7 Important Tips For Photography In Antarctica
Going down to Antarctica on a photography trip or just to get away on vacation is no easy task. Factor in the cost, time it takes to get there, and availability of travel options, Antarctica can be quite a challenge for even the most seasoned traveler. No other place on earth is quite like Antarctica for its breathtaking scenery and abundance of marine life. Nothing can prepare you for the emotional beauty the southernmost continent beholds. What this guide is designed to do is prepare you to come home with memory cards full of great images instead of only memories as Antarctica can be quite a challenging destination for photographers of every skill level.
BRING BACKUP
One thing you can absolutely count on is not being able to go to the store to have your camera fixed if it fails or have your family send you extra memory cards. Some of the high-end cruise lines may have extra memory cards for sale in their shop but be prepared to spend twice what they are worth. If you can afford it, bring two camera bodies. This is best practice in most locations but here it’s almost essential. Even the best cameras ever made can fail and accidents happen. Phones take better pictures today than ever before but really consider this your 3rd camera.
BRING EXTRA STORAGE
These first two tips are high up on my list for a reason. They will save you a lot of heartache in the end if something goes wrong. Today’s top cameras can eat up a lot of memory on your cards shooting RAW files and video. Unless you’re the most disciplined photographer of all time you will take A LOT of photos in Antarctica. My honest recommendation for any serious photographer is to have at least 1 Terabyte of storage separated by a minimum of 4 different memory cards. Two for each camera. Bring a minimum of 4 Terabytes separated between two different external harddrives. Transfer every photo off your cards to these harddrives every night before bed. One as the main storage of the files. The other as a backup. There is no access to the cloud in Antarctica. 4 SD 256GB memory cards should be perfect.
PROTECT YOUR GEAR
Antarctica can turn on you fast. One moment you’re snapping photos of cute little penguin chicks the next you’re holding onto your Zodiac for dear life getting back to the ship in a windstorm. A waterproof camera bag is great for absorbing those salty splashes heading toward shore. Keep a minimum or 2 lens cloths with you to clean spray off your lens while out patrolling for whales or cruising through the icefields. An added layer of protection from the elements is a quick cover you can throw over your camera and lens yet still allows functionality is a covering from LensCoat.
SHOW CONTEXT IN YOUR COMPOSITION
What I mean by this is, you are going to see whales. Lots of them. You’re most likely going to see a lot of the iconic whale tale up in the air before it dives deep. Try to capture it with other interesting elements to help strengthen your composition. Get creative and be ok with missing a shot or two attempting to get something different than a shot from high up on the deck that is the same as the 25 other people who saw it. All 25 will have a whale tale surrounded by water instead of one with the mountains behind it or a gigantic iceberg.
GO LOW WITH WILDLIFE IMAGES IN ANTARCTICA
While walking around a penguin colony you will quickly find yourself surrounded by adorable curious 2 foot tall little penguins. Try to find a way to get down to their level without getting too much of the colored snow on your pants. This lower vantage point will make a more intimate connection with your subject and make them feel larger than life. This works well with all species of Antarctic seal as well.
( The emotions of Antarctica — Limited Edition Fine Art Print of 100 )
BRING A TRIPOD
Most Antarctic photography tip guides will advise against bringing a tripod. They are correct 95% of the time. The key reasons they advise against them are valid. Here are their reasons why not to bring a tripod :
- Bulky and impossible to use on a zodiac
- Most images will be taken in bright light
- Some are heavy and can be inconvenient when performing landings
- Won’t help you when the ship is moving too
Here are my reasons for bringing a tripod depending on the type of expedition you’re on :
- If you plan on using any kind of large telephoto lens. They are heavy and hard to shoot handheld.
- When shooting any kind of video. Nothing makes your friends at home more seasick than actually crossing the Drake Passage than watching your shaky penguin videos.
- Photographing a potential sunset from land. If you are brave enough to camp overnight on land you could witness a gorgeous low light sunset. One like you have never experienced in your life.
LEARN HOW TO USE A POLARIZING FILTER FOR ANTARCTICA
As the saying goes down there, “people go to Antarctica for the wildlife but return for the ice”. A polarizing filter allows you to draw the deep hypnotic blue colors your eyes see in the ice out in your photographs. Polarizing filters draw deep blue colors out of the sky and ice, suppress glare, reduce haze, help manage reflections from the water and allow for more vivid colors. Practice at home before you go. Learning how this very helpful tool works will vastly help your images in Antarctica.
Now you have my 7 key tips for photography in Antarctica, get out there and start practicing with your camera. I personally hate the term “trip of a lifetime” because in a way they all are. Antarctica is special though. Nothing will prepare you for how it will change you but at least with this guide you’ll have some pretty incredible images to take home to share with family and friends.
Bonus Frequently Asked Questions Answered –
What special photography gear will I need in Antarctica?
A remote control would be useful if you want to allow penguins to approach your camera for closeups. A graduated ND filter would help even your exposures out from the bright snow covered mountains and the dark seas.
Should I bring a dry bag to Antarctica?
Yes. Yes and ABSOLUTELY YES. If you have expensive camera gear the only sure way to protect it is with a dry bag.
What camera lens should I bring to Antarctica?
Telephoto lenses are useful but really no more than a 300mm with extenders. In general, most of the wildlife is pretty close. Something in the 24–70mm range. I found very little use for anything wider than 24mm for a single exposure but found myself shooting panoramics attempting to capture the scale.
How many camera batteries should I bring to Antarctica?
I recommend a minimum of 3 per camera. Yes you can charge them on the ship but if the weather gets really cold they may drain fast while out shooting. Always keep one in an inside jacket pocket to keep it warm and charged.
What kind of camera should I bring to Antarctica?
Joking aside, the one you know how you use. I say that because it’s so true. Bring a few skills like understanding exposure, composition and autofocus. If you have a strong understanding of these principles your photography will greatly improve no matter what camera you have.