Journey to the Bottom of the World (continued)		Page 2 of 3 | Back · Next · Return to Main Articles
		people photography would not be a consideration.      I also wanted Antarctica all to myself and to experience the environment with as few people as possible. Therefore i chose an expedition that guaranteed we would be the first boat of the season to the continent.      Quark Expeditions in Darien, Connecticut, is considered to be one of the best companies in the world for polar expeditions. On a Russian ice-strengthened vessel, along with 40 other adventure travelers from around the world and a mostly Russian crew, we departed from Ushuaia, South America, in early November for a two-week voyage.
	Ushuaia is the most southern tip of South America on the island known as Tierra Del Fuego, Patagonia. Some 800 miles from Antarctica, Ushuaia is the closest departure point from South America.      Ice and weather dictate everything in Antarctica. The only times of the year you can safely
go there are from november through April. By leaving in early November we knew we would be the first passenger vessel to access the continent this season.      However, we also know by being the first boat, there were many more risks and obstacles involved. The ice conditions would be unknown, and stepping foot on the continent could not be guaranteed by our Russian captain.      Due to the extreme cold and unpredictable weather of Antarctica, preparing for this trip took greater thought than any of my previous trips. Both proper clothing and photographic equipment are essential to successful pictures in polar climates.      Because of the weather and constantly changing lighting conditions, I decided to bring 100, 200 and 400 speed slide film. This proved to be very wise since some of the days were quite bright while others were cloudy and stormy. I suggest packing at least 10 to 20 more rolls of film than you think you will need - with no place to purchase any extras it becomes a precious commodity.      It is also a good idea if you bring two or even three camera bodies. My Nikon FE2's were cleaned and lubricated before I left to help ensure reliability. I prefer manual SLRs since I am so familiar with them and can make basic repairs on them because of their simpler designs.      An Antarctic expedition usually means cold and wet conditions whenever you leave the main vessel. Therefore, I wanted to make sure I brought the right clothing. Layering long-sleeve shirts with sweaters underneath a parka would keep the sometimes 20-below-zero temperatures at bay.      After I had explored and photographed Tierra Del Fuego for 10 days, I was anxious to make my way to the "great white continent." I boarded my boat and at sunset began to cruise through the Beagle Channel. As we passed Cape Horn and entered the open ocean, things began to get rough. Here is a passage from my diary on our third day out:      "I stand at the bow of the boat looking for the first sighting of Antarctica. We get a reprieve from the two day, 600 miles of rocking and rolling, also known as "The Drake

February 2000 | Photographic	Page 2 of 3 | Back · Next · Return to Main Articles
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