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Svalbard in Winter March 2017 Expedition Announcement

August 6, 2016 Posted in Arctic, Landscape Photographs, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Workshops and ExpeditionsLeave a comment

I am excited to officially announce today a brand new winter expedition to Svalbard in March next year, 2017. The result of several scouting and test trips this new and unique expedition offers a first time opportunity to photograph in Svalbard in winter from expedition ship. The Arctic in Winter is a place to inspire the imagination. It is a white landscape bathed in golden light. This brand new expedition is the first of its type to venture north of Longyearbyen by ship in winter. If you want to make unique and powerful Arctic photographs this is the expedition for you. Svalbard-8139-Edit The main focus of this expedition will be Arctic winter light, landscape and wildlife. In March and April the light conditions in Svalbard are magical. Usually winter trips to Svalbard are limited to day trips on snow mobiles quite close to the town of Longyearbyen. With our expedition ship we will explore a much bigger area including the western and northern areas of Spitzbergen.

Svalbard-9725-Edit This expedition has been more than 18 months in the planning and has been designed to provide the very best possible opportunities to experience and photograph Svalbard in winter light. We expect to meet wildlife such as Polar Bears, Walruses, Seals, Arctic Foxes and Reindeer. At this time of year the sea birds will also be returning to their breeding grounds. Svalbard-9056-Edit12015 This exclusive expedition is for a strictly limited number of just 12 participants plus leader and is dedicated to winter photography in Svalbard.

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 landscapes and wildlife. M.S Origo is widely regarded as the best ship in the Arctic for Photography. Our expedition ship is also equipped with suf cient 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! Svalbard-0125-Edit If you are excited by the idea of traveling to Svalbard in winter with a small group of dedicated photographers now is the time to secure your place. You can download a detailed itinerary and PDF HERE. Places are extremely limited and once they are spoken for that’s it.

EXPEDITION AT A GLANCE

Dates: 26-03-2017 until the 03-04-2017
Duration: 8 Nights / 9 Days
Participants: Maximum 12 Photographers plus leader Investment: $9,950 USD
Start and Finish: Town of Longyearbyen in Svalbard Norway
Trip Highlights: Winter Landscapes, Polar Bears, Walrus and other Arctic Wildlife, Incredible Arctic Landscapes, Pack Ice and small group size

Why a Winter trip?

Winter in Svalbard provides an opportunity for a snow covered landscape and hours of golden light. In March and April the sun never gets high in the sky and we will have approximately 8-10 hours of daylight with which to photograph. If conditions are good we may get spectacular golden sunset and sunrises.

How cold will it be in Winter in Svalbard?

The average temperature in Svalbard in winter is -2oº Celsius. However, temperatures can plummet below -30º Celsius and with wind chill it can feel even colder, so it is important to be prepared with warm clothing. Survival suits are mandatory for all zodiac excursions in winter and will be provided for you.

Is the ship heated?

Yes. The ship is heated 24/7 and the temperature on board and in the cabins is warm and comfortable.

Due to initial expressions of interest and bookings there are only a few places remaining before this new and unique expedition will be sold out. If you would like to register your interest for one of the remaining places you can do so by sending me an email. Places are strictly filled on a first come, first served basis. Ivory Gull

Departing for Polar Bears of Svalbard 2016 Expedition

July 21, 2016 Posted in Arctic, Iceland, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Uncategorized, Workshops and ExpeditionsLeave a comment

It seems like only last week that I returned from the South Island of New Zealand (I am sure time is accelerating as I get older) but in a few minutes time I will be piling into a taxi with all my gear and heading to the airport for the long haul flights to Oslo and then onto Longyearbyen for my 2016 Polar Bears of Svalbard expedition. Svalbard has become one of my favourite destinations in the world for both Wildlife and Landscape photography. It is an incredible area located deep within the Arctic circle that offers the possibility for fantastic polar bear photography as well as other Arctic species including Walrus, Arctic Fox, Reindeer, Whales and more. The landscape of Svalbard is also very much an untapped gem and there are limitless possibilities for photography in this remarkable Arctic environment.

On this expedition we are using a small ice hardened vessel that will enable us to get in nice and close to drift ice around Svalbard. Importantly, it has nice low decks so we can get down to eye level with our subjects. With this expedition being limited to just twelve participants we will have plenty of room for everyone to photograph at once from both ship and zodiac and I am super excited to share this experience with all aboard. As well as Polar Bears, we will also likely photograph Walrus, Arctic Fox and a great many Arctic sea birds during our expedition.

After I finish in Svalbard I am headed directly to Iceland for two back-to-back workshops in the Highlands. Each of these workshops covers a different area of the Highlands and each has something different and unique to offer. The highlands are the real heart of Iceland and at least to my mind offer some of the most stunning scenery and photographic opportunities to be found anywhere. It is also a wonderful chance to get off the main roads and into less visited areas of the country. Daniel Bergmann and I planned these two workshops more than three years ago now and I am looking forward to sharing the experience of these wonderful locations with all of our participants. I am of course, ever hopeful that the long overdue Hekla volcano might also put on a show for us…You never know!

