22 Day Antarctica Photography Expedition on Bark Europa

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Free Tutorials

International Photo Workshop

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Description

Summary

Tour starts

Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina

Minimum age:

None

Description

This is a photography tour like no other. In fact, ‘tour’ is probably an understatement. This is an immersive Antarctic photography expedition, where, as well as capturing incredible shots of the Earth’s last great wilderness, you’ll get the chance to help the crew with the day to day tasks essential to keeping the ship on a steady course.

There are a plethora of reasons for wanting to visit this part of the world. You might be a scenery fanatic, a wildlife enthusiast, or just a lover of the open water. Whatever your photography passion, everything you could wish for and more will suddenly be at your fingertips as we glide through the serene waters of the south Atlantic and on to the white wilderness of Antarctica.

Destination Antarctica

The legendary voyages of Barentz and Shackleton are enough to inspire many travellers to this part of the world. But aside from its history of bold expeditions, otherworldly landscape and unparalleled wildlife, Antarctica is above all one of the oldest continents on our planet, and a place that remains untainted by man. For 22 days, embracing this place through a lens will be your main priority and, assisted by professional photography experts and local guides, you’ll leave with a lifetime’s worth of dreams fulfilled and caught on camera.

Included

All meals onboard

All workshops on board by our professional guides regarding Antarctica, wildlife and photography

Several landings in zodiacs in Antarctica

Map

Attractions

Antarctica

Activities

Photo Tours

Photo Workshop

Daily itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 - Day 1: All aboard in Ushuaia

The group will meet in Ushuaia, Argentina, and everyone is welcome to board the ship at 5pm. The Europa will be moored at the pier ‘Puerto Comercial’. To avoid any problems, we recommend that you reach Ushuaia with plenty of time to spare. Ideally this would be the day before we depart. If your flight is delayed or your bags are lost in transit, we want to give you every possible chance of joining the photo expedition. The town is known as El Fin del Mundo, because it is the southernmost city in the world. From its centre, a short taxi ride will take you to the harbour. We will sign you in, deal with your luggage, show you to your cabin, and you can then enjoy your first meal on board. Depending on the weather and the captain’s plans, we will either stay in port overnight or depart after dark.

Day 2

Day 2 - Day 2

On the second day our voyage will properly get going. If it hasn’t already, the ship will set sail from Ushuaia in the morning. As we leave the port, the crew will take the passengers through some important safety briefings and introduce you to how the ship operates. The scenery for the photographers onboard will start in spectacular fashion. Sailing through the Beagle Channel, wondrous ice-tipped mountains will rise up either side as we head towards the open ocean. With evening arriving, we will head southwards along the coastline of Tierra del Fuego - The Land of Fire - which is actually a lot more tranquil than its name suggests.

Day 3

Day 3 - Days 3-4: Drake Passage

Drake Passage retains a place in sailing folklore as one of the world’s most infamous stretches of water. Whether or not that reputation is justified is up to debate, but one thing for sure is that the weather can be unpredictable. The crossing from Cape Horn is around 450 nautical miles, but escorted by dolphins and with the wind on our side, it should pass without incident. It’s also during the crossing that passengers will have an opportunity to get involved with the running of the ship. We will be sailing for 24 hours every day, so everyone is expected to assist in the watch system or help the crew steer or handle the sails. We will be joined for much of the stretch by several sea birds, including Cape petrels, White-chinned petrels and Albatrosses. There will be plenty of chances to capture these majestic birds in their natural habitat, against the powerful backdrop of the open ocean.

Day 5

Day 5 - Day 5: Navigating Antarctic Icebergs

The further south we go, the more chance we have of coming across icebergs. While these offer fantastic objects for any photography session, they also present a risk to the ship. As such, we’ll keep a careful watch for bergs that the radar doesn’t pick up. The nights are short this far south, so we will spend plenty of time capturing the serene silhouettes of ice the ice carvings against the horizon. The further south we go, the bigger they will get - a sure sign that we’re heading in the right direction! If conditions are good, we will aim to drop anchor as evening falls in the sheltered bay of Barrientos Island.

Day 6

Day 6 - Day 6: Barrientos Island

If all goes to plan, today will be a nature photographer’s dream. From aboard the ship we will be close enough to watch as penguins dive into the water. Members of the crew will be on hand to take us to the shore, where we will walk along a beach populated by Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins. On the opposite side of the island we’ll encounter the more imposing, but equally photogenic Elephant seals. Barrientos is one of the Aitcho Islands, a small chain that sits between the larger Greenwich and Robert Island. This makes it a perfect, sheltered spot before our photography expedition reaches Antarctica’s mainland.

