South Georgia and Antarctica 2016 – Attendee Information Page

 Updated November 1, 2016

This Page Is Your Resource . . .

Welcome to the private web page for the 2016 South Georgia – Antarctica Photography Workshop Adventure.  I want to welcome you and thank you for being part of our adventure. I have been to S. Georgia and Antarctica many times and when people ask me where my favorite place to photograph is, the answer is always Antarctica.  There is something about this wonderful place that has been a life changing experience for every visit I have made.

In January 2015 I was married there at a most incredible beach wedding.  I am happy to say that my wife enjoyed Antarctica so much that she is returning with me on this trip.

We have a team of amazing instructors who will be there to guide you and help you capture the beauty of the many places we will visit.  We are visiting places where you’ll shoot more than you ever thought was possible and pretty much wherever you point your camera you’ll end up with a nice image.

This page will be your one-stop for information about our upcoming trips.  We will periodically be adding to this page with new information and updates.  The latest topics will always be at the top.  We will also email you with updates and links back to this page so you can stay up to date with the latest information regarding our trip.  Some of the updates to appear on this page will be videos.  We will cover everything from the kind of cameras to take, how to pack and transport your cameras, as well as how to shoot in the environment we will be in.  We’ll cover also packing and clothing tips as well as links to our favorite vendors for gear and clothes. Plus, we’ll give you some insight on what to expect on your way to S. Georgia and Antarctica and how everything will work as far as logistics.

So for the next several months this will be your go to page.  Look for email updates that will direct you to this page when things are updated. If you have any questions then please send them to me at kwr@luminous-landscape.com  I’ll either reply back individually or most likely post them on this page for everyone to benefit from.

At anytime if you have questions please feel free to contact me at kwr@luminous-landscape.com or call +1 317-379-7482

Letter to All Passenger – Just In Case You Missed it

Hello Fellow Explorer

Are you excited?  I am! I have been to Antarctica many times and a few times to South Georgia.  Each time though I get excited and look forward to new experiences.  Each trip I have made to the Antarctica region has had a life altering moment.  It changes you and makes you wan to visit time and time again.  I am very happy and privileged to be sharing this trip with you. 

I am traveling with my wife Debra and we both look forward to meeting you.  Last year we got married on a beach in Antarctica so this place holds something special in our hearts.  We will be aboard one of the best ships to explore S. Georgia and Antarctica.  Not too big and not to small, just right is how I would describe the Ocean Nova.  The crew is the best and every year I come back to the ship the same crew if there.  They are like a big family and they are some of the happiest people I have met.  You’ll love them and they will do their best to make sure you have a memorable trip.

The expedition team we have on this trip is the best there is.  Once again they are the same group I have worked with before.  All of them love doing the Luminous-Landscape trip so much they sign up immediately when they hear we are doing a trip.  This is the kind of trip they love.  Unlike a trip where it’s mostly tourists a trip dedicated to photography like this one is what they like.  They will work long days and not complain.  You’ll be photographing long day and you won’t sleep sometimes.  Bottom line is you are going to experience and photograph things very few people ever get the chance to do. 

By now you should have all the information you need.  You will have filled out forms and are prepared for travel to Argentina.  I arrive on the 7th and will be visiting with the instructors on the 8th.  We will all meet the afternoon of the 9th for a dinner and first orientation.  Your bags will be transported to the ship on the morning of the 10th and we’ll all go into the town to relax and wander around before heading to the pier mid-afternoon to board the ship.  We’ll explain everything on the 9th. 

Please keep checking the private web page for updates over the coming days.  The link is https://luminous-landscape.com/south-georgia-antarctica-2016-attendee-information-page/     This page is the best place to find out all sorts of information.  Please review it again to make sure you have gotten all the information on it.

I want to stress the importance of being prepared for sea sickness.  We will start the journey with three days at sea.  It’s a long way to S. Georgia but well worth the time it takes to get there.  The seas even in a mild swell can be difficult for some people.  But, if you properly medicate you should be OK.  I have been fortunate that I have never had sea sickness but none the less I take precautions and use the patch.  It makes my mouth dry and makes me feel a bit weird but I am not sick and I can function without any issues. 

In rough seas it can be hard to get around the ship.  It’s a new experience to walk around when the floors are tilting and swaying.  You’ll always want to have one hand for holding onto a rail.  You need to be careful and take your time and you’ll be OK.  It’s part of the adventure and you’ll have lots to share when you get home. 

Normally once I am onboard I unpack and set the cabin up.  I then take a walk around the ship until the first briefing.  Your bags will be in your cabin waiting for you when you board.  You’ll have a day in town to enjoy last minute shopping, a nice lunch and some photography.  If you look there is some cool stuff to shoot in Ushuaia.  There’s a great wine store in town and you may want to pick up up a bottle of wine or two. 

Adrian our bar tender onboard is a lovely guy and always has a big smile and makes some excellent drinks.  We’ll enjoy happy hour every night usually with a debriefing of our day and what to look forward to the next day.  The observation lounge is a great place to gather.  You’ll work on your images here, and this is where we will do the lectures.  I have my own chair and spot as I explained in the video and I set my gear up ready for action here.  The instructors and I are available to help you select and work on your images at anytime. 

