Mixed clouds and sun is my favorite type of weather for landscape photography. It creates a dynamic light that often affords something interesting. The top and back light falling on this group of Adelie penguins gives contrast and separation, and the clouds add a sense of drama to the scene. Placing wildlife contextually in their natural habitat helps tell the story. The colony of birds on this island was significant. I forgot the number, but it was in the thousands, and watching them come and go into the water was both amazing and comical, in the way that penguins seem to invoke a smile simply by the way they move. Just minutes before this photo was taken, the group of people in my small inflatable boat had just experienced a remarkable encounter with a humpback whale and her calf. I wrote about that in a newsletter yesterday, and if interested, you can read it on my website.
Adelie Penguins, Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Canon 5D Mark III, 100-400mm f/5.6L IS, (100mm). 1/1000 sec @ f/9, ISO 200
Seems like Hope Bay was a highlight of the trip. Was the 100-400 your primary “zodiac” long lens, or did you also use a 70-200, depending on conditions (light levels)?
Mark, it was a great place, but there were others as well. I used the 100-400 for the long lens, and my 24-105 as well. I had the 16-35 but did not use it much.
Inspiring shots! Your photographs got me thinking even more about the Antarctica trip I’ve signed onto with Cheesemans for Dec-jan … Just 11 months to go. It will be a 50th birthday “sabatical” of sorts. Realize it’s a stretch, but would be awesome if you were aboard! Either way, I hope it is okay to drop you a line to ask some gear questions. Also, finally put to use the Lightroom demo you gave in Igloo 8 and made the leap. Cant believe i waited so long.
Eric,
You are in for a treat on your trip to the southern ocean, a great 50th. It’s too far out for me to know my plans for sure.