Exploring Antarctica & Crossing The Antarctic Circle

Dates: January 25-February 8, 2025

Instructor: Mike Mezeul II

(SOLD OUT! - Waitlist Available)

Ever wanted to visit the bottom of the world? Sounds kind of crazy, doesn’t it? Maybe you want to check that 7th continent off your list? Or heck, what if you just love towering crystal blue icebergs, thousands of penguins calling for your attention, humpback whales fluking their tails to show off for you, and massive ice covered mountains that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a real life version of the movie, “Frozen.” If any of that sounds like a bucket list to, I kindly invite you to come join myself and the team at Polar Latitudes for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to one of the most incredibly unique and beautiful places in the world, Antarctica.

On this 15 day expedition (12 days at sea) we will not only venture down to the Antarctica Peninsula, but with our ships capabilities and an outstanding crew on board, we will push past 66º30’ S and cross the Antarctic Circle! We will be spending the days as we traverse the Drake Passage preparing for our photography workshop with critiques, edit sessions, image reviews, and photography from the boat deck. Once we arrive in the Antarctica Peninsula, we plan on having at least two zodiac excursions / landings per day (weather permitting), where we will be up-close-and-personal with various wildlife and stunning landscapes. With so many locations available for us to explore, we will be having very full days! During our down time we will work on our images with sessions focusing on both Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as continuing to rattle off the frames from the various decks of our boat! Antarctica truly holds a special place in my heart and I’d love nothing more than to share this incredible journey with you.

What You Will Learn:

• How to create stunning and emotional wildlife imagery in one of the most remote areas of the world.

• How to create compelling and creative arctic landscape imagery.

• How to discover and utilize your camera to its fullest capabilities.

• How to create a variety of scenes with multiple lenses and how to think “outside the box.”

• An understanding for light and how to take advantage of it in all conditions.

• How to bring your imagery even more to life through post-processing.

• An introduction to black and white photography for wildlife and landscape genres.

• This history of Antarctica, the animals that call it home, and the amazing expeditions and research that have taken place at the bottom of the world.

• How to pick your jaw up off the floor because you are exploring one of the most unique and special places on Earth.

What You Will Need:

• A DSLR or mirrorless camera body.

• An assortment of lenses. Recommended lenses including a 14-24mm, 24-70mm, and 100-400mm or equivalent.

• At least the trial version of Lightroom or Photoshop on your laptop.

• Multiple batteries.

• A valid passport, visa and required vaccinations for traveling to Antarctica.

• Winter weather gear - Base layers, mid-layers, waterproof pants, gloves, and beanie.

• A desire to learn, have fun, be flexible, and experience some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world!

What's Included:

• Two nights accommodations prior to departure at the 5-star Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa.

• Transportation to/from Ushuaia Airport and/form hotel/ship.

• Porthole or window cabin onboard the MS Seaventure.

  • Please note: double occupancy

• All meals, beverages and snacks onboard the MS Seaventure.

• Breakfast at the Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa.

• Private workshop zodiac.

• On-hand post-production and critique sessions.

• Post-processing video set.

• Limited wifi onboard MS Seaventure with the option to purchase higher amounts.

• A high quality, Helly Hensen GoreTex Antarctica jacket.

• Access to my brain 24/7.

Itinerary:

January 25 - Day 1- Arrival Day!

No need to stress about missed connections or flight delays as you arrive with plenty of time to unwind and enjoy all that the luxurious Arakur Resort & Spa has to offer, or head out and discover the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. The street photography is fantastic within Ushuaia but if you’re ready to get into nature, there are several nearby hikes as well!

January 26 - Day 2, Ushuaia

Explore the sights of Ushuaia such as the museums and Argentinean leather markets or relax in style and comfort at the hotel. Attend the optional evening briefing with myself and Polar Latitudes for the opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.

January 27 - Day 3, Embarkation Day!

After a final morning exploring Ushuaia or unwinding at the resort, our mid-afternoon transfer will take us to the beautiful MS Seaventure. The Polar Latitudes Expedition Team and ship staff will greet you on board, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and Captain’s welcome dinner. We will set sail and be on our way to Antarctica as we cruise the Beagle Channel!

January 28/29 - Days 4-5, The Drake Passage

We will be sailing south through the infamous Drake Passage towards Antarctica! During this time, we will be working on portfolio reviews, critique sessions, discussing compositional approaches to Antarctica, and photographing plenty of amazing birds and ocean scenes from the deck. We will also be able to join the Polar Experts in the lounge to immerse yourself in all things Antarctic, from its fascinating wildlife to its adventurous history; choose to participate in Polar Latitudes renowned Citizen Science program; or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching your first glimpses of wildlife. We will also have amazing opportunities to photograph some of the biggest seabirds as they follow the ship during our crossing. As we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctic waters, you’ll start to notice the cooler temperatures, your cue to get ready for that first iceberg sighting, an unforgettable moment on every journey.

