My 2019 Winter expedition to Svalbard is already Sold Out. Thank you to all those who will be joining me for this exciting winter expedition next year. Winter in Svalbard is a magical time and I really look forward to travelling and photographing in the Arctic in winter. To those of you who have asked about 2020 and beyond, I am at this stage unsure if I will be offering a future expedition in winter specifically to Svalbard, but will have more to say on this and other new expeditions in a future update.
Category: News and Updates
JHolko Photography Latest News and Updates
Photo of the Month May 2018: Winter Plumage
I have been wanting to photograph Ptarmigan in their winter plumage in some nice clean snow for some time now and finally got my chance this Winter in Svalbard. This was one of three Ptarmigan that were feeding on some patchy snow covered ground just outside the small town of Longyearbyen. To make this photograph I simply positioned myself down low to try and get the bird on the clean snow. Seasonally camouflaged; the Ptarmigan’s feathers moult from white in winter to a mottle brown in spring or summer. In winter, its plumage becomes completely white except for the small patch near the eye.
The High Arctic Expedition 2019 Now Open for Bookings
Today I am excited to announce my new expedition to the High Arctic in July 2019. This brand new expedition will run from the 13th of July until the 22nd of July and will begin and end in the small town of Longyearbyen in Svalbard. I have been leading and guiding expeditions to the High Arctic of Svalbard for many years now and this new expedition encompasses all that I have learned in the way of the best time to visit, the best ship to travel on and the best locations to be at, at the right time, when the light is at its absolute best.
With our ice hardened expedition class ship our plan is to sail directly up to the pack ice north of Svalbard in search of Polar Bears and spectacular arctic landscapes. This expedition offers a complete Arctic experience for photography: zodiac photography cruises near calving glacier fronts, pack ice with Polar Bears, Walrus, Arctic Fox and a lot more. It is going to be a truly spectacular photographic trip for a very limited number of photographers aboard an ice hardened expedition class ship.
There will be plenty of opportunity for one-on-one instruction for those who wish it throughout the length of the trip. As well as informal side by side shooting from the deck of the ship, on zodiac and during shore landings there will be lots of opportunity to discuss all aspects of photography and image making with like-minded individuals. If you are keen to travel and photograph in the high Arctic now is the time to secure your place. A detailed itinerary PDF can be downloaded HERE. There are only twelve places available and once spoken for, thats it.
Departing for New Zealand South Island Masterclass 2018
Tomorrow evening I am making the short hop across the pond to New Zealand where I will guide my 2018 Masterclass workshop in the South Island with friend Phillip Bartlett. This is the last year I am offering and guiding this masterclass in New Zealand for the foreseeable future. Next year I will have a brand new offering to the Great Ocean Road and Tasmania for a small group of just six photographers (more details on that later).
As a few of you are aware I am currently nursing a torn lateral tendon in my right elbow which precludes me from lifting or carrying anything heavy (including cameras). As such, I am sort of restricted to shooting on a tripod at the moment and will be travelling quite light (by my standards anyway). Since this workshop is predominantly all about landscape there is no need for big fast (and heavy) telephoto lenses so I can cut down my luggage quite considerably. I am going to take my two tilt and shift lenses as I find I really love these for landscape work on the tripod, as well as my 100-400mm lens for any long lens requirements. I am sure it is going to be quite liberating to travel this light.
F-Stop Red Bull Anja (Carry on Luggage)
– 1 x Canon EOS 1DX MKII body (with spare battery)
– 1 x Canon 17mm TSE F4L Lens
– 1 x Canon 24mm TSE F3.5L Lens
– 1 x Canon 24-70mm F4L IS Lens
– 1 x Canon 100-400mm F4.5 – F5.6L MKII IS Lens
– 1 x Canon 1.4 TC MKIII
– 1 x LEE Filter Kit with Assorted Filters
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The South Island of New Zealand is always a spectacular place to visit and photograph and my hope is that this year we have timed our trip perfectly with the peak of Autumn colour. There was a large dump of snow over the last few days so it should be at its most picturesque! See you in New Zealand…
Ghosts of the Arctic Wins 2018 Webby Award
Late yesterday evening I received the exciting news that Ghosts of the Arctic has won a 2018 Webby Award in the film and video travel and adventure category. With over 13,000 entries from all 50 U.S. states and 70+ countries—and 3 million votes cast by 700,000 people in the Webby People’s Voice Awards—the 22nd Annual Webby Awards was the biggest in its history. 
www.WILDNATUREPHOTOTRAVEL.com 