I´m going to Antarctica in the next couple of weeks and would like to know if you guys have any tips for me (gear, filters, exposure, shutter speeds, locations, etc)? I´m going to the Brazilian Base, which is located in the Northwestern Islands of Antarctica.
Also, I´m buying a new 77mm filter for my lenses, any idea of what the best brand is? Should I use a warming polarizer in Antarctica?
Thanks
Posted by Kent Staubus on November 29, 2008 at 12:39 PM
I would not use a warming filter. It will color the snow and take away some of the blue from the ice. A Hoya HD polarizer is what I would get. I would also consider getting a Pelican case to put all your camera gear in. It's waterproof.
My wife & I want to go to Antarctica in coming years. What method are you using to get there? What we want to do is be left off on our own for a couple of weeks, hopefully with a sea kayak. We have all the gear we would need for a summer visit, just don't know how to get there for a solo trip. I am assuming it will cost us at least $40,000, but we've been saving for it.
Hi Kent,
I´m actually going to Antarctica to help out with some scientific research, so it´s not really costing me much to get there. I don´t know how you could get there, but maybe you could check with the Chilean companies in Ushuaia about transport. I know they have lots of cruise ships leaving from there, so they might make special arrangements...don´t know really. Good luck and let me know. A trip like yours sound like a dream.
Well, thanks for your tips on the filters. Will check out the Hoya HD filters.
Posted by Don Grall on December 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
I was there in Jan 08. Are you shooting film, or digital (RAW or JPG)? Point and shoot or SLR?
If using film, or shooting digital JPGs, what Kent says is correct. If digital RAW it doesn't matter whether your polarizer is a warming type, since your AWB will correct for it and/or you can adjust your RAW file in AdobeCAmeraRaw to whatever look you want. You will definitely want a polarizer though and some neutral-density graduated filters. I used a Singh-Ray warming polarizer (leftover from my film days) on a digital SLR and had no problem adjusting color balance after the fact.
Kent: good luck with your idea of a private trip using kayaks. You might want to investigate the legalities of camping in Antarctica. I believe you would need a special permit to land anywhere in Antarctica from whichever country is claiming that particular spot. We saw a sailboat from Australia with 4 men aboard, with sea kayaks lashed on deck, at Port Lockroy. I doubt you will find a commercial tour operator willing to drop you off to do a little paddling. Your best bet would be to find a private boat owner who is willing to brave the seas down there. Wind and waves can crop up in literally a matter of minutes from calm foot high swells to 8-10 foot swells with whitecaps whipping in the wind. The water is so cold that rolling a tipped kayak is not an option, I doubt many humans would be able to physically handle the sudden immersion in that water, and survival for a swimmer is estimated at about 15 minutes. To get an idea of what you might have to endure, you may want to try a little paddling on the eastern half of Lake Superior in January on a windy day, then multiply the difficulty by 3 or 4, oh yeah, choose a shoreline with little to no chance of being able to land as well. You will need more than a drysuit, think of a survival suit used on ocean-going commercial fishing vessels.
It is most likely possible, if you had a team of four or five expert paddlers-outdoorsmen-survival experts along. But with only you and your wife, your trip might be shorter than you have envisioned and for all the wrong reasons. You might, instead try what Beatriz is doing, and sign up with a research study, or with a company that runs support for those research stations.
By the way, I'm a whitewater kayaker with 30+ years of Class 4 and 5 experience, including multi-day wilderness river trips in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming and even a week long stint in Ecuador. I would not consider doing a trip like you have proposed. Although you might have a couple of beautiful weather days in a two week period, the majority of days will involve, wind, rain, and snow during any summer visit.
Discussion
3 repliesAlso, I´m buying a new 77mm filter for my lenses, any idea of what the best brand is? Should I use a warming polarizer in Antarctica?
Thanks
My wife & I want to go to Antarctica in coming years. What method are you using to get there? What we want to do is be left off on our own for a couple of weeks, hopefully with a sea kayak. We have all the gear we would need for a summer visit, just don't know how to get there for a solo trip. I am assuming it will cost us at least $40,000, but we've been saving for it.
Kent in SD
I´m actually going to Antarctica to help out with some scientific research, so it´s not really costing me much to get there. I don´t know how you could get there, but maybe you could check with the Chilean companies in Ushuaia about transport. I know they have lots of cruise ships leaving from there, so they might make special arrangements...don´t know really. Good luck and let me know. A trip like yours sound like a dream.
Well, thanks for your tips on the filters. Will check out the Hoya HD filters.
If using film, or shooting digital JPGs, what Kent says is correct. If digital RAW it doesn't matter whether your polarizer is a warming type, since your AWB will correct for it and/or you can adjust your RAW file in AdobeCAmeraRaw to whatever look you want. You will definitely want a polarizer though and some neutral-density graduated filters. I used a Singh-Ray warming polarizer (leftover from my film days) on a digital SLR and had no problem adjusting color balance after the fact.
Kent: good luck with your idea of a private trip using kayaks. You might want to investigate the legalities of camping in Antarctica. I believe you would need a special permit to land anywhere in Antarctica from whichever country is claiming that particular spot. We saw a sailboat from Australia with 4 men aboard, with sea kayaks lashed on deck, at Port Lockroy. I doubt you will find a commercial tour operator willing to drop you off to do a little paddling. Your best bet would be to find a private boat owner who is willing to brave the seas down there. Wind and waves can crop up in literally a matter of minutes from calm foot high swells to 8-10 foot swells with whitecaps whipping in the wind. The water is so cold that rolling a tipped kayak is not an option, I doubt many humans would be able to physically handle the sudden immersion in that water, and survival for a swimmer is estimated at about 15 minutes. To get an idea of what you might have to endure, you may want to try a little paddling on the eastern half of Lake Superior in January on a windy day, then multiply the difficulty by 3 or 4, oh yeah, choose a shoreline with little to no chance of being able to land as well. You will need more than a drysuit, think of a survival suit used on ocean-going commercial fishing vessels.
It is most likely possible, if you had a team of four or five expert paddlers-outdoorsmen-survival experts along. But with only you and your wife, your trip might be shorter than you have envisioned and for all the wrong reasons. You might, instead try what Beatriz is doing, and sign up with a research study, or with a company that runs support for those research stations.
By the way, I'm a whitewater kayaker with 30+ years of Class 4 and 5 experience, including multi-day wilderness river trips in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming and even a week long stint in Ecuador. I would not consider doing a trip like you have proposed. Although you might have a couple of beautiful weather days in a two week period, the majority of days will involve, wind, rain, and snow during any summer visit.