If you prefer quiet time there is another lounge at the back of the ship with a library, coffee machine and computer.  You’ll figure things out pretty quickly. 

Please note my cell phone and email address

+1-317-379-7482

kwr@luminous-landscape.com

If you have any questions or last minute changes please get in touch with me.

You’ll need to get to the hotel on your own after you land in Ushuaia. There should be taxis available and it  is just a short ride.  The Hotel is Costa de los Yámanas 2850, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.  http://www.hotelyamanas.com.ar/esp/home.htm .  You should see announcements posted on the 9th for times and locations in the hotel for our boot fitting and dinner. 

In case you are interested I will be shooting with a Fuji XT-2 and X Pro 2 on this trip.  I’ll have a 10-24, 16-55, 40-150, 100-400 lenses.  I’ll also have a Hasselblad X1D that I will be testing.  My wife Debra will be shooting with the Olympus OMD Pen F, EM 1 and M 5II.  She has a 5 lens set up that will give her coverage from 16mm – 600mm  or longer with the tele-extender.  We’ll both be using Apple Mac Laptops with external drives. 

We have a number of at sea days.  The first three days are at sea travel.  These are good days to relax, read or work on images.  We’ll have several lectures during the day to help keep time slots filled.  There may be opportunities to photograph birds following the ship.  We’ll have to see.  Once we get to S. Georgia Island we will be very busy with zodiac cruises, landings and ship cruises.  There is a lot to see and it is a special place.  When we leave S. Georgia we will have another two days at sea to reach the Peninsula.  This leg of the trip may give some opportunity to photography tabular icebergs.  Some of these can be quite amazing.  One we get to the peninsula we will be doing numerous excursions and cruises.  It all is weather dependent and Mariano and I will be making decisions based on weather and light.   At the end of the trip we have just about 2 days to cross the famous Drake.  You will earn your bragging rights on this part of the trip. 

As far as weather you can expect just about anything.  I have been on this trip before and we had a full blizzard for a few hours, clouds, sun and wind.  In this part of the world you can have all of that in a matter of hours.  So be prepared for whatever mother nature throws at us.  No matter what the weather it will amazing.

So, in closing I have to admit I am excited.  Not only to get the trip underway but to meet you and share this amazing part of the planet with you.  Please travel safe. 

Best regards,

Kevin Raber

Suitcases – Duffles – Packing – Things To Bring

I’m sure you are at the same point I am right now and that is gathering the things you are going to take to Antarctica.  First, remember you can do laundry on the ship.  So, you don’t have to bring three weeks of clothes.  Toiletries are easy but you need to bring what you need for 20 days.  I bring my own shampoo and conditioner.  The ship has kind of an all purpose type that is available in the shower.  Good for body wash but not hair, in my own opinion.  Each cabin has a hair dryer so you won’t need one of those.  You will not need hiking boots.  I will have the shoes on my feet plus a slip on type for on board the ship.  Non-slip would be good so when you are on wet decks you don’t slip and fall.

In twin cabins, there is a berth that is an upper bunk that is folded up when you arrive.  I usually pull it down and use that bunk as a staging area.  I keep my hat, gloves and jacket ready for a quick exit to deck in case there is a whale sighting or a big iceberg.  I also stage my cameras on this bunk for easy access.  WARNING – while we are at sea and especially if we have heavy seas you will not want anything on this bunk as it could fall or roll off.  I don’t even leave my computer on the desk in heavy sea conditions.

Getting your things there.  Suitcase or duffles?  I use a duffle on wheels.  Specifically, I use the Osprey big duffle.   This is one of the best duffles I have found next to the Club Glove duffles .  I don’t like suitcases but I know many of you do.  The duffles once unloaded fit under the berth and many suitcases don’t.  There is limited storage in the cabins so you want to take that into consideration.  Also, you should keep the weight of your luggage under 50 pounds if possible.  You want to avoid any issues with the S. America airlines.  Most US airlines will be OK up to 50 pounds.

There is a closet with shelves in your cabin and I usually unpack and store things on the shelf and hang jackets and vests.  There are also hook for hanging water proof pants, life preserver etc.  I pack many of my clothes into clothes or packing bags.  I use the kind where you can seal and end and then roll all the air out of them.  It protects the clothes as well as leaves more room in a suitcase.  You can get these at Bed Bath & Beyond.  All pretty simple stuff.  I also suggest wire ties to secure zippers on your bags.  I pack a cutter in one of the outside pockets of the duffle.

Meet Our Expedition Leader

Next to the captain of the Ocean Nove the next most important person as far as we are concerned is the Expedition Leader.  This person along with his team will make sure we get to the best location at the best light.  Antarctica XXI has some great Expedition Leaders and I have been fortunate to work with a number of them.  This year’s leaders is someone who I have worked with before and he embraces Antarctica, as well just about anything outdoors.  He lives a life of adventure and shares it with great knowledge and passion.  He always has a smile on his face and he will be a big part of this trip.

