Category: News and Updates

JHolko Photography Latest News and Updates

Better Photography Magazine – The Iceman

Posted in Antarctica, Arctic, Iceland, Landscape Photographs, Media, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel PhotographyLeave a comment

At the tail end of the Jewels of the Arctic expedition I lead this year with Grand Master of Photography Peter Eastway to Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland we sat down for a coffee (ok.. he drinks tea – even Grand Masters aren’t perfect!) in the small town of Longyearbyen for a brief chat about our experiences and life in photography. Peter took the opportunity to conduct an informal interview for his magazine Better Photography and the interview and article were just published in the new Summer 2014 issue. Peter has kindly allowed me to post the entire article in full as a PDF on my blog and website which you can download and read HERE. Peter has also published a separate report on our expedition together in the same issue of Better Photography magazine. To subscribe please visit www.betterphotography.com.au. Peter and I are currently in the early planning stages for a return to Greenland together in 2015 and we hope to finalise details in the first half of next year. As a teaser for those of you who read my entire posts – I will also be announcing a new  trip for 2015 for a maximum of just twelve photographers dedicated to photographing Polar Bears living and hunting on the pack ice north of Svalbard. With the sea ice in the arctic dwindling and the ring seal (the main prey for Polar Bear) disappearing this expedition will very much be a once in a lifetime experience to see and photograph Polar Bears hunting in their natural habitat.

In the meantime if the travel bug bites you or you have the urge to scratch that photographic itch,  Peter is leading a workshop to Patagonia early next year (2014). The workshop takes in Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Torre & Fitz Roy  and runs from the 15 – 28 March 2014 for 14 days. The trip includes accommodation, all meals, English and Spanish speaking guides, local travel (minibus) and transfers.  You can download the brochure from Peter’s Better Photography website. Having just returned from a week in Patagonia (on the Chile side) I can recommend this location as offering world class landscape opportunities.

A Joshua Holko Polar Photography Experience Short Film

Posted in Antarctica, Arctic, Media, News and Updates, Travel Photography, Video, Workshops and Expeditions4 Comments

If you follow my blog you may recall that in August this year I took a small two person film crew from Untitled Filmworks with me to the Arctic to film what it was like to travel with and be part of a dedicated polar photographic expedition. During the fourteen days we spent in the Arctic we travelled from the north of Iceland across the Denmark Strait to Greenland where we explored many of the wondrous fjords and amazing geology of this primordial arctic land. We encountered some incredible icebergs and wildlife and even visited a small native Inuit village. We then sailed across to Svalbard and Longyearbyen in search of Polar Bears, whales and seals. We spent fourteen days travelling and filming in the arctic using a combination of RED Epic 5K Cinema Camera and Canon 1DC Cinema cameras. We gathered more than 10 Terabytes of footage including a spectacular iceberg collapse and glacial calving and I am extremely pleased to now have the final short film back from editing and to be releasing it for everyone to enjoy. One of the most common questions I am often asked via email is ‘What is it like to go on a dedicated photographic expedition to the Arctic or Antarctic?’ Well, just sit back and watch this video to experience it for yourself.  Make sure you click on the image to watch it full screen in  High Definition – dim the lights and crank the volume! And be sure to share with your friends.

Photo of the Month November 2013: Lemaire Channel Antarctica

Posted in Antarctica, Landscape Photographs, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Workshops and ExpeditionsLeave a comment

I recently returned from my 2013 photography expedition to Antarctica and have started to edit and process the images I shot during this remarkable trip. I will have a full report on this expedition over the coming days here on my blog but wanted to share this photograph from the Lemaire Channel in Antarctica as my photograph of the month for November. The Lemaire Channel experience on this expedition was nothing short of breathtaking with incredible reflections in the dark still Antarctic waters. This was our longest day of shooting during the trip and saw us rise before 4am and shoot through until well after midnight. The conditions on arrival at the entrance to the Lemaire were anything but ideal. Low cloud and clagged in conditions had me more than concerned as the sun began to rise. Then as if someone flicked a light-switch the cloud lifted and we were greeted to an incredible experience as we glided through the Lemaire Channel where we were treated to an incredible photographic display of light and reflection. To top it off we took the 2013 honours as the first ship of the season to navigate this amazing passage of water. A higher resolution copy of this photograph can be seen on my website at www.jholko.com

Testimonial from Nita Gulbas – Antarctica 2013

Posted in Media, News and Updates, Testimonials, Travel Photography, Workshops and ExpeditionsLeave a comment
What can you say about an expedition of a lifetime? We had many opportunities on this trip that came our way due to Mother Nature. Take her work, add Joshua, and you have a dynamic duo. This is the second trip I have taken with Josh, and after both, I came away with the same feelings: amazing, fulfilling, fun. Josh has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas he travels to. As a result, the trips are extremely well organized, yet have a looseness allowing the participant to freely pursue the environment in very personal ways. His chosen expedition company provided us with skilled, knowledgeable staff who went out of their way to meet the needs of photographers. This meant having Zodiacs ready to launch at five am, asking the chef to call for meals at altered times, or being allowed to stay longer on site (weather permitting) when the  conditions were tantalizing for a group of photographers.

Attendees varied from professional photographers, award winning amateurs, to point and shoot individuals. Josh was always available for input if one needed, and no matter how tired, he was there for his group whether during active shooting, or in the evening for review if one wanted his input.  I think everyone came away with images to be proud of.
In short, having been on other photo tours, Joshua’s rank #1 in my book.

Jewels of the Arctic 2014 Open for Bookings

Posted in Arctic, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Wildlife Photographs, Workshops and Expeditions1 Comment

Jewels of the Arctic Expeditions for 2013 are done and dusted (watch for the video here in the next few days). The good news if you missed out is that I will be leading back-to-back Jewels of the Arctic expeditions again in August and September next year 2014. These expeditions are designed to take in the very best of the Arctic and are geared towards Arctic photography. As per the sold out trips this year I will be leading both expeditions. My friend and Pro Photographer Antony Watson will be assisting me on both trips with lectures and photographic instruction. The first expedition departs from Longyearbyen in Svalbard and takes us across to Greenland and Iceland. The second begins in Iceland and sails to Greenland and Longyearbyen in Svalbard. The two expeditions are identical; but are run in reverse order.

The 2013 Jewels of the Arctic trips sold out quickly and many places for 2014 have already been filled from those who missed out this year (the first trip is almost sold out and only a few places are remaning). If you are interested in joining us on one of these photographic adventures you can download a detailed itinerary and PDF flyer from my website or contact me for additional information.

Look for a short film I am excited to be releasing very soon here on my blog of our Jewels of the Arctic experience this year.