29 Oct Photography and Wildlife Viewing in the Arctic
Photography and Wildlife Viewing in the Arctic
Alex Burridge-Managing Director Arctic Travel Centre
There are many reasons for wanting to capture some wonderful images whilst cruising in the Arctic (or Antarctica).
Images of ourselves, are relatively easy, and don’t be shy about asking another client, as opposed to always trying for a selfie.
Land, sea and icescapes: just take a little time out on deck or a moment whilst out walking to look up and take in the amazing views (if you’re in a zodiac and see a shot once again don’t be afraid to ask the zodiac driver to stop, slow down or to manoeuvre for the right angle, if it’s safe, they will always say yes).
Good wildlife images can be a little more challenging, movement (either of the subject or the zodiac), distance and lighting all play a significant role.
Below I set out a few thoughts on phones and digital cameras, zoom lenses and binoculars, all reasonably obvious, and I hope they are helpful in enabling you to capture some wonderful memories.
I Phones etc
Newer phones have really very good cameras in them – particularly given their size. I suggest making sure the camera setting is capturing the largest file (which gives you a greater choice of what you use them for). Also please make sure you have adequate space/memory so your phone can store all the images. Additionally some form of phone case that gives you more grip/control is useful; as you don’t want to drop it in windy conditions…
Prince Leopold Island is in itself a magnificent spectacle. We are not allowed to go too close to the cliffs, at the base of the cliff we’ve spotted a mother Polar bear and cub.
An Iphone can take amazing images. Slightly zoomed you can start to make out the bears.
Here I’ve zoomed in almost as far as the phone allows. The more you zoom the more pixilated the image. Plus any camera shake or movement of the zodiac will mean a less sharp image. And you can see what it is..
Getting Close-ups
Some wildlife is nervous, and no matter how good your guide is you won’t be able to get close.
Birds on the wing and with new regulations in Svalbard (Norway) and Greenland, Polar bears will often be at some distance (ships and zodiacs have to retreat to a minimum of 300 metres from any Polar bear). If good images of birds and Polar bears, walrus etc are something you will treasure and enjoy long after the trip then a Digital camera with a decent zoom will provide better results than a phone camera (even though phone cameras have powerful zooms at a distance and with a moving subject and, or, a moving platform (boat or zodiac) it’s difficult to capture quality images).
A 70-300mm or 100-500m zoom should provide some really good images – also the range of a zoom is handy as it can save changing lenses in potentially difficult circumstances (in a zodiac with strong winds, sea spray etc). A monopod can also be useful (get one that telescopes for ease of carrying).
It was time to use the 100-500mm lens and DSLR I have. As we get a little closer I can start to get some decent images even in relatively poor light and at a distance.
With time the bears become inquisitive; they seem to sense we pose no threat.
It’s a close I can get with the zoom. I suggest swapping between taking pictures and using binoculars to get closer to see the animals move and to study their behaviour.
Binoculars
If you are happy just having a good look (i.e. not taking pictures) I strongly recommend a pair of say 8×40 binoculars – not too big and will get you a lot closer (even when viewing penguins in Antarctica, where you can be quite close, to see the feathers and colours in detail with a pair of binoculars can be a wonderful thing to do). As with any optical equipment good equipment can be costly. Opticron or Nikon offer well priced options and Swarovski or Leica offer some very beautiful equipment – which are particularly good in poor light. Some binoculars can be used to take images with a phone camera – perhaps not perfect and still good memories to keep.
It pays to check things out, with binoculars. At first it’s just a white blob on the hill and as it’s sort of out place, which is why I kept watching through my binoculars.
White blobs don’t move and now when zoomed in on and examined on the camera you can tell it’s two Polar bears.
This is from the deck of the ship. Irrespective of how close the thrill of seeing polar bears in their natural habitat lifts the mood on the ship.
Sometimes it’s a good idea just to forget cameras or binoculars and just sit back and soak up the entire spectacle; towering cliffs with tens of thousands of birds (fulmar, kittiwakes, guillemots, gulls and maybe a Peregrine, or for the incredibly fortunate, a Gyr falcon).
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