His team is second to none in this business.  They will be with us for meals, lectures and all things we do.  I have worked with this team before and I am excited to have them with us again, especially on a  journey like we are about to embark.  You’ll meet all of them as part of our first briefing.  By the end of the trip, these folks will be our good friends.  The collective knowledge of this group as well as the instructors is unlike anything you’ll ever experience.

Please Meet Mariano

Hello fellow expedition photographers,

I trust you are all ready, gear is checked & set, and spirits are high for our upcoming South Georgia – Antarctica adventure.

My name is Mariano Curiel, I will be your expedition leader, and together with my outstanding expedition team we want to make sure that this experience will be out of the ordinary and simply fantastic!

South Georgia Island is the jewel of the Southern Ocean, always an expedition staff favorite  Wildlife blasts on the shores as the dramatic landscapes entangle with the mutating clouds. I have been to the Island more than 20 voyages since the year 2003 at age 22, when I discovered that one of my grandfathers was a whaler (and photographer) at Grytviken in the 40´s.

But please let me share with you more about the expedition team, I have to say that we managed to put together the best of the best for this voyage (it was easy, everyone in Antarctica XXI wanted to part of it). 

As we sail south we will listen and learn from my dear friend Nigel Milius while he takes us through Sir E. Shackleton´s path with his unique Manchester/Kiwi accent that many of you will recall. As my right hand I will count with another great friend, scientist & expedition leader who has spent two years living on South Georgia studying marine resources before, his name is Jamie Watts.

Three of the five designated zodiac drivers are Antarctica XXI´s expedition leaders during the remaining voyages through the season, Ben Jackson, Mike Hann and Morten Jorgensen. The other two drivers are our beautiful (and strong!) Pernille Soegard, and an always Luminous-Landscape favorite Russian photographer “do it all” Ruslan Eliseev. Guiding on shore and assisting on board will be Rodrigo Moraga and Cristina Trugeda, a lovely couple and well known Chilean photographic guides, and Sarah Merusi making sure your experience on board fulfills your expectations.

South Georgia is not South Georgia if we avoid mentioning the great albatrosses, and the immense king penguin rookeries that dominate the scene. For that, we have our bird’s specialist, Australian Graeme Snow (or Snowy), who will be undertaking his 28^th Antarctic season. Snowy is part of the lecturing team together with Nigel, Jamie and Mike.

To close the circle an incredibly talented artist, Nozomi Takeyabu, who will be helping us with the souvenir shop. And always the gorgeous always smiling Ocean Nova crew!

South Georgia and Antarctica are some of the last wilderness areas on earth, therefore we need to understand that nature rules and respect it (nature is always right). The success of this voyage is in our hands, yours and ours, working together we will achieve our primary goal that is to make this spectacular expedition an experience that you will never forget. 

On behalf of the expedition team, I would like to say that we are all very excited and looking forward to another great exploration journey with Luminous-Landscape, in the search of the greatest light of South Georgia Island and Antarctica!

Looking forward to meeting you all soon,

Mariano

Please Check Back Often

Over the next week I’ll be sharing more information that may help you.  I’ll show you the gear I am taking as well as what I am packing.  My advice is don’t over prepare and weigh yourself down.  Follow the guidelines here and on the link Antarctica XXI sent you.  You’ll be fine and enjoy your trip a lot.

Cabins

Your cabin is serviced twice a day.  Fresh towels, bed making and turn down are standard for each day.  The hotel staff on board has been there a long time.  I have become friends with many of them.  They will be happy to accommodate you any way they can.

Hair Dryer

Each cabin will have a hair dryer.

Shampoo and Conditioner

I suggest that you bring your own Shampoo and Conditioner as the ships has a generic one kind does all dispenser in the shower.

Laundry

The Ocean Nova is like a hotel and like all good hotels the ship has laundry service.  In your cabin, you’ll find laundry bags and a laundry ticket.  Put your laundry in the bag and fill out the ticket and in 12 hours or so your laundry will be returned to your room.  The charges will be added to your shipboard account.  Normally I only travel with a few days of clothes and use the laundry service thus keeping the size of my duffle to a smaller size, not that it isn’t bigger than it should be.

Tipping

I have had a few question about tipping on the ship.  Tips are expected by the crew and the expedition team.  Towards the end of the trip you’ll receive information on tipping. The information will suggest tipping amounts.  Envelopes will be provided if you want to pay with cash.  You can also pay with a credit card on your ship account.  No need to do anything until the end of the trip and it will be all explained for you.

Ship Board Accounts

On board the ship you’ll have your own account.  This account will be used for extras like laundry, bar bills, wine, internet etc..  You’ll do just as you do in a hotel and leave a credit card and at the end of the trip your account will be settled to this card or another if you wish.  We’ll explain all of this in detail once you are aboard.

Internet and Email

Hopefully, we can all forget the internet and email for a while and enjoy our adventure to the remarkable part of the world we are visiting.  However, you may wish to have an email account.  Internet is positively outrageous so I won’t even recommend that.   What I normally do is sign up for an email account and then email family and prime business accounts the email address.  They then have a way to get in touch in case there are any issues.  Fo me I’ll have Chris keep me posted on LuLa matters.  You pay by kilobyte so you won’t be sending photos or any attachments.  Once again everything will eb explained about this system once we are onboard.

