It's almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, in partnership with the team of photography experts, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, getting you in the best position based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities. Flexibility is key on an Antarctic expedition, especially a photography expedition. Rest assured that if a wildlife event presents itself, or the light hits a glacier just right, the team will do what they can allow you more time to capture it, provided it is possible and safe to do so, of course! Once we arrive, the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day, and the timings of these will depend on what the day brings us. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals, and porpoising penguins. We have been known to have longer Zodiac excursions than originally planned... sometimes we are just presented with a special moment that cannot be missed. One can never know what wonders Mother Nature will serve up! And that is all part of the beauty and the fun of an expedition to the Antarctic. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea. With the engine turned off, take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent. The Zodiac excursions are a major part of the expedition and on this voyage, the passenger numbers on the voyage and in the Zodiacs are reduced. This will allow the photographers to maneuver around the Zodiacs to capture their subject matter with ease, as well as allow sufficient room for their gear. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts, and explore some of the favorite spots along the peninsula. While ashore, the expeditioners will be given a choice of how they would like to explore that site. Quite often, one of the options will be to hike up to a vantage point with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. The light can vary dramatically, depending on the weather on the day, but the view from the ridgeline never disappoints. We are traveling in the late summer, which is perfect for capturing the beauty of an Antarctic sunset. We plan to have some sunset excursions to take in the pastel-painted sky. If your focus is on the wildlife, you may choose to wander along pebbly beaches where you are likely to find a variety of penguins (in this area, mainly gentoo), seals, and birds. Occasionally you may capture a leopard seal coming close to shore to find a snack. Whichever option you choose, the expedition team will be with you every step of the way. In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales traveling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the library or the Observation Lounge, featuring huge windows and superb views. The bridge will be opened at the captain's discretion, which will give the photographers a different perspective of the running of an expedition through these waters. Of course, the tradition of the polar plunge will also be on offer, where those who dare to will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting! When not exploring by foot or Zodiac, consider joining as many lectures and workshops as you can. On offer is a variety of photography-focused workshops, but also lectures from the expedition team of naturalists, historians, marine biologists, etc as well. Note: The scheduler, where Antarctic operators book their dates and sites, opens closer to departure. Once the sites are booked, more information on places we are likely to visit on this voyage will be provided. Keeping in mind that this is an expedition and there is always an element of flexibility. ...
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