Iceland is a wonderland of volcanic landscapes and this was a great place to try out the new Canon EOS 5DS R, which is even superior to the 5DS I shot with earlier in May. This camera is not about pushing the ISO boundaries into the stratosphere, rather it’s about amazing details in the enlargement. The 5DS R offers much more clarity in the shadow and highlight details, a greater dynamic range, in addition to its obvious pixel packing punch in huge installations. I also like the familiar feel and weight of the camera vs. moving away from the 35mm look and feel to a medium or large format type body. This will be a game changer for packing in a camera with this resolution capability to remote locations where gear weight is an issue.
All these photos were taken in Junes over the last eleven years. June is the season of the summer solstice, bright with the longest days of the year. It is an excellent time to travel to the Arctic—or just about anywhere for that matter!
This trip, which ranged from the color riot that is the Holi Festival in Mathura, to the holy waters and ghats along the Ganges in Varanasi, through the beautiful landscapes and tigers of Bandhavgarh and on to colorful desert settings of Rajasthan, was a terrific experience for us both. Art Wolfe magic was a big part that experience. Art is a funny, engaging and kind human being, as well as an excellent, patient teacher of photography. We would join him again in a heartbeat for more photography travel and hope to do so soon!
From Tanzania to Japan, Art has been there this year: geysers in Yellowstone, sea turtle hatchlings on Mnemba Island, voracious seals in Antarctica, exuberant revelers at Holi, and floating Shinto shrines in Japan.
It is exhilarating – the first moment you step off the ship. Suddenly there is nothing between you and Antarctica. Hundreds of miles of land, snow and ice. You get a sense of how early explorers must have felt stepping off into this vast wilderness – the thrill of the unknown: the adrenaline rush of true exploration, adventure and awesome photography.
It is one thing to visit a place but it is another to immerse yourself in it. To not just see the sights but to understand the history, get to know the wildlife and come home with many iconic photos and unforgettable memories.
I am leading this photographic workshop, which offers you the most in-depth exploration and photography of the Antarctic mainland. Extended time in the region allows you to go beyond the Antarctic Peninsula and venture south of the Antarctic Circle, home to fantastic ice formations and wildlife including the Weddell seal.
You’ll enjoy more time communing with penguins and visits to less-frequented landing sites.
Be one of the few to venture to 66 degrees 33.7 minutes South
Visit historic research stations in Marguerite Bay
Witness the abundant Antarctic wildlife, including penguins, seals, whales and more
Experience the Western Peninsula highlights and visit iconic landing sites
Learn about Antarctica’s geology and wildlife from onboard lecturers and specialists
In collaboration with Quark Expeditions, the photography workshop on this expedition is organized by Iconic Images International, Australia, C4 Images & Safaris, South Africa and Art Wolfe, USA.
Last year I traveled extensively with cinematographer Abraham Joffe and the Untitled Films Works crew, filming in East Africa, Papua New Guinea, Alaska and here in Seattle. This work has come to fruition in “Tales By Light” produced by Canon Australia and National Geographic Channel.
Start next year on a high note!