Argentina Power Adapters

While we are in Argentina you will need a different power adapter than on the ship as described at the bottom of this page.  There are easy to purchase from Amazon or other online supplier.  The plugs should look like the picture.

Hot New Gloves

On a recent trip to Greenland, I saw the Zodiac drivers with these odd looking gloves. They told me they were fisherman gloves.  I asked my son who has been a lobster fisherman about the kind of gloves he used when lobstering and he recommended the Atlas 282 TemRes Lobster Gloves.  So, I went out and ordered a set for my wife and myself.  The gloves have a liner and a textured outside surface.  These gloves will best used for zodiac rides and excursions to shore.  For these trips you sit on a pontoon and hold onto a rope.  You will get splashed and these gloves will do the trick to keep your hands dry.  Once on shore you can change into your regular gloves.  You can find these gloves at  Landfall for a cost of $25.99.  I’m sure they are available elsewhere as well as possibly other brands.  Debra and I are ready to go. I suggest you consider these.

Peter Cox Joins Our Trip

Due to a family issue that has come up Daniel Bergmann will not be able to join us.  My long time friend and excellent photographer Peter Cox has thus joined our trip.  Peter was with us on the last trip and he is a great instructor as well as a true gentleman.

I’m a landscape photographer and educator living and working in west of Ireland. My goal as a photographer is to distill the essence of what I feel when I’m in the landscape, and share that with the viewer.

I run a busy photography gallery in the tourist town of Killarney, and lead workshops in Ireland and around the world, both under my own banner, and for industry names such as Phase One and Luminous Landscape.

I’ve produced two books of my work – The Irish Light in 2012 and Atlantic Light In 2015. This was the first of its kind to be shot primarily from drones.  I’ve also contracted as a drone pilot and photographer on several projects for the Irish national television station RTE.

Equipment and Software

For ground-based photography, I use two systems – a Phase One XF camera with an IQ180 back for primary work, and a Canon 5D III and Sony A7RII for night photography. I prefer wide angles for my compositions, and my favourite lenses are the Schneider 28mm and Mamiya 24mm fisheye for the Phase, and the 16-35 f/4 for the Canon. For this trip, I’ll be also bringing my 70-200 f/2.8 and teleconverters.

I primarily use Capture One for editing my photographs as I find it produces better results than the competition. I also use Photoshop where a little extra is called for – which is less and less these days.

Programmes

In my programmes, I will focus on discussing composition using my own images as examples. We pay a lot of attention to the gear we use as photographers, and often the most crucial element – the artistry of the thing – is overlooked. I hope to assist you in unlocking a deeper understanding of composition and what it takes to make a really great image.

Phase One Participates On The Trip . . . Great Opportunity

South Georgia And Antarctica Expedition 2016

Antarctica in 101 megapixel detail & quality!

Phase One is delighted to be a part of Luminous Landscapes expedition to South Georgia and Antarctica. We’re also excited to offer you the opportunity to capture the beauty of the planet’s most isolated continent with a Phase One Camera System.

As you’re packing your bags and debating which camera’s to bring on this once in a lifetime trip, we’d like to extend the opportunity to pack any of our products with you to ensure the highest quality results. The XF Camera System and A-series Camera System are at your disposal should you decide to take advantage of the opportunity.

We’ll of course be bringing our own systems for anyone to try but if you’d like to ensure that you have access to 101MP imaging possibilities throughout the workshop please simply complete the registration below.

We will provide you with an XF Camera Body or an A-series ALPA TC along with your choice of lenses and either an IQ3 50MP, IQ3 80MP or an IQ3 100MP. The choice is entirely up to you and the possibilities are endless.

Upon signing up, Phase One will provide you with the camera system of your choosing delivered to your door next week.  You’ll have the opportunity to shoot with the system and fall in love with it, then bring it with you as you journey down to Ushuaia.

We’ll have expert staff available throughout the workshop to provide insight into the Camera System, Capture One Pro software, shooting and editing techniques, and much more. As several of the instructors onboard are Phase One photographers themselves, there will be no shortage of opportunity to learn all the camera system has to offer and capture some truly astounding images.

Fee

The workshop add-on simply covers our shipping and insurance costs for the duration of the workshop. A payment of  €1,500 ($1,600) through the registration link below, ensures that any of our cameras is available to you well before the workshop and throughout.

With the registration add-on you will also receive a Capture One Pro product Key (value $299) and be ensured expert tutelage from our staff.

If you have any questions about this PODAS please don’t hesitate to contact us at podas@phaseone.com.  Also, email this address to receive the form for obtaining a loaner.

A Guided Tour By Kevin Raber Of The Ocean Nova

Welcome aboard the Ocean Nova.  I have been fortunate enough to have sailed on this ship numerous times in both Polar regions.  It’s a good ship and it’s perfect of an expedition like the one we are about to embark on.  I was in Greenland this past September on board the Ocean Nova and with the help of Chris Sanderson made a video tour of the ship.  It’s a good way to see the ship you’ll be spending three weeks on.  The staff on board the ship have been on board for a long time.  Lots of familiar faces and it’s always great to see them again on a new cruise.  You’ll get to know many of them by name over our three-week journey.

