Polar Bears of the High Arctic 2020 Expedition Announcment

Bookings are now open for my 2020 Polar Bears of the High Arctic expedition to Svalbard in July next year. (Read the report from last years expedition). The expedition runs from the 6th of July until the 15th of July and is strictly limited to twelve participants (some places already spoken for).

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 Freya that will enable us to skirt the edge of the pack ice searching for and photographing Polar Bears. M.S Freya 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. You can check out testimonials from previous participants HERE.

Testimonials – Svalbard in Winter by Snow Mobile 2019

“Josh, Just wanted to drop you a line about our expedition since we were all whisked away so quickly to parts unknown on our last day. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a part of this expedition and that’s a word I don’t use lightly. It was at times difficult, even very difficult but no truly great experience of this nature should be easy. You and Emil were at all times consummate professionals concerned with our safety first. I never was fearful, your careful instructions and planning eliminated any uncertainty. To be in that place, that very special and unique place was for a once in a lifetime chance that I will never forget. Knowing very few people in this world have or will ever have such an adventure makes me feel especially fortunate. I’m going to let my pictures “steep” in the camera for a while and ruminate on this experience so as to fully appreciate it all.

Thanks once again to you and Emil for never once making us feel like ‘greenhorns’. I wish all the best to you and your future endeavours knowing they’ll be a great success.”

Kevin 

“Joshua,

Thanks a lot. From the beginning to the end the entire expedition was unforgettable. I will always remember it. Kevin, Dave and I now have lots of beautiful memories to share with our grandchildren, many years later those memories will be pass to others like grandfather’s mythologies (I mean that with some new editions and improvisations of those memories).

Best regards,

Fatih”

“Hey Joshua,

Thank you for an amazing adventure. It was spectacular and to share it with you was THE BEST. I am so happy that you consider us friends because that is how we think of you. I will always remember this and what a wonderful time with you, Emil, Fatih, Kevin and myself. I know that I will see you again and I hope the same with Fatih and Emil. And now onto the second part of the adventure. When I bought your beautiful polar bear photo on the ice never did I think what it would lead to. I just wanted to go on a trip with the person who made such beauty and it just lead into this. I look forward to being with you many more times. Thanks again Joshua! Best.

Dave”

Testimonial from Robert Young – Polar Bears of Svalbard Expedition 2018

Hi Josh, Jill and I want to thank you very much for the Polar Bears of Svalbard Expedition. What can I say? Seeing and photographing polar bears on the sea ice was a major life experience. We never thought that we would be able to go so far north and see these magnificent animals so close in their natural habitat. Thank you for the support advice and help you gave us with the photography and the image processing. We also enjoyed getting to know the other photographers in our small group, We learned a lot from just watching the experienced wildlife photographers amongst them.

Along with you, your two guides were extremely professional, knowledgeable and helpful at all times making sure we had the maximum amount of time and information to enjoy the experience. And a big thanks to the crew of the ship who took us there and back and made sure we were (over) fed and watered. Their cheerfulness and skills really added to the whole experience.  Thanks once again for an experience we will never forget.

Regards
Rob Young

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.

Testimonial from Linda Caldwell – Iceland Winter the Frozen North 2017

Dear Josh, This is a very long overdue note to let you both know how much I loved the Icelandic journey!  I am still reliving the trip and am astounded at how much we saw – and photographed!  
Both of you are amazing photographers who are also great leaders and helpers – a very rare combination – so I feel extremely lucky to have had the chance to travel with you.  It was a great learning experience for me to be with a group of landscape photographers and I hope to repeat the adventure again one day.  
Thank you!
Linda