Antarctica – An Adventure
For many landscape and wildlife photographers, Antarctica is definitely a dream location to visit and photography. I traveled there in January 2024 on an expedition with Wild photo Travel. They specialize in photography tours and expeditions to some of the most remote and spectacular Polar destinations, including Svalbard, Greenland, Antarctica, and South Georgia. They are excellent and I highly recommend their expeditions.
Traveling to Antarctica is not for the faint of heart. I took four flights to get from Detroit, Michigan to Ushuaia, Argentina. It is located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the southernmost tip of South America. From there we boarded the Polar Pioneer, a veteran ice-strengthened expedition ship known for its capability in polar regions and its small size, accommodating only 48 guests.
To get to Antarctica we had to traverse the Drake Passage. The passage is notorious due to its turbulent and unpredictable sea conditions, stemming from the convergence of three powerful ocean currents and the lack of any landmass to impede their flow. It is a two-day journey through the passage. Needless to say, my journey was an adventure! On the second day we experienced 35-foot seas and 50 knot winds.
While crossing the Drake can be difficult – it sets the stage for the pristine and rugged beauty of Antarctica. From my perspective, Antarctica demands the effort to reach it in order to fully appreciate its secrets.
Biosecurity is exceedingly important in Antarctica. This is to prevent the introduction and spread of non-native species, pests, and diseases to the continent. Disinfectant washes were used to eliminate potential contaminants from boots and equipment, especially when moving between sites. For my expedition you were generally required to keep your camera backpacks on at all times while on land.
From a wildlife perspective, standing on the edge of an Adelie penguin colony with 100,00 nesting pairs was to say the least – overwhelming. Watching the activity at the individual nests, the groups heading into the ocean, groups coming back to land, etc. was memorable. The smell of a penguin colony was also very unique! I learned to appreciate the care and persistence that the adult penguins exhibit to raise their chicks. Feeding chicks in a rocky nest on the side of an outcropping at the bottom of the world is certainly a testament to their dedication and survival instinct.
Seeing the gentle giants of the Antarctic in Wilhelmina Bay was quite a thrill. The southern humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to various breeding grounds in the southern hemisphere. Having whales surface near us in a landscape of towering cliffs, snow, and ice was an experience I will not forget.
From a landscape perspective, the Lemaire Channel on the western side of the Antarctic peninsula is spectacular. The channel has steep cliffs rising from the sea and a narrow passage filled with icebergs. When the water is calm there are stunning mirror-like reflections of the surrounding mountains and ice formations. The Channel is a popular destination for amateur as well as professional photographers.
