ANTARCTICA
PHOTO EXPEDITION.
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COMING SOON 2025.
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Spots fill up fast: Please tell me why do you want to join my workshop? Please answer where you are at with your photography and what do you want to learn. Please also tell me your Instagram Account, and your website, if you have one.
CHECK OUT PAST ANTARCTICA WORKSHOP ITINERARY BELOW
Duration of the Tour: 13 days / 12 nights
Duration of the Expedition: 12 days / 11 nights
Language: English speaking voyage
Spots available: 20
12-day photography learning adventure in Antarctica taught by @charlysavely and @joe_shutter.
Antarctica is the last human discovered continent. Throughout history it has seduced the spirits of explorers and entrepreneurs. It has infused those few lucky enough to have been there with a passion beyond the understanding of those who have never seen the “White Continent”. Wild and unpredictable, Antarctica is surrounded by fierce seas and has a unique and almost impenetrable geography. Massive glaciers, snow-covered mountains, towering icebergs, amazing wildlife encounters with penguins, whales, and seals are just some of the unique experiences this photo expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula can offer.
Want to join us? Keep scrolling…
ANTARCTICA
THE WILDEST PLACE ON EARTH.
OUR SHIP.
Hondius is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, meeting the latest and highest Lloyd’s Register standards for ice-strengthened cruise ships. Surpassing the requirements of the Polar Code adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Hondius represents the most flexible, advanced, innovative touring vessel in the polar regions, thoroughly optimized for exploratory voyages that provide you the utmost first-hand contact with the Arctic and Antarctica.
THE SHOTS
YOU CAME OUT TO GET.
Coming straight out of Alaska, Charly is British Photographer that has been blazing her way through the world of photography and social media for over a decade. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Photography at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She now focuses on travel and wildlife photography, while shooting for top clients. She’s passionate about the Arctic regions and minimalist moments. She loves hiking, tattoos, toast, and is a proud dog mum.
A Londoner born-and-raised, one glorious day some time ago, Joe traded in the city life for Iceland: a life of multi-directional wind and rain, long blue light, midnight sun, highlands, mountains, glaciers, canyons and volcanoes.
Joe has been leading workshops and expeditions in Iceland and in the Arctic for over 5 years and he is most passionate about helping those who love what they do excel in their craft, day-to-day. For Joe, imbuing a sense of humility and respect for the natural world in which we are often fleeting visitors is one of the biggest impacts we can strive towards. If we can laugh along the way, so much the better!
NEED-TO-KNOW.
Dates: February 10 - 22, 2023
Price: Cabins start at $9,180 USD
Spots: a minimum of 10 students needed
The trip will be booked through The Polar Travel Company and you may contact them here: info@thepolartravelcompany.com
Reference @charlysavely and or @joe_shutter in email subject line.
BRIEF ITINERARY.
10 FEBRUARY 2023 Welcome at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Group meeting in the evening.
11 FEBRUARY 2023 Drop off luggage to be taken to the ship at the luggage point and free time. Embarkation in the afternoon (16:00hs) directly on the pier.
From 11 FEBRUARY to 22 FEBRUARY 2023 cruise to wonderful Antarctica
22 FEBRUARY 2023 Disembarkation after breakfast (transfer to the airport at disembarkation for those flying out the same day).
PLEASE NOTE All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. The on-board expedition leader will determine the final itinerary. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.
EXPEDITION ITINERARY.
This cruise will take you further deep into Antarctica, exploring the Weddell Sea. This expedition cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Anchoring in various spots around the region, the expedition offers to explore part of the Erebus and Terror Gulf.
DAY 1 END OF THE WORLD, START OF A JOURNEY.
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
DAY 2 - 3 PATH OF THE POLAR EXPLORERS.
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
DAY 4 BROWN BLUFF, MADDER CLIFFS AND NESTING PENGUINS.
This morning it is hoped to land at Brown Bluff with its impressive scenery and nesting Adelie penguins. In the afternoon, we head across the Antarctic Sound to Kinnes Cove for a landing, where you can see the nearby Madder Cliffs with their subtle red coloration as well as nearby gentoo penguins.
DAY 5 ANTARCTIC SOUND ISLANDS AND HISTORY.