January 30 - Day 6 - South Shetland Islands

LAND! The volcanic South Shetland Islands will be our first Antarctica encounters, offering amazing abundance and beauty, so we’ll hop into our inflatable Zodiac boat and spend as much time as possible exploring and focusing on landscape imagery.

January 31- February 2 - Days 7-9 - The Antarctic Circle

Heading south across the Bransfield Strait, we sail towards the Antarctic Circle. From our most southern point (south of the Antarctic Circle), we’ll start making our way back north, cruising through the narrow channels of the Antarctic Peninsula. We will have zodiac excursions and landings multiple times each day (weather permitting) to get our fill in of wildlife and beautiful arctic scenery.

February 3-5 - Days 10-12, The Antarctic Peninsula

Heading north, we’ll explore any number of picturesque bays and famed harbors, maneuvering through majestic channels as we travel the wildlife-rich waters. There are great opportunities to stop at several active scientific bases and historic landing sites as we spot numerous species of penguins, seals, and whales along the rugged coastlines and in the sea.

February 6-7 - Days 13-14 - The Drake Passage

We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage photographing birds and oceanscapes. We will have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and a final meal together.

February 8 - Day 15, Ushuaia Disembarkation

With huge smiles, full memory cards, and an urge to turn the boat around back south….we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.

Itinerary subject to change depending on weather. There will also be several image review and edit sessions throughout the days.

Our Ship - MS Seaventure

When voyaging down to Antarctica, it’s vital to have the best possible vessel to ensure a safe, capable, and explorative journey. The MS Seaventure is outfitted perfectly for this challenge and one of the primary reasons as to why we are exploring with Polar Latitudes. The MS Seaventure works great for our photographic needs as it is a 1A Super ice class rating (highest possible), can cruise at a speedy13.5 knots, and only holds 139 passengers…leaving plenty of space to spread out and for easier zodiac / landing excursions. She is also outfitted with two beautiful lounges to edit and present in, a fully stocked bar, library, an indoor and outdoor restaurant eating area, a fitness room and sauna…you know, for those few minutes you’re not taking photos!

What Are The Cabin Options?

We have set aside two different cabin styles for workshop participants. Your choice of cabin style will dictate your final expedition price. Rooms are shared with other workshop participants (double occupancy) of the same sex.

What Wildlife Will We See?

The wildlife in the Antarctica Peninsula is truly spectacular, so come prepared with multiple empty memory cards! Our journey will give you the opportunity to put so many varieties of wildlife in front of your lens. From a handful of various penguins including (Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adélie, and possibly more), seals (Weddell, Crabeater, Leopard, Fur), whales (Humpback, Orca, Minke, Fin), birds (Wandering Albatross, Giant Petrel, Snow Petrel, Brown Skua, Souther Polar Skua, Antarctic Petrel) and more!

Physical Requirements:

There will be minimal hiking involved in this workshop. There are options to hike further if you’d like, but it is not required. Zodiac excursions can be bumpy at times with larger swells. It is recommended to not have any major back or neck problems. There will be a kayaking excursion on one of the days as well. You will need to be able to row your own kayak for approximately one hour in mostly calm water conditions. There is the option to pass on the kayak expedition if you would like to. Please consult your physician if you may question your physical condition.

Kayaking Photo Excursion

There will be an opportunity for our photo workshop to get an extremely up close and personal look at Antarctica through a kayak excursion on one of our days in the Antarctic Peninsula! This opportunity is optional and available for $250/person. If you do not wish to participate in this outing, you will be able to join another zodiac to go photograph. It is an absolutely incredible opportunity and I do highly recommend participating! Kayaking is not too physically demanding as we will be kayaking in calm waters.

Where To Fly Into:

You will be arriving and departing from Malvinas Argentinas International Airport in Ushuaia, Argentina. This small airport can usually be reached by connecting through Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Financial Investment & Expedition Tuition

I want nothing more than you to come join us for this incredible and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Antarctica. That’s why myself and Polar Latitudes are breaking down our expedition payments in a way that we feel will make this workshop affordable for all!

Payment 1 - A 20% Non-Refundable deposit is due upon registration.

Payment 2 - Your remaining balance due 180 days prior to our expedition start.

To register, please click the button at the bottom of the page. You will be prompted with an email to Polar Latitudes and they will help take care of the rest!

PLEASE NOTE: Payments can be made prior to 180 days before if you’d like to make payments on your expedition to help spread out your investment.

REGISTRATION & AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

*A 20% Non-refundable deposit is required to register*