Jonathan Chester Extreme Images

December 29th Post

2011-12-31T09:01:00.000-08:00

Note: The pictures for this post will be coming soon.

KK Log 12. 29
4pm. We are rolling our way back to Australia through the Southern Ocean
which is over 2500 miles to the east. It will take us over 6 days to make
the passage and we are traveling with the prevailing westerly winds and
currents which is some help but this rounded hull icebreaker rolls more than
most vessels so it is a challenge to get around the ship.

Photography now is more limited but the best subjects our the larger ocean
seabirds, the albatross and possibly some whales.

We had hoped to make a landing this morning at Long Beach on the southern
side of Heard Island but the 40 to 50 knot winds wrapping around the
mountain then blasting offshore made it impossible. While this was
disappointing our success yesterday landing at Atlas Cove on the other side
of the Island more than allayed any frustration.

These winds had begun about 6 pm yesterday as we repositioned the ship from
the north to the south we were hit with some dramatic squalls. Initially we
were enveloped in cloud but later the sun began to peak through some holes
creating very dramatic lighting. I was on the deck above then bridge
immediately after dinner for several hours trying to capture the ferocity
and beauty of the storm. Mini tornado like vortices came spinning down off
the mountain. On Heard they are called Willy Waws and there were al least
two or two or three of them blasting across the ocean much of the time as we
made our way east. When they intersected with the ship the windspeed jumps
10 to 20 knots and it was difficult to stand. There were other sheets of
wind knocking the waves flat and millions tiny prions battling the elements.
Also called whale birds, because they have baleen like teeth for filter
feeding) they were attempting to get back to their nests on the Island at
the end of the Day.

Our approach to Heard Island yesterday morning was filled with trepidation.
The Kapitan Khlebnikov under Quark charter had attempted to visit the Island
on three previous occasions and been rebuffed by the weather every time.
Only one passenger out of some 90 people had indeed landed on the Island and
none of the other staff had either apart from myself and this was some 30
years ago when we made the second ascent of Big Ben on a private sailing
expedition. We spent a month on the Island in all manner of atrocious
conditions and I was under no illusions as to what we would find today.

As the sun began to rise most of the island was visible at sea level but the
top was shrouded in cloud. For just a few seconds a part of the upper
reaches appeared bathed in golden daw light. This was to be the only
sighting of the top of the mountain for the entire time we were in the
region.

We could see from a long way off shore that the Southern permissible landing
site, Long Beach, was running a heavy surf and so we sailed eastward around
the island to Atlas Cove on the NW corner. This was very protected and calm
enough for our first zodiac landing of the voyage. Helicopters were not
permitted to be used but this was not an issue.

There were even patches of sun as we motored ashore and landed on the long
curving black sandy beach of this castaway island. The wildlife was
abundant with dozens of massive elephant seals snoozing in several clumps
along the beach to south and our first king penguins scattered in other
groups of molting birds or non breeders ambling around. A dozen Southern
giant petrels scavenged on the carcass of a rotting Minke Whale, and
Antarctic terns dived on invisible tiny crustacea along the shore.

The remains of the ANARE base just a few meters inland were of considerable
interest to me and the those with an historical bent.
More than a dozen buildings were completely flattened. Only one of the huts
from the 1947-55 era of continuous Australian occupation was still standing
but it was held together with several massive cargo nets. The bulldozer
like 200 - 400 kg elephant seals have been the major cause for the rapid
demise of the base. Once a structure is breached the regular hurricane force
winds take care of the rest of the demolition in short order. A short
distance away there were three modern structures used by scientific field
parties and as emergency shelters. One was a green fiberglass domed shape
apple hut and two were large converted plastic water tanks. All these were a
far cry from the wood and steel buildings of all the earlier eras of
habitation but it questionable if they will outlive their more traditionally
constructed counterparts.

It was a real privilege to get ashore and after a few hours the weather
began to deteriorate with a rain shower and rising wind and seas so we were
all ferried back to the ship in the Zodiacs via the far side of the bay.
This held a leopard seal in the boiling surf beneath a rocky hillside of
Macaroni penguins... a final treat for the day.

The winds strengthened to gale force as we headed out of the Atlas Cove
around 6pm.
--
Jonathan

Jonathan Chester
East Antarctica aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov.

Christmas Eve Post

2011-12-31T08:58:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone.

