For PHOTOGRAPHERS

Photography tours have been our top speciality since 2012, and this trip was carefully selected to ensure it was a "right fit" for photographers—from novices to professionals. Our last two group air-cruises with Antarctica21 in December 2019 & 2021 could not have affirmed this with more conviction.

HOW WE SELECTED THIS TRIP WITH PHOTOGRAPHY IN MIND:

Destination: Does anything really need to be said? Antarctica is a feast....a shangri-la for photographers! Incredible landscapes, stunning wildlife, surprising color, and soft, long-lasting light abound. Photographers can hardly ask for more.
Timing: December is a sweet spot for photographers as wildlife is already booming for summer, but the landscape is still wonderfully pristine from the long austral winter—something particularly evident in all the penguin colonies that aren't yet tarnished by significant snowmelt or excessive amounts of guano.
Small size: With a maximum of 73 passengers onboard, this is one of the smaller operations in Antarctica. And being under 100 is particularly important, as that is maximum number of people Antarctic regulations allow ashore at one time. So, you won't have to wait for your "rotation" to be called up, as those on larger ships must. Smaller = seeing/doing/photographing more in Antarctica.
Expedition Team: Antarctica21 has one of the highest expedition staff-to-passenger ratios in the industry, and the team includes a dedicated photo pro who in addition to producing an excellent trip log provides guidance to interested travelers. Even beyond the official photo pro, we found last December most of the staff themselves were excellent, experienced photographers.
Ship: Beyond its all-around impressiveness, Magellan Explorer has perks like a dedicated space for presentations with the latest A/V (not the passenger lounge like many ships), and 90% of cabins have balconies which can be wonderfully comfortable, protected places to photograph from.
Air-cruise model: Instead of 4 days bouncing in the Drake, our folks can spend that photographing pumas in Torres del Paine...and/or visiting Easter Island...maximizing precious time away from home. For anyone concerned about the flights & weight restrictions: not one of the serious photographers joining us in 2019 had any issue bringing everything with them that they needed, be it camera/lens or clothing. There are limits, but A21 is smart about this.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY-RELATED VALUE FOR OUR GROUP:

Though our folks pay no more than anyone else onboard, our group exclusively gets:

A dedicated trip leader & photo pro that's with you throughout the trip. Our man Temu Nana has led dozens of trips spanning all 7 continents over the course of his career, much of which was spent on small-cruise ships, like the Magellan Explorer. He'll come interested in you, understanding where you are with photography if you've shared with us, and eager to offer one-on-one guidance throughout the trip.
- Check out Temu's bio below (and links to his photography online).
An advocate prioritizing your experience while onboard with other guests. If past trips are an indication, most fellow passengers will come on their own, so our pooled interests as a group, with an effective leader at the helm, in particular will give us priority. Temu will be making sure of that, looking out for you both ashore & onboard, and assisting individually as needed. His photography advice will also only be for our group onboard.
- A particular perk of note: Temu will work with the ship's crew to facilitate photo zodiacs, grouping photographers with shared interests for zodiac cruises.
We'll offer a pre-trip photography webinar / Q&A session to all those interested in our group. In addition to reviewing what to expect while on the trip, go over gear suggestions (both imaging + photography-specific clothing), and challenges of the shooting environment, etc.....we'll also talk about what level of photography you feel comfortable with and what you're looking to learn/practice on the trip.
Everyone will also receive our Photography Guide before the trip, with tips on how to photograph in Antarctica, a primer on shooting conditions, gear suggestions (both imaging and processing), etc.. You'll have everything you need to know long before departing, but if you still have photo-related questions...
Pre-trip access: When you're booked, you'll have access to Temu from the start. So ask away... and he'll be more than happy to answer well before departure.

TRIP LEADER / PHOTO PRO

Temu Nana has been leading educational journeys around the globe for over a decade, and in particular photo tours the past 7 years with Open Sky Expeditions. Beginning primarily as a professional tour manager—given his extensive experience in travel logistics, attention to detail, and a knack for making people feel at ease—Temu’s ambitious international travel schedule quickly accelerated photography from a fun hobby to a profession. And in the process he discovered an aptitude and interest in teaching others how to compose the most compelling images and most effectively use their photo equipment. That he has done so while on tour in countless environments on all 7 continents give him an edge that can’t be learned in a classroom, or even by the most seasoned photo pros that host a trip here and there.

Temu’s photography covers the gamut in styles, but his top passions are wildlife, landscape, and astro/night photography. When he is not half-way across the globe leading intrepid travelers, you'll likely find Temu photographing the night sky at his new home in Utah (via increasingly intricate equipment set-ups that make us scratch our heads...), editing photos, hiking about, or preparing a photo presentation for a variety of audiences both online & in-person. These include schools, camera clubs, companies, and photo education outlets like Unique Photo where he recently offered an online astrophotography mentorship.

The son of an international airline pilot, Temu hails from Michigan, via roots in North America & Asia. He first came under Antarctica’s magic spell 9 years ago while working for an educational travel company, and he couldn't believe how much it had blown him away. He's also now quite experienced with the air-cruise model, after co-leading Open Sky's group with Antarctica21 in December 2019, and then returning on his own with our group in December 2021 aboard Magellan Explorer.

You can find his photography online at:

Personal photography website
Instagram: @tknana_astro (original account, now mainly night sky) | @tknana_photo (newer, general account)

On a final note, to address two questions that may have come up:

If I'm not a serious photographer, or don't even consider myself a "photographer;" is this trip for me?

YES. And we bet you'll derive value from what we offer. We often have spouses/partners/friends of the "photographer in the family" join us and not only do they get all the same incredible experiences, but they often pick up some photo tips along the way, even if only for their smartphones! More over, Antarctica is a perfect destination for non-photogs to join their shutterbug partners because we tend to spread out as a group while onshore, so they can enjoy the areas that interest them most without feeling pressured to stick with a group.

I'm an experienced photographer. Will I benefit from what you're offering?

Those that joined us in Antarctica in 2019, 2021 and 2022 certainly felt so! We had every level of photographer from point-and-shoot hobbyists to award-winning, 600mm-lens-toting, advanced imagers, all of whom returned with stunning images and newfound experiences. Whether you're looking to learn the very basics, or working on getting better focus while shooting flying birds from a moving Zodiac, we've got you covered.

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