Antarctic Blog

Polarising is best for polar photography!

In spite of the lack of sunshine here in the UK, I couldn't help but be tempted by a pair of very flash polarising sunglasses at the opticians the other day. The (very adept) sales lady was more than encouraging when I told her about my love of polar cruising.

It's important to take good sunglasses with you on a voyage to Antarctica or the Arctic; ideally a minimum of category level 3. Snow reflection and the glare on the water can cause strain and damage to your eyes; a pair of wrap-around polarising sunglasses will save on headaches and mean that you make the most of your polar cruise.

Polarising filters and lenses significantly cut out a lot of the light and glare - meaning that you can literally 'see into' the water - whether it be leopard seals darting around and under your zodiac, penguins slicing through the inky depths, or the looming mass of a submerged iceberg - you'll want to take in as much as possible both above and below the waterline! Polarising lenses (whether in sunglasses or fixed to your camera) cut out much of the 'unuseful' light so that the colours 'pop out'. An example of how polarising filters can help with polar photography can be seen in Seth White's images of Antarctica (see the link here) - where he has taken a picture through his polarised sunglasses (scroll down to the pictures of clouds at the bottom of the webpage).

Remember, if you're wearing polarised sunglasses and have a polarising lens on your camera, then the two filters will cancel each other out and darken the viewfinder - perhaps invest in a sports strap for your sunglasses, so you can take them off and safely wear them around your neck when taking that breathtaking shot.

Posted on July 18, 2008 in Travel , Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this

Extreme Tourists - The Richard & Judy Show

Antarctic tourism really is a hot topic at the moment (no pun intended on global warming - *groan*)! Earlier this week Patrick Barkham from the Guardian quizzed Discover the World on how a desire for 'extreme adventures' draws polar travellers to the Antarctic continent. Read the article here. Then we were called by a researcher from the Richard & Judy Show, looking to unlock the minds of so-called 'Extreme Tourists' (a bit media-speak for me to be honest!).

We were only too pleased to assist with putting them in touch with our past passenger, the bubbly and friendly Dawn Collins, who is a true polar aficionado. Dawn, together with her husband Sean (a fantastic amateur photographer - see his pictures here), has travelled both to Spitsbergen in the Arctic, and the Antarctic Peninsula. I'm sure Sean was delighted to see his pictures of a polar bear and penguin on national television, courtesy of the Richard & Judy Show!

It was Dawn however who took the limelight with her 15 minutes of fame 'on the box' last night (Channel 4, at 5pm), talking about her polar experiences and how it was possible to find her own space behind a piece of ice, and reflect on the reality of visiting the stunning Antarctic continent.

Posted on July 11, 2008 in Client Stories , Current Affairs , Television , Travel , Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this

Antarctica webcams

Although it's pretty dark and bleak at present in Antarctica (being mid-June and all, and the middle of the winter!) I thought I'd share some handy webcams with you for when the daylight hours return again to this icy wonderland - only a few months to go until beginning of November when the austral summer begins, the ice begins its melt, the penguins start nesting, and the continent springs back to life!

O' Higgins base Antarctic Peninsula (penguin cam); South Georgia (across to Grytviken); Macquarie Island (AUS Sub-Antarctic Islands); Halley (UK); Rothera (UK); Scott base (NZ); Casey (AUS); Mawson (AUS); South Pole/Scott-Amundsen base (US); RRS James Clark Ross (UK Research Ship); RRS Ernest Shackleton (UK Research Ship).

The wonders of modern technology never cease to amaze!

Posted on June 21, 2008 in Current Affairs , Environment , Television , Travel Tips , Wildlife | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this

Antarctica as warm as South Africa 100 million years ago!