How To Dress Video

Last week I was on board the Ocean Nova with Chris Sanderson.  This is my favorite ship and I have been aboard her many times.  The same hotel staff and crew was there that has been there for years.  They are really looking forward to our group.  During our trip, we made a couple of videos.  One is a guided tour of the Ocean Nova and the other on how to dress for Polar weather is below.  The guided tour and more information will be available soon.  I’m in Germany this week and will post more when I get home.

Instructor Change

Due to some personal family issues that have come up Daniel Bergmann will not be able to join us on our trip.  I am happy to announce that Peter Cox will now be on board.  Peter was with me in Antarctica last year.  I have worked with Peter numerous times doing workshops.  He’s a great guy and excellent photographers.  I’ll have a profile up on this page for Peter once I return from Photokina.  Meanwhile, you can visit his website

Questions and Answers – Part 1

Instructor Profile – Carr Clifton

I’ve been working as a professional photographer for over thirty-­‐five years. With hundreds of magazine covers and thousands of publishing’s in every major magazine, my intention has always been to stay true to my vision, creating artistic, poetic images which like a musical score without lyrics, doesn’t tell a story, so much as create a feeling within the viewer. Achieving artistically satisfying photographs is not only about framing the image in the camera, but being inspired by getting myself to the wildest, most beautiful places where I do my best work.

Travel Update – August 20, 2016

Today many of us were informed that the 2:25 PM flight #1853 from Ushuaia back to Buenos Aires was cancelled.  This is so typical of flying in S. America.  There a couple of options.  We disembark the ship at 10AM.  Getting off earlier may be difficult as we have to operate and disembark based on port rules and security.  There are two flight options.  One flight leaves at 1:15 PM and flies to the domestic terminal AEP in Buenos Aeries and arrives at 4:40PM.  The other option is to fly on a 1:05 PM flight that flies right to the international airport EZE with one stop and arrives at 5:50PM.   The airport is just a short distance from the dock. I presume and will check but there is usually a bus to take the passengers to the airport. Welcome to travel in S. America.  As an FYI, I have re-booked on the 1:05 flight going to EZE.

My Travel

Debra and I will be traveling to and from with the itinerary below.  If anyone needs help booking their flights please feel free to contact my travel agent who is the best there is, Barbara Caracciola , tell her I sent you. Both Debra and I look forward to seeing you there.

Steve Gosling  – Instructor Profile

I am a professional photographer who specialises in producing creative & contemporary landscape and travel images. My primary aim with my photography is to try and record & communicate the mood, emotion, and feelings that my chosen subjects generate within me. And my personal preference is to do this via the medium of B&W photography.

Over the years I have been honoured to win many awards – for example, in the UK’s ‘Black & White Photographer of the Year’ competition and in both 2014 & 2015 I had images shortlisted in the prestigious international ‘B&W Spider Awards’.

I enjoy writing & teaching about photography and have run my own workshop programme for several years (in the UK and abroad) as well as working as an instructor on workshops for Phase One, Luminous Landscape and Olympus. My aim as an instructor is to encourage & inspire photographers of all levels to develop their own unique vision and to feel confident in expressing what they feel about their subjects as much as what they see.

Equipment & Software

I shoot with two systems – a Phase One A-series with an IQ350 digital back combined with 35mm & 70mm Rodenstock lenses. I also use an Olympus Micro Four Thirds system with zoom lenses ranging from 7mm to 150mm (14mm to 300mm equivalents). For this trip I hope to have the Olympus 300mm f4 Pro lens with me as well.

I use Capture One software to do most of the work on my images prior to exporting to Photoshop for final processing or working on using Silver Efex Pro. But I’m a very lazy computer operator and still try to get the image as close to finished as possible in camera. My aim is to minimise the amount of work I have to do in the computer.

Programmes

I hope that our time together on the ship will give me the opportunity to share with participants some of the philosophy, approach and techniques that I use to create my images. For example, I will talk about communicating mood & emotion via photographs and my views on creativity (what it is, whether we can all be creative and how we can develop our personal creativity).

Steve Gosling
E-mail: steve@stevegoslingphotography.co.uk
Mobile: +44(0)776 996 7933

Ignacio Palacios – Instructor Profile

I am a travel and nature photographer who has traveled around the world almost continuously since 1998. I came to Australia in 2008 and since then I have been focusing on photographing landscapes and using digital imaging techniques to produce more creative and fine art work.

When I was a child I was fascinated by colour and loved painting and drawing. Landscapes were my favorite subjects and following the footsteps of three generations of photographers in my family, photography became my preferred medium. After many years shooting film, I embraced the digital world and since discovering Photoshop and learning how to use it, a whole new world of possibilities to fulfill my creative desires opened up for me.

