The ultimate adventure for travel photographers (and world travelers) is only a few months away: this December with Abercrombie & Kent voyage on voyage to Antarctic – aboard the beautiful and spacious M/V Le Boreal.

Click here for trip info!

I will be the photo coach on this incredible voyage, helping guests make pictures, rather than just take pictures. Naturalists will also be on board, as part of the ship's educational program, helping guests gain a better understanding of the animals and the environment – which also helps in the photographic process.

In preparation for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, I'll share some photo tips, as well as some photographs of the ship in this blog post. To illustrate my tips, I'll use some photographs that I took on previous Antarctica adventures (to different locations) – so please keep in mind that you may not see all of these subjects/species.

Here we go:

Expose for the Highlights – Getting a good exposure of a scene with ice and snow against blue water and sky can be tricky. To ensure a good exposure, activate your camera's highlight alert, and make sure (by using your +/- control) that you don't have any "blinkies," which indicate overexposed areas of a scene.

See Eye-to-Eye – When photographing on land and from a zodiac (inflatable boats pictured below at the stern of the ship), try to see eye-to-eye and shoot eye-to-eye. This helps the viewer of the photograph relate to the subject. Left: Weddell seal. Right: Leopard seal.

Pack Smart for Shore Trips – I'll be on hand to make camera/lens/exposure recommendations. The main idea when leaving the ship: don't take a ton of gear. Take only what you think you need to make great pictures. For now, I recommend a wide-angle zoom (24-105mm) for landscapes and seascapes, and a telephoto zoom (70-200mm or 100-400mm) for wildlife portraits. If you only want to take one lens, I'd suggest a 24-105mm.

Pack a Polarizing Filter – A polarizing filter can help you see under water, revealing more of an iceberg. It can also cut down on glare on the water and ice.

My Seminars – Speaking of icebergs, these photo guidelines are only the tip of the iceberg. I'll share much more info – on composition, exposure, camera settings, lens selection and photo processing – in my seminars in the ship's theater.

Photo Reviews – When we are not out photographing, guests can bring their laptops to the lounge for a quick photo review. Just make sure your laptops are fully charged. And, don't delete a "bad" photo. We may be able to save it in Photoshop or Lightroom.

It Never Hurts to Ask – The skilled Zodiac drivers will help you get great shots, but if you see something that you'd like to photograph, don't be shy. Ask the driver if it's possible to move the boat into a position so you can get your shot, which is what I did to get this image. Please keep in mind, however, that it's always "safety first."

Be Prepared – You are going to see some amazing ice formations on this adventure. You don't want to be "left out in the cold," so to speak, with a dead camera battery or a full memory card. Pack extras in your jacket every time you leave the ship.

Be Aware of the Background – The background can make or break a scene. Compose your pictures carefully, and choose a wide aperture to either blur a distracting background (as I did here) or a small aperture to get the entire scene in focus.

Capture the Action – Animal portraits are nice, but action shots usually have more impact. To stop the action when using a telephoto lens, use a shutter speed of 1/1000th second, (a general guideline) and try to shoot at the peak of action.

Take the Fun Shots – Sure, serious photographers want to come home with some seriously good photographs. Don't forget, however, to take the fun shots – shots that will help you tell the story of your adventure – a story you will definitely want to share with your family and friends.

On that note, I like to make learning fun – as you will see on this trip.

Ask Rick – On the ship and on land, please keep in mind that no question is too basic or too simple. Don't be shy, I am there to help. If you will be on the cruise, please shoot me an email with any photo related question.

Explore the Light,
Rick

P.S. For more photography tips, check out my latest (and 36th) book: Creative Visualization for Photographers.