I've just been reading an interesting article in the Telegraph, about how Antarctica was as warm as South Africa, 100 million years ago! It's fascinating to think about how the earth has evolved and how things have changed (and are developing) in our lifetime. Both the last episode of the BBC's fantastic 'Earth: Power of the Planet' series, and also the fascinating documentary 'The Eleventh Hour' highlighted the fact that the earth will slowly recover and re-evolve long after humans have become extinct. We are privileged to have the opportunity to learn about and discover the wild and wonderful landscapes during our lifetimes. That we should respect the environment is without question. Human presence is just a blip in the lifeline of the planet - a very humbling thought.

Posted on June 19, 2008 in Current Affairs , Environment , Wildlife | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this

Ice-packed Antarctic Festival in New Zealand

Thanks to world geography New Zealand has always had close ties with the icy Antarctic Continent. It's therefore only fitting that Christchurch should play host to an annual Antarctic Festival from 26 September – 3 October 2008, highlights of which will include imagery of the last great wilderness, tales of bravery and courage of early explorers, and updates as to research on the ice.

Work is underway to offer locals and visitors a taste of Antarctica. The Family Day on the weekend of 27 September will be focused on the International Antarctic Centre (based across from Christchurch International Airport). Other excitement will include playing with huskies, sled rides and inspection of equipment used on the continent, including aircraft used as transport to and within Antarctica. The aircraft and hangar tours will be possible thanks to the partnership of Air New Zealand's engineering section and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Ice sculptures, treasure trails and ice sports demonstrations will be added attractions.

If you’re interested in visiting the final frontier of Antarctica, then there are a variety of voyages departing from New Zealand towards the end of 2008, including: East Antarctica and The Great Explorers’ Voyage. Further trips to the Ross Sea and Australasian side of the continent are to be offered in 2009. Don't forget that Discover the World offers a specialist New Zealand programme to take care of all your arrangements to this beautiful country.

Posted on June 17, 2008 in Current Affairs , Environment | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this

Emperor Penguins at Snow Hill Island - New Study Announced

Penguins pop up everywhere nowadays – from adverts for refrigerators to billboards for the Austrian Tourist board! Next time you see one, bear in mind that they may well a resident of Snow Hill Island - the northern-most Emperor Penguin rookery in Antarctica. The Emperor Penguin Safari, aboard the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov is a photographer’s delight – if you’re looking for that traditional Christmas card penguin shot with which to impress your family and friends, then this is the voyage for you. Over approx. four days at the beginning of the Austral springtime, the icebreaker will be anchored at the edge of the frozen ocean; passengers will then be flown by helicopter to a spot close by to the rookery, and will then walk to where the penguins are nesting (to ensure the birds are not disturbed). The photos shown on this blog are with the kind permission of our friend Chris Dunham, who travelled to Snow Hill last October on the Emperor Penguin Safari- lucky lady!

NEWS JUST IN – A study will take place at Snow Hill Island, led by Graham Robertson of the Australian Antarctic Division. The study will provide important information as to how global warming and the expanding krill fishery adjacent to the rookery will affect the survival of fledgling Emperors on their maiden excursion from the rookery, and how adult Emperor Penguins are affected by today’s changing climate. Incredibly, adult Emperors must double their body weight not once but twice in order to survive. The first time is in order to endure the three-week molt, during which they will grow a full coat of new plumage. Then the adults must again double their body weight (peaking at around 90 lbs) in order to survive the four month winter fast, when the Antarctic continent is locked by darkness and intense cold . Scientists believe that the changes to the Emperor’s environment, caused by global warming and the fishery, will have a detrimental effect on the survival of the rookery at Snow Hill. The study will require financial support – if you'd like to help then please call 001 212 247 8464 for further information. Thank you.

Posted on May 16, 2008 in Current Affairs , Environment , Wildlife | Permalink | Comments (2) | E-mail this

Circumnavigation of Antarctica - Russian Yachtsman Sets World Record!