Over time, I have grown and matured as a photographer and my personal tastes have progressed towards creating simpler compositions and paying more attention to texture, lines, patterns and colour.

I started out very literally recording everything he saw in a landscape as accurately and with as much detail as possible. As my work has evolved, and I continue to learn and improve my artistic vision and image-making skills, I am becoming more creative and abstract in my approach.

During my travels I have witnessed the effects of human intrusion in nature. Through my photography, I want to raise awareness about the environmental and human rights issues. It is my hope that people realise that we are privileged to have such a beautiful planet and we should work to protect it. For many years in my career as an engineer I tried to do my bit for the world and future generations by developing renewable energy projects.

As a photographer, advocating for the preservation of the natural world is at the core of my work but is it is the beauty of the planet rather than its degradation that I strive to capture.

Equipment and software

I shoot with a variety of cameras and lenses. I will probably bring a Pentax 645z medium format camera and a Nikon SLR + lenses. My drone will have to stay at home as I think it is forbidden to fly it over there but that is another important piece of equipment that I carry to all my trips.

When I photograph, my target is to concentrate on composition and light and my main skill is post-processing. I hope you will bring your laptops with Lightroom and Photoshop installed so we can create some magic. I use Photoshop, ACR, Capture One, Helicon Focus, Photomatix, PTGui but the one that I use the most is Photoshop as with this program, you expand your creativity limits.

Tutorial – Processing session

During the time that we are going to spend together, I will be more than happy to sit down and work with anyone to enhance/improve their images but I would also like to give a formal presentation and process one of my images with Lightroom/ACR and then further with Photoshop. I hope this provides some inspiration to some to go beyond the photography limits and create more artistic work.

Hotel In Ushuaia Information

On November 9th the hotel room in Ushuaia is covered as part of the trip package.  Dinner will also be served that night as a Bar B Q.  On November 10th check out for the hotel is 10AM.  A bus will arrive at the hotel to take you into town.  You’ll have a few hours to wander downtown, have lunch on your own and do any last minute shopping.  At 3PM you will need to be at the pier to begin boarding of the ship.  Don’t worry it’s all within walking distance.  Your luggage will be picked up at 10AM and transferred to the ship and waiting for you.

Absentee Ballots

A reminder for all Americans.  We will be traveling on election day (Nov. 8th) for the next US President.  Please make sure you cast your vote by Absentee Ballot.

Our Instructors

We have a great line up of instructors for our trip.  Each instructor will present at least 2 programs during our at sea days.  There have been a few changes to the line up also.  Eileen Benjamin had to cancel out of her position and has been replaced with Ignacio Palacios.  Also, Chris Sanderson will not be coming as he will mind the Luminous-Landscape site while we are gone is replaced by Daniel Bergman.

The combined experience and talent of these instructors is second to none.  They are on board to help you make the best of this unique photographic opportunity.  I’m excited to have this team for the trip.  Assisting me on keeping things organized during the trip will be my wife Debra Fadely – Raber.

Peter Cox

Hans Strand

Ignacio Palacios

Carr Clifton

Steve Gosling 

Travel Insurance

It is important and required that you purchase travel insurance for this trip.  While the chance of any issues is minimal it is always good to be insured.  It is especially important for medical evacuation.  You can google options for travel insurance.  I have used Travelguard  or Insure My Trip or Travelex .

Cold Hands, Cold Head, Cold Body – No Way

Two important things to make sure you have covered before leaving for the trip are your head and hands.   The time of year we are visiting S. Georgia and Antarctica will be during the early spring but it can still be cold.

Dressing in layers is the best way to stay warm.  I have already explained that I wear a set of long underwear all the times.  Then regular outdoor clothes.  On ship I have a pair of docksider shoes to wear. You’ll want shoes that will work well on wet decks. I like docksiders as they can be slipped on real quickly in case the alarm goes off for whales or other photo sightings.  Before going out on an excursion I put on an extra pair of warm socks.  The ship will have boots for you and you will wear these boots when on shore excursions or on a Zodiac cruise.

I always wear long underwear when visiting Antarctica unless it is a cruising day.  There are many types of warm long johns you can purchase.  I really like Winter Silks as they are lightweight and really warm.  This is accompanied by an undershirt of the same material.

Before going out on an excursion (shore or Zodiac) I put on an extra pair of warm socks.  Then Waterproof pants.  I use Marmot pants but there are a number of different makers of these type of pants.  I also have a light weight vest.  I have a real lightweight Atom LT Vest made by Arc’teryx as well as a Columbia fleece vest.  My outer jacket is a Ceres Jacket by Arc’teryx.  I also have a Columbia Omni-Heat light weight jacket.   All of these keep me extremely warm.  I have used these in much colder weather than we will experience.

Head cover is important and there are a number of great hats out there.  I own tons of winter hats and all do a good job at keeping me warm.  Columbia makes a very warm lightweight hat.  A must have just in case is a balaclava.  I purchase mine from Duluth Trading Company.  You can find warm versions for both men and women at any sporting goods store or supplier.  These will be good when out in a Zodiac or if we encounter really windy days.  I normally keep one of these in my pack and can just slip it on if it gets cold.  It’s good to have two of everything just in case things get wet.