We were parked in an ice floe off the coast of MacRobertson Land, East
Antarctica about 100 miles east of Australia's Mawson Station on Christmas
morning. The day began with blue skies and no wind which was a blessing.

Our last big outing in Antarctica was yesterday to the Cape Darnley Emperor
Penguin colony which was nestled in among giant icebergs. The staff flew
out about 10 am and our staff helicopter back was at 11.30pm. A long day in
an amazing place that looked like it was lifted from the script of Happy
Feet. Thankfully it was shirtsleeves weather all day and most of the
passengers who could manage the 1000 meter hiked from the landing site got
to see adult emperor penguins with chicks against the backdrop of a dramatic
ice cliff. This was a very photogenic spot with several hundreds fluffy grey
chicks with occasional adults fully fledged in their bright orange ear
patches. The main colony another kilometer further east, was a little more
of challenge to reach and passengers had to be guided over some tricky ice
in groups of 10 or so. No matter where one was, however it was great to see
the birds coming and going up and down a steep hill on their way to the sea
to feed. Some chicks were close to fledging having lost parts or all of
their downy feathers. Many were chasing the adults wanting to be fed. Adults
had returned from the sea some 20 miles across the fast ice, an incredible
distance for a bird to waddle or toboggan, but only a fraction of the
distance these birds have to travel in winter. It was a great spectacle.
The keen photographers were very satisfied' especially the Chinese group
with their monster 600 and 800 mm lenses and panorama and large format
cameras.

The other amazing site was a giant ice tunnel that completely cut through a
large grounded iceberg. It was probably once a crevasse that became bridged
over then covered by a few hundred years of ice. The sun lit up the opening
at the far end of the tunnel accentuating the wonderful shades of blue
colors that deepened as you looked towards the center of the 200 meter
shaft. Hundreds of other grounded bergs in the vicinity made a spectacular
site, especially when viewed from the helicopter on the way to and from the
ship.

This was a wonderful Christmas eve present for everyone and a high note to
go out on. Passengers were so pleased with the day they treated staff to
many rounds of drinks after we got back. There were also multiple
invitations to come to China to visit them.

Our first activity Christmas Day was a flight for the passenger onto an
iceberg for a photo with Santa and the bragging rights, then a flight around
the ship. This was our last landing in Antarctica. I helped run the
helicopter operation for a while Then we had a BBQ Christmas Brunch on the
Bow. By this time it had clouded over and was very chilly but great fun all
the same.

Best wishes from the frozen South.

Jonathan

Jonathan Chester
East Antarctica aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov.

2011-12-18T20:48:00.000-08:00

Bowman Island.

2011-12-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

Saturday 17th Budd Coast, Antarctia. We have passed the position of Casey
Station, heading west parallel to the coast. When we are due north of Bowman
Island we will head south again pushing into the ice. Lectures today were Frank Todd's Photography Tips, and All about Icebreakers by Bob Headland, former Historian and Archivist at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, England. Bob is a long time
traveler on polar expeditions and author of a number of books on polar
history so he is a key person to have on board, educating passengers about
the history and geography of the places we are visiting. Quiet afternoon but
we are making our way to Bowman Island at 6.00 pm.

I went onto the bridge and set up a camera to shoot a time lapse on the
flying bridge and a passenger came to show me his camera and asked if the
seal he had just photographed was the elusive Ross Seal. Indeed it was a
Ross Seal but we had been pushing hard to get to Bowman Island and I did not
feel confident enough that we would find it if we turned the ship around and
so I let it go. About 30 minutes later we spotted another seal and a quick scan
with the binoculars confirmed that it was another Ross Seal, only the
fourth anyone  had seen on the entire trip. We had turned the ship around
once before a day ago when someone thought they had seen one, such is their
rarity. I asked Gregory the watch officer to stop the ship and quickly got
on the PA and informed the rest of the passengers, not already on the bridge
that there was a Ross Seal at 4 o'clock on the starboard side of the ship.

  Directions are given on ships with the bow as 12 o'clock, so that
everyone has the same point of reference. Getting port and starboard
right is still a challenge for me despite the many many voyages I have made
and I always double check myself with the mantra "red port wine is best
left" which gives me the color of the port light and the side of the ship in
a memorable way. Within minutes of the announcement the outer decks were
crawling with camera toting passengers. Once the ship had reversed and
turned around the smallest of the Antarctic "true seals" came into view from
behind a plinth of hummock ice and cameras began firing in a fusillade that
would rival the battle of Gettysburg. I managed a few reference shots
myself, but it was easy to feel out gunned in such a situation when the
"Amazing Group" bring out their 600mm glass and began blazing away.
Fortunately the little guy shimmied around on the ice flow, but did not head
into the water so everyone got a shot which was the wildlife high point of
the day.

