Listen Up
While traveling in Antarctica we were fortunate to be one of 4 boats which had been able to get into the Danger Islands since 1986. After many hours on a zodia...
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While traveling in Antarctica we were fortunate to be one of 4 boats which had been able to get into the Danger Islands since 1986. After many hours on a zodiac, many people were getting chilled, so we headed back to the boat. On the way back our guide spotted these Adelie Penguins perched on some ice flows so we deterred to get a closer look and were well rewarded with this photo!
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Jan, 2019Views
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Awards
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 22
Spring 21 Award
Legendary Award
Judge Favorite
9Teen Award
Celebrity Award
Contest Finalist in The Shapes Of Ice Photo Contest
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Peer Award
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
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Platinum
Beautiful-Breeze
January 10, 2019
Oh my gosh, what a great shot. Just Beautiful and adorable at the same time.
rogerframe
March 30, 2019
Thanks. It is especially special since it was taken at a spot in Antarctica where only 4 boats have been able to go since 1986.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in the Danger Islands, Antarctica. Only 4 boats had visited this area since 1986 because it is generally iced in. Our boat anchored 1 mile away because the ocean bottom has never been mapped in this location! The guides were very excited because none of them had been here before. After touring in our Zodiac rubber rafts for a few hours, some, including my wife, were getting chilly, so we headed back to the ship. However, our guide suddenly turned the Zodiac away from our ship, heading in a different direction. He had spotted some penguins on an ice flow, and this was the result!Time
Shots early or late in the day frequently make better photos. However, this was shot in the middle of the day around 1 PM. Never leave your camera at home just because it is the middle of the day.Lighting
This was an overcast day, which reduces contrast in the middle of the day.Equipment
I used a Canon 7D camera with a 100-400 Canon lens shooting at a focal length of 100 for this shot. Since we were bouncing on the ocean in a rubber raft, it was hand held with shutter priority and an ISO of 320 with exposure of 1/250 sec at f/20. No flash.Inspiration
I don't get opportunities like this very often. The group of penguins with half listening to the leader, and half ignoring him/her was priceless. On top of that, I've never seen an ice flow with icicles dripping below the top layer like this. How could I resist taking this shot?Editing
Post processing in Lightroom started with cropping out a distracting penguin on the left. Exposure was increased 0.25, contrast +20, highlights -49, shadows + 25. So the snow wouldn't look too aqua whites were increased +57. Blacks -10, clarity + 56, dehaze + 16, vibrance +40. While I frequently add some post-crop vignetting which is barely visible, I did not on this photo.In my camera bag
On this shot I would only have had my Canon 7D with 100-400 lens because there would not be anywhere to put my full bag without bumping into others, or damaging equipment. Currently, I may take both my Canon 7D with the 100-400 lens and a Canon 5D Mark IV with either a Canon 24-105 or Canon 16-35 III lens on a Blackrapid shoulder sling that permits me to carry two cameras at a time comfortably and bring the camera I want quickly up to shoot should a wild animal suddenly appear. If appropriate, and I'm going a shorter distance, I may take my Manfroto tripod or take my full LowePro backpack.Feedback
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received for photography is to take the shot that originally attracted your attention... then look around you to see if there are any other possible shots. I remember getting up early to photograph Messa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. When I arrived, I managed to get the last spot in the front row of 20 photographers. Two more rows of people arrived before the sun came up. It was a grand show... then everyone left. As I poked around I found a cluster of flowers growing in a rock with a crescent shaped weathered wood wrapped around it. I poked around some more and off to the right was a hole that the sun was just illuminating making it look like lava flowing. Everyone else missed those photos. Take your photo, then look another direction.