Your gloves are the most important part.  If we weren’t trying to operate cameras it would be easy to just get warm gloves.  But, we need our fingers to operate our cameras.  You will be shooting from the ship, zodiacs and on shore.  I have a pair of what I call Zodiac gloves. They are used primarily for the ride into shore.  When riding a Zodiac you will be holding onto a rope handle and things may get wet.  These gloves cover the wrists and keep out water if you do get wet from going down your sleeves.  Columbia makes a good pair of these called Bugaboo.

Once on shore I can slip into my glove liners and regular gloves.  I get these from Winter Silks.  Then I have two different types of gloves I use depending on the day.  One version is the Columbia Omni-Heat Touch.  These gloves also have finger tips that allow you to work on touch screens.  Most of the time in conjunction with glove liners they will keep your hands plenty warm.  I also use a shooters mittens.   I get these from Sierra Trading Company and they are called Glomitts for men and Women’s are available HERE.

So, this gives you a pretty good idea of what you will need.  I highly recommend you take a look at Sierra Trading company as they always seem to have good deals.  If you have any questions let me know.

Thoughts on Image Storage and Safety
By Michael Reichmann

When it comes to safety, you are number one. Nothing is more important than taking care of your own safety on this trip. This means taking care getting on and off the zodiacs, wearing sun-screen, getting enough sleep and hydration, conservative consumption of alcohol, and other self-care topics.

But the second most important safety topic is the safety of your images. You are spending a considerable amount of money to get to this remote part of the world, and the last thing that you want is to get home having somehow lost some or all of your image files. So, the following are my recommendations for ensuring the safety of your images.

– As soon as you get back to your cabin, either at the end of a Zodiac excursion or at the end of a shooting period on the deck, copy your files to a hard drive. If you use a program like Lightroom or Capture One then import the files into a new Library created for this trip.

– Do Not Erase Your Cards. If possible, try and have enough card storage to last the entire trip. If you’re using Lightroom, for example, the program will automatically know which files on the card are already in the library and which are new ones, and it will ignore them, only importing those it hasn’t seen before.

This will make your cards a primary back up. Meaning, that when you travel home you will keep all of your card together in a card wallet and place them separately from your external hard drive(s), usually in your camera bag.

This means that you will want to have several 32GB, 64GB or larger cards. Depending on what camera(s) you shoot with you’ll need to judge how big the cards should be and how many you need. When you insert a new or empty card in the camera it will tell you how many files it can handle and you can use this information to judge how many and of what size. I am bringing 64, 128 and 256 gig cards.

Assume that you are going to shoot as many as a thousand frames a day. No, I’m not kidding. When we see some subjects, such as whales, you’ll have your camera on high-speed-burst mode and you can easily take several hundred frames during a half hour sighting. You’ll also be shooting panos, doing exposure bracketing and the like. Even landscape work, icebergs, and cloudscapes from the deck of the ship will consume hundreds of frames at a time.

– Bring at least two 1 Terabyte external drives; USB-3 or Thunderbolt. A 1T external drive is currently between $60 and $75. The reason you want two, is to have one as your main drive and the second as a backup. At the end of each day you’ll make it a routine to copy all the new files from your Library or Catalog on your main drive to your backup drive.

– Using an indelible black marker put your name, email address and phone number on the back of the drives. You will be on the ship with 60 other photographers and accidentally swapping drives is always possible. This is because we spend a lot of time with our laptops in the panoramic lounge working on files, looking at each others work, and having instruction. There will likely be 20 or so drives just like yours in the lounge at any time.

Security of your laptop and drives while on the ship isn’t an issue. We all leave our computer gear and cameras and lenses laying around unattended. There’s nowhere for them to go. But cases of mistaken identity are not uncommon, so mark your drives.

– It’s the last day of the trip and you’re packing and getting ready to fly home. You now have three copies of all of your files; the primary drive, your backup drive, and your card wallet of originals. What you want to do is to put the cards in your camera bag, one of the drives in your briefcase/carry-on/purse, and the second drive in your checked suitcase. Using this strategy the chance of your arriving home without your precious files is minimized.

Luminous-Landscape Forum Topic – Private

We have set up a private topic for the participants of this trip on the Luminous-Landscape forum. Please go to the FORUM to view the topic.  You’ll have to be granted access to the forum topic so you need to email Chris Sanderson with your forum user name so he can give you permission to view the topic.  This is a great place to see previous posts from other Antarctica trips.  You can also introduce yourself to fellow passengers and ask about camera gear or anything else.

Sea Sickness

This topic is a serious one and I recommend you take it seriously to make your trip as comfortable as possible.  We will be spending a number of days at sea to get to the destinations we are visiting.  Seas in this part of the world can be very unsettling at times.  We have a long journey from Ushuaia to South Georgia Island, then a journey from S. Georgia to the Antarctica Penisula and finally a trip across the Drake back to Ushuaia.