My 2016 Svalbard expedition has been sold out for some time, but there are still a few places remaining on next years 2017 expedition before it to will be sold out. If you would like to get an idea of what this expedition is like you can read the trip report from the 2015 expedition. A full itinerary and additional information can also be downloaded HERE. If you would like join us you can register your interest by dropping me an email at any time. Places are filled on a first come, first served basis.

On the way to the End of the World - Antarctica Watch Kingdom of the Ice Bear Expedition MoviePreparing for both Svalbard and the Highlands of Iceland presents some packing and equipment challenges as I need to pack both long telephoto lenses for the wildlife and a more ‘hike friendly’ light weight system for hiking in the highlands. As such I am taking three different camera bodies on these trips. Two Canon EOS 1DX MKII’s will be my primary cameras for the Polar Bears of Svalbard expedition. The Canon EOS 1DX MKII is the perfect tool for Arctic wildlife photography and I am looking forward to using these cameras for the first time in the Arctic (I did recently take them to New Zealand – Read the Trip Report) I am also carrying the 50 mega pixel Canon EOS 5DSR camera for the two Iceland Highland workshops after I finish in Svalbard. The Canon EOS 5DSR is actually more about weight saving than pixel count for me. Its light weight body is preferable for hiking to the Canon EOS1DX MKII; although quite honestly I prefer the files from the new Canon EOS 1DX MKII cameras.

F-Stop Lightroom Roller Camera Bag

Canon EOS 1DX MKII Pro Body Camera x 2
Canon EOS 5DSR Camera
Canon 24mm F3.5L TSE MKII Lens
Canon 16-35mm F4L IS Lens
Canon 24-70mm F2.8L MKII Lens (The MKII version of this lens is an amazing piece of glass)
Canon 70-200mm F2.8L IS MKII Lens
Canon 600mm F4L IS MKII Lens
2 x Spare Batteries for the 1DX MKII
2 x Spare Batteries for the 5DSR
Canon 1.4 TC MKIII Tele-Extender
Leica Ultra-Vid HD Binoculars
Cable Release
Assorted CF, CFAST and SD Cards totalling around 300 Gigabytes
Rocket Blower and Dust Cleaning paraphernalia
Complete LEE Foundation and Filter Kit with Soft and Hard ND Graduated filters and LEE Polariser

I am carrying the TSE lens specifically for landscape photography in Iceland. I am primarily carrying the 600m and 300mm lenses for Polar Bears and other wildlife in the Arctic, but also intend to use them to photograph birds at Jökulsarlon in Iceland.

Chobe Bag: (carry on luggage)

15″ Macbook Pro with Lightroom and Photoshop
MacBook Power Adapter
Canon 300mm F2.8L IS MKII IS Lens
2 x Sandisk Extreme USB3 2TB SSD Hard Drives for in the field Back Up.
Various Power Adapters / Chargers and Associated Cables
Canon 1DX MKII / 5D Battery Charger
USB CF, CFAST and SD Card reader
Passport / iPhone / Wallet
A lot of these items I store inside Etcetera cases inside the Chobe. (These cases are fabulous for organising accessories)

Tripod: (checked luggage)

Really Right TVC33 Tripod
Arca Swiss Z1 Ball Head with Levelling base for landscape work
Satchler FSB-6 Fluid Head with Levelling base for long telephoto lens work
Really Right Stuff Tripod Spikes (For mossy ground and rock claws for ice and rock)

In addition to the above camera bags I am also packing the brand new F-Stop ‘Red Bull’ Ajna for hiking in Iceland. My thanks to F-stop for supplying me this brand new hiking pack specifically for these workshops.

I am going to do my best as always to update my blog whilst I am away; but posts may be somewhat sporadic, particularly when I am at sea in the Arctic. For now, I have nearly thirty six hours of travel ahead of me and it’s time to make a start. See you in Svalbard.

Testimonial from Rulian Fiske – South Georgia Expedition

June 12, 2016 Posted in Antarctica, South Georgia, Testimonials, Travel Photography, Workshops and ExpeditionsLeave a comment

“Hi, Joshua, Thank you very much for the South Georgia Expedition!! The South Georgia trip with you was indeed the BEST and most rewarding trip we’ve taken, and this includes the Around the World in a Private Jet trip with Nat Geo! The best part was the photography part. The opportunities and emphasis on photography was utterly wonderful! And the people on the trip were just so nice! And the atmosphere on the ship! Everything!” – Rulian Fiske

You can read the full trip report from our last South Georgia Expedition online. If you have been wanting to visit Antarctica don’t miss out on our just announced White Nature expedition. There are now only very limited places remaining before we will be sold out.

