It’s been about a month since I returned from Antarctica. And the first question everyone asks, “What was it like?”. The simple answer is that it is like no other place on the planet. The “getting” there is long and dicey…. overnight to Buenos Aires, change of airports, 3 hour flight to Ushuaia at the southern tip of South America and then, three days across The Drake Passage… considered the most turbulent body of water on earth! But when you do arrive… the landscape is otherworldly! There is a silence that is indescribable. And you find yourself surrounded by this awestruck natural beauty… particularly the color “blue” which came in hues I’d never seen before. Add to that icebergs the size of buildings, glaciers the size of states (some the size of countries!), and wildlife that could only survive in this phenomenal place.
For me, photographically, this place was a challenge as I do not consider myself a landscape, nature or wildlife photographer. But, I was up for the challenge and in doing so, felt that I pushed myself in different directions. In part, this was due to my fellow instructors as well as all 67 participants. Talking, sharing and critiquing work, I think helped all of us move to another level and that is always exciting to see and experience.
My thanks to the organizers of this adventure, Seth Resnick, John Paul Caponigro and Andy Biggs… amazing photographers, teachers and friends who did me the honor of inviting me to join them as a guest instructor along with my buddy, Eric Meola, a great photographer. Eric and I have known each other for years. As roommates on this voyage, Eric and I spent the majority of our time laughing, joking, talking, coughing (avoided seasickness but managed an upper respiratory infection) and photographing non-stop along with the entire group.
The trip of a lifetime? No doubt!
I can only say that I look forward to the next one, because like photography, you never know what surprises you’ll find waiting for you.
View the slide show by clicking here: Journey To Antarctica
Hi Arthur,
I enjoyed your photos from Antarctica very much. I know you don’t consider yourself a landscape or nature photographer, but you could have fooled me! It sounds like a terrific trip. Maybe next time I can join you.
Hope you’re doing well.
Steven
Having had the privilege of shooting side by side with you on a zodiac in Antarctica, I can fully appreciate your eye and artistry as a photographer and maybe more importantly you as a teacher. Thank you, I learned much by your words and images.
Best, John
Hello Arthur,
Very much enjoyed seeing “your” eye of our adventure to Antarctica. It’s amazing how we all see so differently along with our processing interpretation.
Kind regards,
Martyn
As always, Arthur, you did an amazing job with the subject at hand! You didn’t need to be a wildlife or nature photographer; you just needed to see the place through your eyes, and interpret with your vision. The images are lovely!
I just saw this note and wanted to thank you for the kind words Brenda.