I have sailed the Drake on numerous trips and it can be an incredible adventure but one if you are prone to sea sickness quite miserable.  I have never been prone to sea sickness even when waves are as high as the bridge of ship and the ship is hitting 30-degree tilts. But, I still prepare for the worst.  I have patches which are a prescription from my doctor that I use if needed.  Better safe than sorry.  There is also other medications that can be taken.  My advice is to consult with your physician and have medication just in case.

There will be a doctor onboard and there will be some medication available.  Please make sure you have some sort of medication even if you think you have the best sea legs.  The Captains I have sailed with even sometimes suffer from sea sickness and even they medicate when needed.

When we are traversing S. Georgia Island and along the Antarctica peninsula we should be OK. The open sea is where you should be prepared.  The ship’s crew will brief you further when onboard and also if there are heavy seas expected.

Internet and Email On-Board

We are headed to the bottom of the planet.  There is no cell phone coverage or Internet.  Once we leave Ushuaia your cell phone will not have a signal until your return.  The ship does have email and very expensive internet.  My suggestion is if you are worried about people reaching you from back home that you set up an email account.  Once on board you’ll be able open an account and receive an email address to use for the duration of the trip.  Do an email home to the people who may need to reach you with your shipboard email address.  Then when needed you can check email messages or send email home.  Internet is available at really slow speeds and is expensive.  There is an Iridium Satelite Phone available.  You can purchase a card to make calls with once onboard.  As we get closer to the date we will send you pricing for Internet and Satelite phone usage.  If you have questions AXXI will answer them for you once on board.

Some passengers in the past have rented satellite phones for use on the trip.  A simple google search will show a number of companies offering this service.  If you go this route make sure you get a phone that will work in Antarctica.  There is limited satellite coverage in the South Polar region.

Arriving In Ushuaia For Your Trip

Our trip begins on November 9th, 2016. This means the 9th is the latest arrival day for you.  We will board the ship on the 10th of November.  It’s always an exciting time to board the ship and find your cabin.  Boarding time will be between 3-4 PM.  We will board on the only dock there is in Ushuaia.  It won’t be hard to spot our ship.  You’ll go through a security inspection prior to boarding.  We’ll explain all of this prior to embarking.

On the evening of the 9th, we will have our first dinner together which will be an Argentinian Bar-B-Q.

We recommend you arrive in Ushuaia a day or two early.  This means arriving no later than November 8th (although if you arrive on the 9th it is OK but you have no leeway). This prevents any unexpected issues due to flight delays or cancellations.  Typically you’ll fly through Buenos-Aires.  This means most likely arriving at the international terminal and then having to transfer to the international airport.  This airport is a taxi cab ride away and maybe a 30-minute ride.

If you arrive early there are things you can do like taking a trip to the park or just taking it easy in Ushuaia.

On previous trips, some attendees arrived in Buenos Aires a few days early and enjoyed the city prior to flying to Ushuaia.  There are many nice hotels and interesting places to visit in the city.

It is your responsibility to get to Ushuaia and the expenses for your hotel in Ushuaia are yours.  The hotel we are using is The Yamanas Hotel   Please arrange your reservations.  Room costs are for a single and double $277.00 USD. Antarctica XXI can help you with this too if needed.

Ushuaia is not a large city but it has its own charm and you could enjoy roaming the streets and shops for a day prior to our departure.

Departure From The Ship

The Ocean Nova arrives back to Ushuaia on November 29th after 21 days of adventure.  Breakfast is served onboard and departure starts at 10AM.  You should have no problems arranging afternoon flights.

Power On The Ship

Powering all your gear while on board is a challenge.  Most of us will be brining a laptop, iPad, phone and of course chargers for our camera batteries.  Each cabin has one twin outlet.  The voltage is 220 volts and uses a standard European outlet.  This means that each person in the room has only one outlet to use. Getting by is pretty easy though.

I carry all my electric gear and adapters in two pouches that I bought from Gura Gear along with the wire ties.  As you can see by the photos, I start off with a heavy duty non-fused extension cord.  The obvious advantages of this is I only need one adapter and I can power three devices from it.  I can plug my laptop, camera battery charger and an iPad into this one cord.  Please make sure all your devices are 220V compatible.  Most camera chargers are, some require you to slide a switch if changing voltage.  Make sure you understand your chargers.  If you need more outlets it just takes some creative shifting around of outlets.

Another hint especially for charging batteries is to label your batteries so you can keep track of which ones are to be charged.  I carry a small zip lock bag with me and I put batteries to be charged in this bag.  Once charged I move them back to my charged battery pouch in my camera bag.

There is no cell coverage where we are going so charging a phone won’t be needed unless you use it for something else.  Creative juggling of what is or is not charging will get you through the trip.

Much of the time while we are moving from one point to another we will be using the sky lounge.  There are a number of outlets in this lounge and  many attendees like to work on the images in this lounge.  So, bring an extra adapter and extension cord so you can work in the lounge.  There is also a lounge in the back of the ship that is usually a quiet area and you can also set yourself up to edit images there.

There are numerous types of power adapters available.  As you can see I use very simple ones.  I also tape these adapters to my extension cords before leaving so I don’t leave them behind in outlets or loose them.

Kevin Raber
July 2016