BIRDS AND MORE BIRDS

The bird life in Antarctica is amazing. The variety of species is remarkable, especially considering the harsh conditions. I have already photographed many different kinds of penguins as well as albatross, cara cara, the rare South Georgia pipet, petrels, and more. The penguins are so comical, and they often waddle right up to me to say hello. The temperatures are quite mild, although it is mid-summer here. The average daily temps are between 30 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.




Even though birds can usually be approached quite closely, I am still getting a lot of use out of my 500mm lens. It allows me to fill the frame with the details of the birds' faces and feathers.

The geology here is also incredible. The jagged peaks of South Georgia are covered in lichens and patches of snow. This is as close to visiting another planet as you can get without actualy leaving the Earth.

We arrived in Antarctica this morning, and I started shooting at 5am -- 3 1/2 hours after sunrise! I will post some dramatic shots of icebergs in the next blog and talk about exposing for snow and ice.