Day 7

Day 7 - Day 7: Dawn of the White Cliffs

We will set sail from the Aitcho Islands at dawn, heading south towards the calm waters around Livingston Island. White ice cliffs will begin to emerge on all sides as we grow closer to the mainland of the continent. But the towering ice of Antarctica can wait. For now, there will be incredible photo opportunities where ice meets water. Our chances of sighting Humpback whales are high, and there will be plenty of penguins enjoying the floating platforms for swimming and diving. If time allows, we will sail past Edinburgh Hill, a huge stone that rises impossibly from the water. The rock is made of basalt, solidified magma from the centre of a volcano that is yet to erupt, but is active enough to push Edinburgh Hill to the surface. Other sights on our journey south will include Hannah Point, on the peninsula on the southeast coast of Livingston Island. There we will find an entire zoo’s worth of wildlife to capture with our cameras. Keen Bird watchers can spot the nests of American sheathbills, Giant petrels, and Skuas. With any luck there will also be crowds of penguins lining the beaches as we go by.

Day 8

Day 8 - Day 8: Deception Island

One of nature’s lesser known wonders, Deception Island seems like any other from a distance. But it begins to live up to its name as we grow closer. The island is in the shape of a ring, but a narrow gap of the ring reveals an extensive inner crater, which forms a lake that flows in and out with the ocean. Like the adventurers we are, our ship will sail straight through ‘Neptunes Bellows’ and drop anchor in the centre of the crater. Nearby is an old whaling station, and there are several buildings that used to be a base for research work. We will take the opportunity to explore the area and enjoy the supreme panoramic views from Neptune’s Window. Deep into the crater is Pendulum Cove, where thermal currents will make it possible to bathe comfortably in the water - if you’re brave enough to get in!

Day 9

Day 9 - Day 9: Trinity Island

On day nine the ship will reluctantly leave the majesty of Deception Island’s crater behind and set a course for even further. Our next stop will be between Spert and Trinity Islands, where we will take rides out in the dinghies to get up close and personal with a selection of magnificent icebergs. The landscape, both backdrop and foreground, will provide a masterclass of photographic opportunities, and many of the shot you take today will go among those that you look back upon with pride in the years to come. The vivid colours and abstract shapes of every berg make this a scene that looks like it’s been choreographed to perfection, and with a little luck a few sightings of the local leopard seals will top things off.

Day 10

Day 10 - Day 10

There are few more impressive sights in the natural world than huge whales feeding on shoals of krill. Previous adventures to this part of the world have been made all the better by sightings of blue whale doing exactly that. Our aim for the day will be to reach Enterprise Island, and the harbour of Gouvernøren. The bay is named after a famous whaler whose ship was wrecked here back in 1916. We will sail past its 25m bow still rising from the ocean, offering fantastic photography for those lucky enough to be on a working ship! Breeding birds now make the most of the wreck.

Day 11

Day 11 - Day 11: Landing in an Icy Paradise

On day eleven we plan on sailing south to Paradise Harbour or Neko Harbour, both of which will offer our first chance of a true continental landing. The mainland of Antarctica will finally be upon us, and the route will be peppered with stunning views of enormous glaciers and high cliffs of ice rising from the water. Our photography session might be further improved by the sight of ice breaking from the glacier, which sends tonnes of mass into the serene water below. Words don’t do justice to this breathtaking white wilderness, but your camera will do a decent job.

Day 12

Day 12 - Day 12: Towards the Argentine Islands

A long day of incredible photography is in store. Day twelve also tends to be one of the most popular on this Antarctic photo tour. First we will set sail for the Lemaire Channel, known affectionately as “Kodak Crack”. And for good reason: The narrow path we will take is lined by towering, snow-tipped mountains and the view as we pass through is one that inspires reflection and awe in equal measure. We should also get up close with the many crabeater seals that live here, and capture their natural behaviour against what is an incomparable backdrop. The deck of the ship will be the best place to be to photograph the sights ahead, to the side, and behind us for the duration of the journey. As we attempt to navigate through the Penola Strait, we will have to zigzag around the many icebergs. While it might sound treacherous, this adventurous route will give the photographers on board more angles to work with than ever before. In short, it’ll be worth it. If, however, icy conditions hold up our progress towards the Argentine Islands completely, we will wait for the pack ice to move and enter the archipelago towards the end of the day. At the end of the day our aim is to anchor at a latitude of 65° south, at Galindez Island. It’s as far south as we will go on this expedition. In the evening, the plan is to drop by at a Ukrainian research station on the island called ‘Vernadsky’. There we can stretch our legs, and one of the research assistants will give us a tour and give us more information about the work they are doing there. While anchored in the bay, the crew will remain vigilant, as a sudden change in the weather could cause sheets of ice to block our exit.

