Sunset was around 11:30 at night this close to the Antarctic Circle. This was from Booth Island.
Gentoo Penguin Chicks
A Gentoo Penguin cares for a couple of young chicks, Booth Island, Antarctica.
Google Street View coming to Antarctica!
Google made a lot of news not too long ago when it brought a portable version of its Street View camera system on a hike into the Grand Canyon. What I didn’t know is that same system would be joining us in Antarctica!
Our trip was joined by a number of researchers working on penguin research for Oceanites including Ron Naveen who had written the guide book to the Antarctic Peninsula I was carrying with me – didn’t expect to be having dinner with the author during my trip, that was a real treat!
Some of the researchers including Ron left us in Antarctica part way into the trip, but two, Dr. Heather Lynch and Dr. Michelle LaRue were not only with us for the entire trip, but were bringing with them Street View cameras from Google.
Heather who you see pictured above carried a portable camera system around Antarctica as she did penguin counts and the different penguin colonies. Her ongoing research and permits will allow viewers access to areas within the penguin colonies that the typical visitor isn’t allowed to access. She also carried the system on hikes like the one we did from Baily Head on Deception Island. This hike begins at Baily Head and continues past a huge Chinstrap Penguin colony before going up and over the volcano rim and down to Whaler’s Bay. It will be fun to relive these places on Google – and for many people, this may be as close to a hike in Antarctica is they will ever get. It was my understanding that Heather was carrying the same pack that was used in the Grand Canyon.
Michele was using a different system, it was a tripod mounted array of Canon 7D’s with fish-eye lenses that she would set up at different historical sites. I thought the 7D instead of the Canon 5D III or II was an interesting choice.
Watch for the final results on Google Earth later this year.
As a side note, it was wonderful having Heather and Michelle on board the vessel because they were so willing to share their vast knowledge of penguins. Both have spent a great deal of time in Antarctica over the years and had many fascinating stories. You may have seen Michelle not too long ago being interviewed by Brian Williams on NBC nightly news – her recent discoveries of some previously undiscovered Emperor Penguin colonies brought her a fair amount of attention.
Below is Heather carrying the Street View cameras in a colony of Gentoo Penguins on Cuverville Island.
Antarctic Ice
The amazing ice in Antarctica provided endless photo opportunities. This particular day around Brown Bluff had to be some of the best. I was taking a group of passengers “Zodiac cruising”, one of my favorite activities, and we found a bunch of large icebergs that had become grounded by the low tide. Being grounded helped to reveal some amazing details and patterns typically hidden below the water level including what you see here.
This is our last day in Southern California as I thaw out for a few days in Anza-Borrego. Tomorrow we head back to Alaska! It will be nice to be home.
Gentoo Shadow
It is hard to be creative when it comes to penguin portraits – that said, I was excited to see the shadow of a nearby Gentoo penguin on the chest of this guy as I felt like it added a new dimension.
Antarctica!
I’m back from an awesome trip to Antarctica! Well not back, but in the Atlanta Airport – it takes four days of travel to return from the frozen continent when you include the two days crossing the Drake.
It was a great trip, we lucked out on the weather and were able to visit many locations that no one else had been able to land at for days if not weeks. We got well below the Antarctic Circle and had two easy crossing of the famous Drake Passage. I’m definitely tired – the days were often very long and my head is still spinning with images of couscous penguins approaching and showing all kinds of fun behavior.
Gotts say is is cool and strange to have gone almost 3 weeks without seeing the internet, a TV, newspaper or even driving a vehicle. It will be interesting to see what I missed if anything. News of the pending financial cliff and NFL playoffs became trivial once I was so discounted. I apologize in advance for typos and poor English – I’m typing this very quickly after being up most the night.
Favorite Photos of 2012
Since I take off to Antarctica in the morning, I’m pretty sure this will be my last post for the next 3 weeks as I’ll have very limited internet.
This has become somewhat of an annual deal thanks in part to my friend Jim Goldstein.
For fun, here are my favorite photos of 2011 – favorite photos of 2010 – favorite photos of 2009 and finally, favorite photos of 2008.
So here are my top 10 and why. Click on thumbnail for a larger view.
Full moon with whale
Spending 3 days by myself in a rental boat in Fredrick Sound battling bad weather and even hitting a rock made this amazing moment even more special!
Bear with Cubs
These three cute cubs standing next to their mom came from one of my bear photo tours. This was my biggest “viral” success – on Goggle + it hit the 500 comment limit in just hours and was shared and given a plus 1 by thousands – guessing that strange language only means something to a few people, but in short, it was well liked.
Aurora over Seward
This rare event turned out to be one of our best selling prints this year even though we have only had this image for a few months.
Anza-Borrego Dry Lake
We have been visiting Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for years and usually an image from here makes the top 10. Hard to get a pretty picture that also illustrates concepts like drought.
Pedersen Lagoon Canoes
According to the Travel Channel (and I agree) Aialik Bay in Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the top 10 amazing places in the world! I’m lucky to live so close to such an amazing place. Pedersen Lagoon feeds into Aialik Bay.
Vegas Reflections
I do a fair amount of travel photography, and spent a bit of time in Las Vegas, so it is only fitting that such a subject would find its way into the top 10. This is the pool of the Cosmopolitan reflecting in a nearby building.
Pollen Puddle
I never thought my daily walk to the Post Office would lead to an image on my top 10 list, but this one has grown on me.
Mat Su Valley Autumn
One from a wonderful trip to the Mat Su Valley this past Fall.
Chugach Snow
We had a lot of snow last winter, so it seems fitting that a snowy image makes the top 10 – especially considering it is from my favorite running trail; the Lost Lake Trail.
Sunrise Bear
Getting a Brown Bear at sunrise can be challenging. Fortunately this year I had a few wonderful mornings with bears!
Honorable Mentions
These are photos that I still really liked and just couldn’t leave out of my list.
Northern Lights
Only wanted one Northern Lights photo in the top 10 – but this could have easily been one of them!
Badlands Moon
One of the two images from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park I considered for the list.
Bear Hug
I thought these two were really cute! Bear photos could have made up my entire favorite 10 list!
Sedona Snow – Snowdona
Seeing Sedona covered with half a foot of fresh snow was wonderful!
Seward Boat Harbor
Even though I’m partial to my hometown, I could only have one boat harbor image in the top 10 – so the aurora image won out.
Lost Dutchman State Park
I really enjoy the desert – especially in the spring!
2013 Photo Tour / Workshop Update
A Humpback Whale dives at sunset, Inside Passage, Southeast, Alaska.
Since I take off this weekend, I thought I would provide an update for next years photo tours and workshops. I think by the time I get back from Antarctica that they may all be full. Here is the latest:
January – Antarctica with Cheeseman’s – Full
March Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Both workshops full with wait list. These annual workshop filled extra quick this year for some reason. I’m sure I’ll do them again in 2014.
June – Alaska Bear Photo Tour – One spot – I don’t expect this one to be around long.
August- Alaska Bear Photo Tour – Full I’ll be doing both bear tours on the same dates in 2014.
July – Alaska Inside Passage photo tour – whales, glaciers and more – Maybe the best photo tour I offer and as a new offering still has availability.
Even while I’m gone, Janine will be available to answer questions and take reservations. Thanks!
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