Photo of the Month June 2016 – Lemaire on Fire

June 6, 2016 Posted in Antarctica, Landscape Photographs, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Workshops and ExpeditionsLeave a comment

The photograph of the month for June 2016 was taken this February during my Antarctica expedition to the Peninsula. We planned our arrival at the entrance to the Lemaire Channel for very first light and were fortunate to experience one of Nature’s truly great light shows. Over the course of about an hour and a half we cruised and drifted slowly though the brash ice of the Lemaire Channel as the sky exploded in a fireball of orange, red and magenta all around us. I have been fortunate to travel through the Lemaire channel many times over the last few years and these conditions were without doubt the best I have ever experienced. Antarctica-3003-Edit If you hare interested in travelling and photographing in Antarctica be sure to check out the next expedition ‘Antarctica White Nature‘ that I announced a few days ago with good friend Ole Jorgen. This dedicated charter expedition is the ultimate way to see, experience and photograph this magical continent.

Guest Photographer: John Hurshman ‘Hot and Cold’

May 3, 2016 Posted in Africa, Guest Photographer, Iceland, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Uncategorized, Workshops and ExpeditionsLeave a comment

Following on from my recent guest photographer post from Kevin Horsefield – Iceland the Frozen North, I want to share a short interview and photographs from John Hurshman who recently accompanied me on my Iceland Frozen North 2016 Workshop. I have had the pleasure of travelling and photographing with John now in both Iceland and Namibia and am looking forward to sharing an expedition to Svalbard with him for Polar Bears next year. Please enjoy the interview by Digital Transitions and photographs from our most recent Iceland and Namibia trips.

DigitalEditors Note: While most of our clients are professional photographers deriving their income from their craft, we also have many clients for whom photography is a passion, but not a source of profit. We thought we’d share the work of one such client, John Hurshman, who has recently traveled to both Namibia and Iceland. This combination struck us as especially interesting as it highlights the robust nature of Phase One digital backs – from the heat of the African Desert to the cold of the Icelandic winter. We interviewed John by email, with some editing for length, clarity, and focus.DT: What is your relationship to the art and practice of photography?

John: I am a retired corporate CEO who has been involved in photography for 35+ years. While early on, I had work published by National Geographic Books, Audubon Calendar and National Wildlife Magazine, the demands of family, career and business travel precluded much time for photography. It is only since I retired in 2012 that I have had the time to re-establish my involvement in photography. Much of photo time is spent in the environs of Charleston SC, my adopted home. Additionally, I now have the time for photo tours/workshops… Namibia in 2014, Iceland in 2016 and Polar Bear of Svalbard scheduled for 2017.

DT: Have you switched to Phase One or do you use it alongside other cameras?

John: I haven’t really “switched” to Phase One, but use is in conjunction with another system… most recently Fujifilm X-PRO2 mirrorless. My primary reason for adding a Phase One back was to take advantage of more pliable files, improved color and tonal gradation, and greater resolution; I have not been disappointed! I am using my Phase One IQ260 on a Cambo tech camera, and enjoy the slower and more deliberate work flow. As a by-product of working with a Phase One back, I have adopted Capture One as my primary image editor; I prefer the interface, workflow and end product.DT: Why did you select Digital Transitions to make your foray into medium format digital?

DT: Can you tell us a bit about your trip to Nambia?

John: I first worked with DT when I was having trouble getting answers from another vendor that I had previously worked with. DT has not disappointed; you always respond promptly and clearly. I had a tiling problem with my IQ260, and your tech people quickly helped me resolve the problem.

DT: Your trip to Iceland featured a near polar opposite (pun intended) landscape. What inspired you to travel there, and how did you plan your trip?

John: In April 2014 I completed a 20 day trip to Namibia to witness and photograph the country’s unique ecosystem with a group led by noted wildlife and wilderness photographers Joshua Holko and Andy Biggs. It’s one of the most arid regions in sub-Saharan Africa. My primary interest was the dunes at Sossusvlei which feature vivid pinks and oranges because of their iron content.

John: Iceland has been on my “Bucket list” for quite a while, due to its stark beauty, harsh conditions and geological history. I also prefer places where I can more closely interact with and get more involved in the environment… and take my time. Regarding planning my trip… that was done for me by the tour organizers, Joshua Holko and Daniel Bergmann. Following that 10 day tour, I hired another guide, Chris Lund, for 2 more days of travel to places that couldn’t be included in the first tour.DT: We especially enjoyed “Long Stretch of Black Sand Beach.” Can you step us through your mindset and process in creating this image?

John: My thought was for strong leading lines and a long depth of focus to convey the expansive nature of the scene. The image was captured with the Phase One IQ260 at ISO 50 on the Cambo Anniversary Edition with Rodenstock 40 HR-W lens at f/11. I wanted to have the patterns on the snow in the foreground illuminated by the sun, so the shadows would lead into the line of snow and wave receding into the distance. Additionally, I was hoping for the more distant section of the snow covered land to have some sunlight in order to draw the viewer’s eye more deeply into the picture. Sometimes, the foreground was illuminated, but not the background – sometimes vice versa – sometimes no illumination. But, there were enough thin spots in the clouds to encourage sticking with it. After about ½ hour of waiting, the thin spots in the clouds lined-up the way I had hoped. Also, the clouds did not clear completely, but thinned so that the sunlight was softened and not harsh. Sometimes you get lucky!Daniel Bergmann and I will be running our annual winter trip again in 2017 and bookings are now open and places are limited. Just drop me an email if you would like to join us.