Day 13

Day 13 - Day 13: The Journey to Petermann Island

Day thirteen will begin in the opposite direction, as we travel north towards Petermann Island. The day will start with a tranquil journey through the floating ice, and a few hours later we should reach our destination. At Petermann we will lay drop the anchor near a colony of Adelie penguins. At this time of year they are breeding, so we can watch as all of the penguin-related drama unfolds. A nice touch for any photo tour: We will witness the famously sneaky behaviour of the Adelies, who like to steal from each other when no-one is watching, and look on as Skuas fly high above and swoop down to raid from unprotected nests.

Day 14

Day 14 - Day 14: The Bay of Port Lockroy

Two weeks into this incredible photography tour we will reach the Bay of Port Lockroy. There we can watch a bird native to this part of the world: the blue-eyed shag. These colourful birds nest on the shore between the rocks, and we can get plenty of photos as they feed their young throughout the day. At Port Lockroy lies a british research base that has been in use since 1944. Over the summer it is staffed by three British researchers, and we will take an opportunity to have a walk on dry land and a quick tour around the station. They could certainly do with the company! The group can also buy and send postcards from here, as it’s officially the most southern post office in the world. Outside of the research station the area is teeming with wildlife to photography, including Gentoo penguins and hungry leopard seals.

Day 15

Day 15 - Day 15: Dorian Bay

We will spend our fifteenth day in the Port Lockroy area. On the opposite side of the island lies Dorian Bay, and the walk there offers great views of Jabet Peak, an icy mountain that stretches out into the ocean. After walking among the Gentoo penguins and (hopefully) spotting some Weddell seals, we will set sail through the Schollaert Channel and on to the Melchior Islands. Past trips to this part of Antarctica have been rewarded with close-up sights of native Orcas, so those on deck will have their cameras at the ready in case of a repeat occurrence.

Day 16

Day 16 - Day 16

We will spend day sixteen in the vicinity of the Melchior Islands. The morning will fly by as we jump into the zodiacs and skim across the water. Staring up from the foot of awesome glaciers and icebergs will be a fitting end to our time in Antarctica. Armed with a detailed chart and compass, our expert photography guides will help you make the most of every narrow passage and icy silhouette. With fortune on our side, the local Fur seals will become curious about our presence and make their way towards us. Wilsons storm petrels will also keep you camera-ready. At midday, it will be time to leave the calm waters behind and begin the crossing back to South America. Providing the conditions are good, we will have great views of Anvers Island as we leave, and the epic 3000 meter-high Mount Francais will dominate the horizon for a long while to come.

Day 17

Day 17 - Days 17, 18, 19

The next three days will be the mirror image of the original crossing. Drake Passage will again require us to organise a watch system, but we will also have plenty of time to reflect with the guides on everything we have seen and learned. But the photography isn’t over yet. There will be plenty of dolphins to watch and a great many seabirds to accompany us back to Argentina.

Day 20

Day 20 - Day 20: Back to Cape Horn

If all goes to plan, on day twenty we will be coming up to the familiar sights of Diego Ramirez Island and Cape Horn. Sheltered from the open ocean by Tierra del Fuego, we will head through the archipelago and on towards the Beagle Channel. After spending more than a week in a bleak, white wilderness, everything will now appear to be remarkably green and lush.

Day 21

Day 21 - Day 21: Back to Ushuaia

Just before we reach our final destination of Ushuaia, there will be one final sight to enjoy. Prior to reaching the port there are two small islands packed with sea lions, known as the Islas de Lobos. Cameras should be at the ready, as this will be our first and last view of sea lions. Huge males laze about, patrolling their territory, in a spectacle befitting of this wild photography expedition. Further on we will come across the red and white lighthouse ‘Les Eclaireurs’, which signals our proximity to our final destination: Ushuaia.

Day 22

Day 22 - Day 22: Goodbyes

Breakfast on the final day will no doubt be a time of reflection. Not many people get to experience what we will have gone through, and it can be quite a jolt to be back with civilization. After eating we will say our goodbyes, knowing that all of the memories and images will stay with us forever.

