For PHOTOGRAPHERS

HOW WE SELECTED THIS TRIP WITH PHOTOGRAPHY IN MIND: 

• Destination: "Meccas for wildlife" ... "the Galapagos of the South Atlantic" ... the largest king penguin colony on the planet... We've been in the "educational expedition travel niche" for a long time (Alex since 2004, Temu since 2008), and it has always felt that only the lucky ones get to these special islands, particularly South Georgia. We've never heard Expedition Staff describe any other places with as much wonder & awe. It's always superlatives. 

• Timing: Spring is ideal in so many ways. You can read more about why on this page (see "ideal timing" section), but to at least give a quick overview here:

  • There are far fewer visitors than later in the season.

  • Landing sites are more pristine & photogenic.

  • Wildlife is booming (read here for more details), and especially in South Georgia there's more access to it (many sites actually close there in the summer).

  • The Falklands are half as rainy as they are in the summer, and the light is South Georgia in the spring is known to be especially dramatic. 

• Small size: Large cruise ships are not allowed to visit South Georgia, and at most landing sites the maximum number of people allowed ashore at the time is 100. Magellan Explorer has exactly that # as its upward limit of passengers. . So, even by comparison with vessels twice the size that are still allowed to visit, 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 Faklands & South Georgia. 

• 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.

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 (a ship he already knows and has worked on). 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.

• 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 wildlife/in the sub-Antarctic region, 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.