Walking to The Light
Our guide scouts ahead in Antarctica.
Our guide scouts ahead in Antarctica.
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Nov, 2015Views
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Awards
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Genius
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p_eileenbaltz
November 29, 2015
Wow! Beautifully captured in such extreme conditions. Welcome to VB.:) Eileen
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cmorisset
November 29, 2015
Oh so nice... Love, love this composition and the light. TOP! Welcome aboard SS ( :
Platinum
jettahlily008
December 04, 2015
Welcome to View Bug!!! I love the vast beauty of the white snow laden ground and mountain peaks mixed with greyish clouds!!! :)
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken the first day I set foot on Antarctica, realizing one of my lifelong dreams. We had just sailed a tall ship into Orne Harbor earlier that morning. We were climbing up the hillside to visit a penguin colony and soak in some views. Our guide scouted ahead to find the best route for our final ascent. The wind whipped and blew gusts of snow. The view from the top brought tears to my eyes.Time
It was the morning of February 26th. We could barely wait to take our first step on Antarctica and there were two reasons. One: it was the realization of a dream for most of us. Two: it meant getting off the boat after crossing one of the most notorious bodies of water on the planet - the Drake Passage. After weathering four days in the Drake, land was quite welcome under our feet.Lighting
The lighting was amazing and was changing pretty quickly. Clouds were moving and we had gusts of snow whipping across the frozen scape. We were only standing in that spot for a few minutes, so it was very much a lucky break.Equipment
I was shooting handheld on a Canon EOS-M, a compact mirrorless camera, using the stock zoom lens. The most important item in my kit that day: lens wipes. It's amazing how quickly your lens gets covered in snow, sleet and rain in extreme environments. I've since upgraded to a Canon 7D, however some of my favorite shots to date, including this one, were achieved on my trusty EOS-M.Inspiration
The inspiration for this photo came from years of dreaming about Antarctica and from my wonderment for polar exploration. I read up on Shackleton and the many hardships endured by explorers drawn to this frozen continent. This photo found me. I saw the elements line up before me perfectly and I quickly tore my lens off and shot. The composition really spoke to me about the solitude in polar exploration... despite being part of a team, survival in such a remote and harsh environment is a very personal challenge. Each person has to come to terms with their own isolation and mortality. Each person has to find a way to mentally cope with challenges. Each person has to make their own way up the mountain.Editing
This shot predates my skill at image processing. Thank goodness I had the foresight to shoot RAW throughout my Antarctic sailing expedition. After the trip wrapped up about three months later, I took some time to learn how to process RAW images. I did very minimal adjustments - I believe slightly shifting the contrast and removing fringe from around the outer edge of the person.In my camera bag
As for equipment, I usually have the basics... Canon camera, a couple lenses (zoom, 50mm at the moment), charged batteries, a lightweight MePhoto tripod and lots of lens wipes. Since I just upgraded to the Canon 7D, the world is my oyster on lens options. Next purchases on my list... a long lens for wildlife photography and a super wide angle for landscapes. I'm also looking into options for a sturdy camera case and cover. I'm heading back to Antarctica next month and want to make sure my camera/batteries perform at low temperatures. I've heard the secret is to attach hand warmers!Feedback
If you're out to catch something similar, I think the most important part is to get yourself there. Gear is just gear. If you can get yourself into a place that inspires you and you've got a little luck on lighting, positioning and timing, happy accidents are bound to happen. In the case of this shot, it was completely unexpected and unstaged. I looked up, saw the lone figure of my guide on the slope, it spoke to me and I took the photo. If you want to try your luck in the same spot (Orne Harbor, Antarctica), know that there's some sea time involved. Ever been seasick for three days?
