounters at the End of the World’ follows the lives of those who call the Antarctic continent home during the five months of the austral summer and focuses the lens on the stunning scenery and wildlife of the continent as well as those ‘lifelong dreamers’ who call the Antarctic home. The movie, which stunned critics and viewers alike, is to be screened on the Discovery Channel this Wednesday (24 June) at 9pm.

Despite it’s remoteness, the Antarctic continent provides residence for some hardy souls each year, including geologists, glaciologists, wildlife enthusiasts, computer technicians and scientists. And we mustn’t forget that the world’s most unique post office, situated at Port Lockroy, needs staff too; and a Discover the World employee recently took some time off to spend four months working in this remote postal outpost. Whilst we can’t quite offer employment on the great white continent, we can offer you the experience of a lifetime on one of our fantastic voyages to this stunning location.

Andy Silvester

The Arctic comes to Greenwich

Still got a couple of days of half-term to fill?   Then why not take a trip to the Arctic.... or at least, to the next best thing at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich?!  Launched this week, the North-West Passage exhibition focuses on the fascinating history of the Canadian Arctic and the intrepid search for the route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the heroic adventures of the 19th Century British Arctic expeditions, the exhibition also offers a fascinating insight into the lives of the Inuit who have inhabited this hostile terrain for thousands of years.  Admission is free and the exhibition is open daily from 10am-5pm.

Also worth a visit is the Planetarium at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Here you can view a new show called 'Ice Worlds', exploring the frozen moons and planets of the Solar System, including the Earth's own polar ice caps. The show is narrated by Emily Watson - yep, that's Harry Potter's mate Hermione!   Showings daily at £6 per adults, £4 per child and family tickets £16 (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children).

And if all that inspires you then it's not too late to book your own Arctic adventure this summer - spaces are filling fast, but call our team to check the latest availability on our very own Heart of the Northwest Passage voyage!

BBC Wildlife Cinematographer joins 'Emperors & Kings' voyage!

This week's guest-blogger is Nikki Rickett, back from her travels in the Great White Continent and doing what she loves best - writing about, er, the Great White Continent!

  We're delighted to announce that award-winning wildlife cinematographer Doug Allan will be joining the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov for the fantastic 'Emperors & Kings' voyage this November. 

If, like the team here at Discover the World, your DVD collection is full of box sets such as Life in the Freezer, Planet Earth and Blue Planet, then you'll want to grab this unique chance to travel with one of the most talented and inspirational cameraman ever to have visited the polar regions.

Doug found his calling when working as a research diver on the British Antarctic Survey station Signy Island in the South Orkneys in 1976. He spent ten years diving and filming in Antarctica. Eventually footage he shot of Emperor Penguins was optioned by the BBC series Birds for all Seasons. His career as a freelance wildlife cameraman was born.

He may be best known for his work as a principal cameraman on Blue Planet and Planet Earth, the BBC Natural History Unit's Emmy winning documentaries. More recently Doug contributed stunning footage to the Disneynature film Earth (premiering shortly in North America). During the Emperors & Kings voyage, Doug will present behind-the-scenes footage and tell about his work in remote polar environments. His insights are humourous, filled with suspense, and just plain entertaining... You will never watch a documentary the same way after sailing with Doug! Doug will be accompanied by his wife Sue Flood, who herself is an internationally renowned and acomplished photographer and wildlife film producer. 

This is a brand new itinerary to combine wildlife-rich South Georgia with the remote and ice-locked Snowhill Island in the Weddell Sea. Nestled against the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, there is a reason that you will be travelling onboard the powerful icebreaker the Kapitan Khlebnikov! If you like penguins then this is THE trip for you - Emperors, Kings, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Rockhopper, Adelie, Magellanic - seven of the 17 species of penguin could be seen on this voyage!

Best polar wishes! Nikki

Antarctica - A Place Like No Other - Video

The British Antarctic Survey has launched a fantastic video introducing the Antarctic continent and their work in this stunning frozen environment.  The video (click here) is approximately 20 minutes long - grab a cuppa and lose yourself in Antarctica for a few Monday morning moments!

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, it has, for almost 60 years, undertaken the majority of Britain's scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. It now shares that continent with scientists from over thirty countries. BAS employs over 400 staff, and supports three stations in the Antarctic, at Rothera, Halley and Signy, and two stations on South Georgia, at King Edward Point and Bird Island. The Antarctic operations and science programmes are executed and managed from Cambridge, and rely on a wide-ranging team of professional staff.  The BAS station that is potentially visited on Antarctic cruises to the Peninsula is Rothera - only the longer Peninsula itineraries such as 'Crossing the Antarctic Circle' allow for enough time to potentially (ice and weather permitting) push south enough to reach Rothera.

A Year on Ice: Life in Antarctica - YouTube

I've just stumbled across a really inspiring video of Antarctica, created by YouTube user Anthony Powell (aka Antzarctica) during his time at McMurdo Station and Scott Base over the past five years.  I do recommend taking a look at his video, which captures the seasons of life at the American base through creative time-lapse photogrphic imagery, from the bustle of summer to the illuminating and surreal southern lights (watch the video here).  The icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov usually visits McMurdo Station in the austral summer, as featured in our Ross Sea Voyages - notably the Great Explorers Voyage.  But I'm afraid you'll have to stay the entire winter season down there if you're looking for the aurora australis (which are only visible during the cold dark winter months, when the station is 'frozen in' and inaccessible to travellers).  Enjoy!