Today you explore the southern end of the Antarctic Sound, including the islands of Jonassen, Andersson, and Rosamel, depending on conditions. In the afternoon, you head to Paulet Island, where an historic hut remains from the 1903 Swedish Antarctic Expedition of Otto Nordenskiöld. This hut enabled the team, whose ship had been crushed in sea ice, to survive until they were rescued.
DAY 6 PANORAMA FROM DEVIL ISLAND.
The aim is to spend the day on and around Devil Island, an impressive landing site that gives us the chance to ascend the summit and take in breathtaking views of Erebus and Terror Gulf, as well as our ship anchored in the bay below.
DAY 7 THE MARVELS OF JAMES ROSS ISLAND.
Today you can explore the area of Herbert Sound, named after the great explorer Sir Wally Herbert. You will focus our attention on the area of the Naze Peninsula and Comb Ridge on James Ross Island.
DAY 8 EXPLORING REMOTE ISLANDS.
You sail as close as the ice allows to the northwest area of Erebus and Terror Gulf, where the Beak and Eagle islands awaits you. As with other islands in this group, they are volcanic in origin. Beak island has two freshwater lakes that are home to unique ecosystems, and Eagle Island offers spectacular scenery. It is most famous for being the hottest place in Antarctica during a heatwave that melted 20% of the island’s snow and ice in 2020.
DAY 9 CRATERS AND ABANDONED WHALING STATIONS.
The next plan is to visit Deception Island. Actually a subducted crater, this island opens into the sea and creates a natural harbor for the ship. An abandoned whaling station, and multiple bird species – cape petrels, kelp gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns – can be seen here. Wilson’s storm petrels and black-bellied storm petrels also nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.
DAY 10 - 11 FAMILIAR SEAS, FAMILIAR FRIENDS.
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, we are again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
DAY 12 THERE AND BACK AGAIN.
Every adventure, no matter how great, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia with memories that will accompany you wherever your next journey leads.
SOME QUESTIONS, ANSWERED.
WHAT LEVEL OF PHOTOGRAPHY DO WE REQUIRE?
We welcome all levels of photography expertise. What we want to see is that you love photography, want to learn more, push yourself, take it to the next level, and take in the atmosphere and experience of working with other creatives in an epic context.
WHAT WILL WE TEACH AND WHO IS THE WORKSHOP BEST FOR?
We will be teaching landscape / travel / lifestyle / wildlife and portrait photography as appropriate throughout the trip. We love to teach post editing in Lightroom and Photoshop. In addition, freelance business practices and how to grow your social media. Since we teach such a wide range of subjects, this workshop is best suited for beginners and intermediate photographers who would like to learn more and navigate through all these styles of photography.
HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
You will be traveling to a remote destination with not access to complex medical facilities; you should not join this type of expedition if you are suffering from a life-threatening condition. This type of voyages requires independent mobility to negotiate: stairs on a moving ship, steep gangways to board Zodiacs, and rough uneven and slippery terrain. If you have difficulty walking or you need an assistance device to walk around, this type of expeditions may not be for you. Please drop us an email to discuss your situation with us and we will provide you with our best advice.
SHOULD I BRING A DRONE?
Definitely not. IAATO has banned the use of recreational drones and Oceanwide does not allow the use of drones during their trips.
HOW MUCH CAMERA GEAR CAN I BRING?
Bring what you have. In general, consider bringing a range of focal lengths: wide-angle (ex: 24mm), standard (ex: 50mm), and a telephoto (ex: 85mm or above). Having said that, a large part of the workshop will be about making the most out of the equipment that you already have!
DSLR recommended
Suggested: Remote Trigger, Neutral Density Filter (5/10 stop), Polarizer, Batteries and Memory Cards, Tripod
WHAT AND WHERE WILL WE EAT?
All meals are provided throughout the voyage while we are aboard the ship, including snacks, coffee and tea.
I’M A VEGETARIAN / VEGA / HAVE ALLERGIES, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Let us know! It won’t be a problem at all, but it is something that we need to know in advance.
HOW WILL THE WEATHER BE?