We reached the ice edge off Bowman Island at around 9 pm in less than ideal
conditions. It was overcast and blowing about 30 knots when a reconnisance
helicopter flight revealed that most of the Emperor Penguins had already
departed and all that remained were about 100 chicks that were partially
fledged. They we're hunkered down several hundred meters back from the ice
edge. It was too windy to make any more flights and so the ship nosed up to
the ice edge and ran an engine to hold position while everyone clustered on
the bow trying to get the best shot possible under difficult conditions. The
ice bergs began closing in on the ship so the captain decided it was time to
leave.So ended our all too brief Emperor Penguin encounter but the elements
ruled on the day and everyone seemed content with what we had been able to
accomplish.
--
Jonathan

Jonathan Chester
East Antarctica aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov.

From humpbacks to sunsets: another great day in Antarctica

2011-12-16T18:34:00.000-08:00

Sat Dec 16 7am Light pack ice again over cast sky and we are headed for
Bowman Island still 400 miles to the west where we hope to find an Emperor
Penguin colony. We have a satellite photo and the coordinates but this ship
and some of the staff have tried to find his colony 4 times before without
success. We hope we have better information and perhaps luck this time.We
had a time change on our clocks last night due to our westward passage
which gave me an extra hour of sleep which was much appreciated. A lone minke
whale was spotted about 9 am. Possibly a Humpback whale in the vicinity as
well, because a blow was also spotted. Lots of Antarctic petrels following
the ship. They are an indication that ice is nearby.

We had a lecture on Antarctic seabirds this morning given by world famous
birder, Frank Todd, who I am sharing a cabin with. Frank is a veteran of
hundreds of Arctic and Antarctic cruises over 30 plus years. A gifted
raconteur and lecturer, he has people enthralled with his gazetteer
knowledge of the biological world, plus he illustrates his programmes with
superb photos he has shot over many, many expeditions all around the world.

I am feeling relaxed not having to give a lecture today. I introduced
a documentary this afternoon on the life of Frank Hurley, which was a
pleasure being able to share my passion for his life and work with our
passengers and my colleagues. This comes on the heels of our visit to
Commonwealth Bay and the rare opportunity that some of us had to have a
brief time ashore at Cape Denison. Access to then inside of Mawson's Huts
was not possible due to the build up of snow and ice especially by the
entrance door.

1400hrs. (2 pm) speed over ground 12 knots Air temp 4.4 Water temp 1.1
Medium pack ice some with large icebergs towards the coast to the
south. Heading 278 degrees W Sabrina Coast 63.44 98.2 s. 117 49' 73 E. We
are not far off Australia's scientific base, Casey Station, which had been
on our original itinerary but the base is in the middle of their annual
resupply by the Auroral Australis so we are not able to visit. With open
pack ice ahead there is the prospect of lots of wildlife sightings. We have
seen several crabeater seals, a few minke whales and many seabirds,
ranging from Antarctic petrels, light mantled sooty albatross, pintardo
petrels, so there are lots of material for then photograhers.

Tonight we had a funny hats competition in the bar... One of the many
activities to keep our travellers amused on these sea days. It was
fun and many went to a lot of trouble to create a humorous form of headwear.
In a last minute fit of inspiration I plaited a head dress of computer
cables, iPods, wires and power cables , a modern medusa, so to speak, and
hung my iPad around my neck playing a whale movie. I managed to be chosen as
one of the best staff get ups. I find it helps to make fun of myself and
the amount of gear I bring.

Photographers are everywhere on the ship. There are the regular keen
travellers with all manner of small point and shoot to high end digital
SLR cameras who make up about a third of our group. Then we have about 20
people from China called the "Amazing Group", some of whom are professional
wildlife photographers and the rest very serious amateurs. The camera
equipment between them would more than fill a thriving high end camera
store. There are digital Hassleblads and 120 roll film Linhoff 6 x 17 cm
panorama cameras, Leicas, new 4/3, EVIL (electronic viewfinder
interchangable lense) Nikon V1s and everyone seems to have at least two
Canon full frame digital bodies with 500 or 600 mm f2.8 telephoto lenses
that look like bazookas, plus expensive wide angle glass as well. It is
fascinating to see them in action.

