New Zealand South Island Masterclass Feedback 2017

A little under a week ago I completed my 2017  Masterclass workshop in the South Island of New Zealand with my good friend and co-leader Phillip Bartlett. This workshop was extremely productive  in terms of the sheer number of shoots we were able to squeeze in (as well as the locations we visited) and I wanted to share some feedback I just received from those who participated on the workshop.

Dear Josh and Phillip, I’m going over my images while waiting to depart from the Christchurch airport – what an amazing trip!  Thanks so much for your instruction, sherpa and guiding, my images are so much better due to y’all.  I really enjoyed my time spent with everyone, I could not have asked for better traveling companions.  Please keep in touch, I would love to see everyone’s future photographic adventures.  Y’all take care and let me know if you ever need a guide around the Bayou State! – Suzanne

I also want to thank everyone, in a group we made this class an unforgettable experience. In a group you learn all the time, even by just seeing what the others are doing, and how. I learned a lot about camera settings, composition, light and right moment and much more. I also learned something about the difference between a good picture, a postcard picture, art and fine art – this is essential on my way to artist! It’s nice to return home with all these good feelings and memories, – Matti 

Dear Josh and Phillip, Now it is time for me as well to “saddle my horses” again, but only to move further up north towards St. Arnaud, Nelson, Takaka (Golden Bay), before then moving on to the North Island. While having another look at the images taken on our voyage together and thinking about the excellent time we had with our group I cannot help my eyes welling with tears (again). It was indeed worthwhile to have taken the “plunge” to come to the other end of the world and to put the travel schedule into your hands. Your careful planning and knowledge of this beautiful island we explored together, paired with your professional know how has given us invaluable memories for a long time to come. I enjoyed the time together immensely, could take home pictures and experiences I could never have made without you. The food was good, our vehicles an excellent choice, and I especially liked the cameradie with you all. The tips you gave to me/to us were incredibly helpful, not just for my future undertakings, but already for the rest of my time here (although without having you looking over my shoulder :-) ). I wish all of you still on the road save travels and yes, let us keep in touch. – Best and hugs, Angelo

Twas an adventure with you all! It was a pleasure getting to know everyone and having the opportunity to experience some pretty magical places together. Thank you Josh and Phillip for putting on a first class expeditionand leaving me with new tools and memories to treasure. – Julia

If you are interested in travelling and photographing in the majestic South Island of New Zealand then I am now taking bookings for the 2018 Masterclass (limited places remaining only). 2018 will be the last year I run the South Island Masterclass workshop for the foreseeable future so if you have been considering adding this workshop to your calendar now is the time to get on board. This workshop is strictly limited to six participants and due to initial registrations there are already only a couple of places remaining before it will be sold out.

New Zealand South Island Masterclass 2017 Complete

Yesterday I wrapped up my New Zealand 2017 South Island Masterclass workshop with an absolutely epic shoot at Punakaiki rocks (Pancake Rocks) on the wild west coast of the South Island. Our Masterclass took us on a complete circumnavigation of the South Island that included three separate helicopter photography sessions across different parts of the Island. One on these sessions was an absolutely incredible “doors-off” shoot over the spectacular Southern Alps (I will have a full trip report soon).In a little under forty eight hours I am headed south to Tasmania for a week long private Tasmania workshop before I again head north to Iceland for my ultimate Puffin workshop.If you are interested in travelling and photographing in the majestic South Island of New Zealand then I am now taking bookings for the 2018 Masterclass (limited places remaining only). 2018 will be the last year I run the South Island Masterclass workshop for the foreseeable future so if you have been considering adding this workshop to your calendar now is the time to get on board. This workshop is strictly limited to six participants and due to initial registrations there are already only a couple of places remaining before it will be sold out.

Photo of the Month May 2017 – Blue Ice Bear

The photograph of the month for May was taken this Winter on the east coast of Svalbard and is of a large male Polar Bear climbing some blue ice on the frozen sea. We were extremely fortunate to have the bear on blue ice with some wonderful winter sunset light. If you are interested in photographing Polar Bears there is now only a single place available on my Svalbard expedition this July before the expedition will be sold out (Read the report from last years expedition). The expedition runs from the 25th of July until the 4th of August and is strictly limited to twelve participants – one place remaining only.

Polar Bears of Svalbard Expedition July 25th – August 4th 2017 Single Place Availability

There is now only a single place available on my Polar Bears of Svalbard expedition this July before the expedition will be sold out (Read the report from last years expedition). The expedition runs from the 25th of July until the 4th of August and is strictly limited to twelve participants – one place remaining only.

The High Arctic is a place to inspire the imagination. Nowhere is it more accessible than the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, located deep within the Arctic Circle. Nowhere else can the Polar Bear be seen more reliably in its natural habitat, and photographing these magnificent animals will be our main objective. We will also search for walrus and the other wildlife of the region. Dramatic glaciers, plunging cliffs and beautiful drift ice formations will be present as well.Our intention is to sail directly north from the small town of Longyearbyen in Svalbard to approximately 80o degrees north, to the very edge of the permanent pack ice. At our northerly most point we will likely be less than 600 miles from the North Pole and depending on the sea ice we may get even closer. We will be using the ice hardened expedition ship M.S Origo that will enable us to skirt the edge of the pack ice searching for and photographing Polar Bears. M.S Origo is widely regarded as the best ship in the Arctic for Polar Bear Photography. With low-lying decks and operable portholes a mere 60cm above the water line we can photograph at eye level with wild Polar Bears. Our expedition ship is also equipped with sufficient zodiacs (2 x Zodiac MKV models) and crew for all photographers to be shooting simultaneously with plenty of room to spare for camera equipment – So bring what you need!Watch the expedition video ‘Kingdom of the Ice Bear’ to get an idea of what this expedition entails.If you are excited by the idea of traveling to the edge of the permanent pack ice to photograph Polar Bears in their natural environment with a small group of dedicated photographers now is the time to secure the very last place. You can download a detailed PDF itinerary HERE.

Canon Australia – No One Sees it Like You Feature

Canon Australia have just published a short feature on their Facebook Page on some of my polar photography. The feature series ‘No One Sees it Like You’ is designed to showcase the work of professional Australian photographers working with Canon equipment around the world.