Channel 4 - When Hell Freezes - Mawson's Antarctica

Next week (Monday 29 October at 9pm) I'll be glued to 'the box' again for Channel 4's Edge of Endurance season. This time, I'm looking forward to being whisked away to Antarctica with the docu-drama 'When Hell Freezes'; the story of Australian Explorer Sir Douglas Mawson's attempt on the South Pole.  I can't wait! 

Last night I was absolutely awe-struck by Channel 4's latest programme in their drama-documentary series 'The Beckoning Silence' - the story of four German climbers (including Toni Kurz) who tragically perished in their attempts to climb the Eiger in 1936.  It was an incredibly inspiring tale of courage and spirit, and was beautifully depicted by the actors, interspersed with personal (and meaningful) commentary from Joe Simpson from the studio and the actual North face of the Eiger, who related the climbers' story in connection with his own experience of narrowly escaping death in the Peruvian Andes.  If you haven't already seen it, then I do highly recommend watching 'Touching the Void' which tells of Joe Simpson's amazing escape from a crevass, having suffered a shattered leg and freezing conditions (he was cut loose by his climbing companion, a tortured decision).

If you want to retrace the steps of Polar Explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, you can visit Mawson's historic hut on our 'East Antarctica' itinerary.

Happy Feet - Animated Penguin Film

If you can't get to Antarctica yourself for whatever reason this coming season, then there's still some hope - hot on the heels of the fantastic Oscar-winning documentary March of the Penguins comes a somewhat fluffier offering from Hollywood - in the form of a 'comedy-adventure' animated picture 'Happy Feet'.  View the trailer here.  Produced by the creators of 'Babe', the film stars a stellar cast (Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman are amongst the voices).  'Mumbles' is the star of the show, and the film revolves around the fortunes of this Emperor penguin chick, who can't sing but sure can tap his little webbed feet, and does so with much gay abandon in his white world in Antarctica....!  It's bound to be a touch schmaltzy, but will no doubt be another excuse for an ever-popular Discover the World cinema outing - roll on November (for a change) - hurrah!

Film set Antarctica?

The movie-buffs and Antarctic enthusiasts at Discover the World are delighted that the film 'March of the Penguins' is now out to buy on DVD - my pre-ordered copy arrived in the post a few days ago and I'm looking forward to the chance to watch it at the weekend.  And with the film 'Eight Below' in the cinemas at the moment it seems that the film studios have caught onto the appeal of Antarctica quick-smart.

The latest news is that Sydney film production duo Christina Andreef (who cut her teeth as assistant to Piano-director Jane Campion) and Helen Bowden (Toi Toi productions) plan to film in the white continent early next year.  The pair will participate in the 'L'Atelier du Festival' (festival workshop) at the Cannes International Film festival - a platform for filmmakers' funding requests.  Andreef and Bowden hope to raise financial interest in the film; an adaptation of author Nikki Gemmell's romantic drama 'Shiver', which tells the story of 100 men and 20 women aboard a vessel bound for Antarctica.  Andreef describes the film as a 'contemporary love story... of falling in love, lust, sex, taboo and death set in Antarctica'.   There is speculation as to the film's possible leading lady, as the directors are determined to cast an Australian in the role. 

We look forward to another Discover the World cinema outing in due course! 

New Antarctica Film by Disney - 'Eight Below'

Disney have a new film out at the moment called ‘Eight Below’ which is set in Antarctica (just showing in the United States at the moment, but no doubt it’ll reach UK shores soon!). 

The film has been reviewed as an ‘enjoyable, exciting fact-based tale of survival in the frozen wastes of Antarctica’. Eight Below was shot in Canada, Greenland, and Norway, providing a perfect film set for the White Continent.

Of course Antarctica is very much accessible too – specialist tour operator Discover the World offer small-vessel expedition voyages to this breathtaking location.  If ice, stunning glaciers and pristine wilderness filled with penguins, seals, whales, albatrosses and seabirds in general appeal to you as a holiday with a difference (and undoubtedly the trip of a lifetime) then you should definitely consider a voyage down there!   We also offer holidays to Canada, Greenland and Norway (amongst other exciting destinations!).

With the huge box-office success in the US of ‘March of the Penguins’ (if you haven’t seen it, then catch it quick before it leaves UK cinemas) the Disney film is bound to be well-received, although this time the huskies steal the show, rather than the Emperor penguins……

Eight Below is apparently based on a true story, and it’s great that big film studios are still interested in producing a movie that appeals to all of the family (it’s certified PG) whilst children can also learn about Antarctica as well as be entertained.

On that note, my colleague Rachel and her partner Paul recently returned from a 12–day Classic Antarctica voyage aboard the Professor Molchanov to the Antarctica Peninsula (and had the most amazing time!).  Her partner’s son had told his teacher that, ‘Dad’s in Antarctica at the moment’.  Given the teacher’s reaction it sounds like he needs to be taught a thing or two himself – the poor boy was told not to be so ridiculous!   You just can’t win sometimes eh!