Life Aboard Our Ship

Our ship, the Bark EUROPA, is a fully-registered sail training ship, meaning that all passengers can, if they wish, play a role in supporting the expedition. Unlike a normal passenger ship, the group will receive safety training and be asked to join in with the watch system. Participating in this manner is all part of the expedition experience, although of course the level of involvement will depend on your enthusiasm and physical ability.

Camera in hand, being part of the watch system can be incredibly rewarding, while everyone on board is welcome to take the helm, set sails, assist with manoeuvres, navigation, weather observations, furling the sails on the yards, and much more! The permanent crew will always be on hand to offer guidance and support.

Our ship, the EUROPA, was built in 1911 but has since been completely rebuilt by master craftsmen in the Netherlands. The rebuilding and conversion was carried out under the supervision of the Dutch Shipping Inspection, Bureau Veritas and Register Holland, and it sails with worldwide certificates from each of these authorities. Much of the crew is Dutch, although a part of the team rotates and comes from all over the world. As such, the main language used on board will be English.

While the ship may appear vintage on the outside, we will be equipped with the latest in weather monitoring equipment, satellite navigation, a separate, smaller sail boat, and two Zodiac crafts.

Alongside our expert crew, when it comes to safety we have left no stone unturned. Our equipment includes life jackets, life rafts, fire extinguishing equipment, fire-fighting outfits with breathing apparatus, diving equipment, a comprehensive stock of medicine, an emergency sick bay, EPIRB, an echo sounder, a sextant, one SSB transmitter, two Inmarsat-C terminals, an Iridium Satellite telephone, two VHF transmitters, a number of portable VHF’s and an emergency radio transmitter. The ship has a power supply of 220V AC (50 Hz). The plugs on board are as used on the European continent. In short: We’ve got everything covered.

All of your meals will be provided during the expedition, prepared by an experienced kitchen team who will serve three meals a day. On top of a drinking water capacity of 12.250 litres, the ship also carries a machine with the ability to convert seawater if the situation arises. Food stores will be taken on board at the last possible minute, to ensure maximum freshness before we leave port.

Accommodation

A ship on the open ocean might not be the first thing you associate with a comfortable trip, but the Europa is actually ideal for ocean crossings and longer voyages. There are plenty of places for relaxing, including a library, a lounge, a poker corner, and the deckhouse. These different environments offer something for everyone, whether you want to do your own thing or enjoy the company of others in the deckhouse. In terms of entertainment, the ship is equipped with a DVD player, a CD player with iPod compatibility and radio. Room-wise there are four 2-person cabins, four 4-person cabins, and four 6-person cabins. Each of these cabins has its own en-suite bathroom.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel and the Workshop is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $300 service charge. If you cancel and the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:

Greater than 60 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus $300 fee.

45 days or more: 75% refund

30 days or more: 50% refund

Less than 30 days: no refund

Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made. Refunds will be initiated within 72 hours of the time that the request is approved.

Disclaimer

We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.

The tour is always dependent on weather, as the weather in Antarctica can indeed be highly unpredictable. Likewise, wildlife sightings are completely dependent upon the movement of the animals themselves.

Departure Schedule

This tour is now Sold Out. New dates will be announced in our Newsletter.

Guides

Daniel Kordan

English, Russian

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Renowned landscape photographer, Daniel Kordan, is an explorer at heart. Having realized his passion for photography and traveling at a young age, he now spends his time sharing his vision and the many wonders of the world with people all around him.

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22 Day Antarctica Photography Expedition on Bark Europa

Description

Summary

Description

Included

Map

Attractions

Activities

Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1: All aboard in Ushuaia

Day 2 - Day 2

Day 3 - Days 3-4: Drake Passage

Day 5 - Day 5: Navigating Antarctic Icebergs

Day 6 - Day 6: Barrientos Island

Day 7 - Day 7: Dawn of the White Cliffs

Day 8 - Day 8: Deception Island

Day 9 - Day 9: Trinity Island

Day 10 - Day 10

Day 11 - Day 11: Landing in an Icy Paradise

Day 12 - Day 12: Towards the Argentine Islands

Day 13 - Day 13: The Journey to Petermann Island

Day 14 - Day 14: The Bay of Port Lockroy

Day 15 - Day 15: Dorian Bay

Day 16 - Day 16

Day 17 - Days 17, 18, 19

Day 20 - Day 20: Back to Cape Horn

Day 21 - Day 21: Back to Ushuaia

Day 22 - Day 22: Goodbyes

Life Aboard Our Ship

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Disclaimer

Departure Schedule

Guides

Daniel Kordan

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