A Russian solo yachtsman sailed into Western Australia today to set a record of 102 days for circumnavigating Antarctica. Fedor Konyukhov , 56, threw down the gauntlet to yachtsmen around the world in what was his fourth circumnavigation. Konyukhov set out from Albany (on Western Australia's south coast) with his open 85ft monohull Trading Network Alye Parusa on Australia Day. The adventurer braved a succession of storms, freezing temperatures, dodged icebergs and sailed past whales.

He came through it all unscathed, returning to King George Sound on 7 May to record a time of 102 days 00 hours 56 minutes 50secs for his 16,400 mile circuit of the Antarctic continent. Asked whether it would be his last such voyage, Konyukhov said it would be the last for a while!He said, "the Southern Ocean provides the most spectacular sailing conditions in the world".

If you fancy following in Konyukhov's footsteps, then you can do so thanks to the sturdy icebreaker, the Kapitan Khlebnikov, which will trace the coastline of the Antarctic continent in a semi-circumnavigation departing from South America (in an anti-clockwise direction) to Australasia this November. Find out more about the amazing Epic Antarctica voyage here - there is VERY limited availability left! Rumours abound that there may be a full circumnavigation voyage with the icebreaker planned for the Antarctic season 2009/10 - how incredible an adventure would that be! We hope to have details of the 2009/10 season within the next few weeks, so watch this space!

Posted on May 7, 2008 in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this

A postmark from Port Lockroy - the UK's most Southerly Post Office!

There's nothing quite like sending a postcard from a far-flung corner of the world to let family, friends and loved-ones know you're thinking of them, even if you're thousands of miles away! I've been lucky enough to send my folks post from various exotic locations, but my Dad still treasures the one I sent him from Antarctica with that all-important stamp and postmark, thanks to the second most southerly Post Office in World - Port Lockroy (just being pipped by the US-run one at the Scott-Amundsen station at the South Pole)! The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust operates this tiny Post Office from Bransfield House on Goudier Island (on behalf of the Government of the British Antarctic Territory which donates a proportion of the Post Office revenue to the Trust).

Port Lockroy is a tiny speck on the map of the Antarctic Peninsula, located amidst a landscape covered in penguins, glaciers, mountains, with ice-berg choked waters - an astounding place! Amazingly, over 70,000 cards and letters are hand-processed by the staff there each year to over 100 different countries! Rick, Helen and Rachel (the intrepid trio who manned Port Lockroy for the 07/08 season) are now home and Port Lockroy is closed until November. You can read about the team's everyday exploits in Antarctica via the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust's website. Their 'Letters from Lockroy' are a great way of finding out what life is like down on the White Continent, and how the seasons and weather changes, together with the wildlife year-on-year.

Port Lockroy is not only an important natural and historic environment. The UKAHT consistently monitors (through a long-term environmental study) the impact of visitors to the site. This allows the Trust to regulate the number of visitors and ships visiting the area, as well as, in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty, imposing strict site guidelines to ensure the environment is properly cared for.

In true polar form, Discover the World also offer tours to the most northerly Post Office in the world, at Ny Alesund, Spitsbergen (the Norwegian High Arctic)! Both Port Lockroy and Ny Alesund are reached by expedition vessel on one of our polar journeys.

Posted on May 1, 2008 in Current Affairs , Travel , Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this

World's First Antarctic Coin

The world's first Antarctic coin has just been struck earlier this month at the Pobjoy Mint in Kingswood (the largest privately owned mint in Europe, just a stone's throw from our offices here at Discover the World, funnily enough). Philippa Foster Back, Chairman of the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust and granddaughter of Frank Debenham (who accompanied Scott on his famous expedition to the South Pole) struck the first coin in the company of representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Polar Regions Unit, the British Antarctic Survey, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and the Scott Polar Research Institute. The new coin, issued on behalf of the British Antarctic Territory, commemorates the centenary of granting of Letters Patent in 1908, a formal declaration by the Crown that the land was British. You can purchase the coins from the UKAHT's shop, and in doing so will support the preservation of the historic huts and the UK's Antarctic Heritage.