This is the region, which has the warmer and also wetter climate in Antarctica. Precipitations vary in a range around 1000 millimeters per year; and in the summer months you can experience temperatures from -2 ºC (28,4 ºF) to +5 ºC (41 ºF). On your voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula you can expect at least some rain or snow on occasion. The days tend to be cloudy, but the Sun can come out as well, as the weather tends to change a lot. You can also expect some wind on occasions.
HOW TO DRESS.
The choice of clothing for cold climates is a very personal matter. It depends on your individual experience with cold conditions.
Are you more susceptible to cold temperatures than other people?
A common complaint is not the cold, it’s the wind, but an equally common polar maxim is there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing! The secret to keeping warm is to dress in layers. It is better to have several light layers of clothing than one heavy layer. This also gives you flexibility in your clothing so you can take off a layer if you are too warm or put another layer on if you are cold. The most important layer is the outer waterproof and windproof shell because even a light wind of 6 kph (about 4 mph) can carry away eight times more body heat than still air! The so-called wind chill factor measures the increase in cooling power of moving air, whether it is wind that is blowing or it is you who is moving rapidly and, in effect, creating a wind against yourself.
We recommend dressing in layers so you can put on or take off clothing anytime you need it.
Long thermal underwear, a thermal shirt, pants, and thermal socks are important.
Bring a fleece or two (this is very personal) to put over the thermal layer.
As per the outer layer, it is very important to bring waterproof clothing.
WATERPROOF GEAR.
Waterproof jacket (some ships provide this)
Waterproof trousers
Waterproof gloves or mittens (two pairs to rotate when wet would be ideal)
Rubber boots
Pull-on, unlined, knee-high boots are required for wet landings. Boots must be 14”-16” high with strong, rubber-ridge, non-skid soles. These specifications are very important. You may be stepping into water up to 10” deep on wet landings. Moon or leather boots are NOT appropriate.
OTHER LAYERS.
Hat, scarf, or other face protection
Fleece or sweaters
Thermal socks (at least two pairs to rotate when wet)
Warm pants
Thermal or long underwear
Lightweight shirts and T-shirts
Comfortable and casual clothing to wear on board.
OTHER GEAR.
Sunscreen and lip protection (It is recommended high protection)
Sunglasses
Binoculars
Plastic zip-lock bags will protect your camera and binoculars from wave splash and spray while in Zodiacs
Backpack (ideal to bring extra layer ashore, water, binos, camera, etc).
TIPS TO STAY WARM.
Avoid overdressing to reduce perspiration.
Wear water repellent outer garments that will keep you dry on the outside and still allow moisture from your body to escape.
Body heat is most likely to be lost from parts that have a lot of surface area in comparison to total mass – namely, the hands and feet. Keep them warm and dry. For hands, mittens are better than gloves.
If you have cold feet, put a hat on. If the rest of your body is covered, as much as 90 percent of the heat you lose can come from your head, so be sure to wear a cap, beanie or balaclava. These items can be pulled down to protect your ears, forehead, neck and chin. The neck also needs protection with a woolen or synthetic scarf, that can be wrapped around the face when travelling against the wind.
Dress in comfortable, loose layers. For anyone out in the cold, it is far better to wear layers of relatively light, loose clothing than one thick, heavy item. Between each layer there is a film of trapped air which, when heated by your body, acts as an excellent insulator.
Wool and silk are superior to cotton because they can trap warm air. Synthetic fabrics that spring back into shape after compression are also good. When damp or wet, polyester down is a better insulator than goose or duck down. Polar fleece is popular and recommended.
APPLY TO OUR EXPEDITION.
Our Antarctica Photo Expedition is open to 10 minimum – 20 maximum photography enthusiasts. We will focus on capturing the immense landscapes and wildlife as well as dramatic, situational portraiture that surrounds us in here in these remarkable locations.
We will be providing a very small group experience. With two instructors, our ratio of 1:2 is very low. This means that we will be able to focus our attention and expertise on technique and locations, thereby making sure that our participants get the right shots.
SECURE YOUR SPOT NOW.
Spots fill up fast: Please tell us why do you want to join our workshop? Please answer where you are at with your photography and what do you want to learn? Please also tell us your Instagram Account, and your website, if you have one.