The striking sunset at midnight, attracted most of the Amazing Group
shooters and a few others of us onto the very top deck above the bridge
snapping away for several hours. Shafts of sunlight piercing patches of
cloud reflected off the water and ice floes lighting up the underside of the
clouds with pink and salmon hues. It was freezing cold but well worth the
inconvience of having to be rugged up with many jackets gloves and hats to
get the shots. The ingredients of low sun, clouds, ice flows, and calm water
produced a tapestry of colors, patterns and reflections that made for a
rewarding evenings shooting.

All in all another great day in Antarctica.

Best wises
Jonathan

Jonathan Chester
East Antarctica aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov.

2011-12-14T19:55:00.000-08:00

December 13th we were parked early in the early morning 13 miles from
Commonwealth Bay, the ship nosed into fast ice ( frozen sea connected to the
shore). At 6 am it was still overcast and snowing, By 9 am we headed off
for a helicopter reconnaissance of Mawson's Huts, but the regulations
required us to land 1.5 km from the nesting penguins at Cape Denison and the
hut which meant quite a hike across the fast ice. The katabatic wind was
blowing consistently at 30 to 35 knots which was too windy to ferry the 90
plus passengers to this location, an operation that would take many hours,
but a few of the staff, me included, got to run over to the hut very quickly
and check it out. It was great to get there but all too rushed and after a
few photographs and a circuit of the main hut and the nearby ruin of the
transit hut we had to scurry back to the landing site. In the meantime the
rest of the staff and the 600 lbs of emergency kit had arrived at the fast
ice "base camp" but the wind had not abated at all so the landing had to be
called off for the passengers.

I was very grateful that I got to the Hut and Cape Denison. It was a
poignant 30 mins surveying the windswept valley where I spent several months
with Project Blizzard over two visits in 1984-85 and 1985-86. Boat Harbor and
Commonwealth Bay were completely blanketed with fast ice, something I have
never seen before. There are big icebergs out in Commonwealth Bay that had
broken off the Mertz Glacier which may well be the reason that the whole
area is still locked up in fast ice. I very much doubt that any visitors on
ships without helicopters will get to the huts this season. A big storm and
a few weeks can change everything in these parts so it is hard to be too
definitive. All the gear and staff were ferried back to the ship in the
ancient Russian twin engine helicopters where it was sunny and calm. Quite
a contrast to the conditions at Cape Denison.

The staff were immediately then called upon to help chaperone passengers
walking on the ice around the ship photographing penguins and the ship. We
had a wonderful hour penguin peeping as they emerged from the open water by
the ship to begin their trek back to their nests over 15 miles across the
ice. It was a busy time. I even missed lunch having to rush back to the
helicopter deck for another flight back to Cape Denison and the Huts and this
time the weather was less windy so it was decided to start ferrying
passengers.

It was not possible to get into the main hut, there was so much ice caked up
against the entry door; so people just hiked around and toured the various
historic sites like the Memorial cross to Mertz and Ninnis, where I was
stationed to stop people wandering into the penguin rookeries.The weather
began to close in after about an hour and the Expedition Leader, Shane Evoy,
had to pull the plug as it was a 20 minute flight and the pilots were flying
in poor visibility conditions trying to ferry people back to the ship. In
the end only 2/3 of the people were able to get ashore, so you can imagine
there were some disgruntled people, but safety is such a consideration with
helicopter operations I would had made the same call. I was very please to
see the site, and said some words for my good friend, Michael Gatehouse,
whose name I found written on a bunk alongside mine, in the modern freezer
hut, where we lived in 1985/86 on Project Blizzard. Michael died recently
of a heart attack and I took his place on this expedition. RIP Michael.

All in all it was a very rewarding, but exhausting day capped off with a
photogenic sunset at midnight.

--
Jonathan

Jonathan Chester
East Antarctica aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov.

Greetings From the Middle of the Southern Ocean

2011-12-11T18:58:00.001-08:00

Greetings from the middle of the Southern Ocean.

Dec 11.

A last minute change to our itinerary has us heading due south of Hobart for
Commonwealth Bay, the site of Mawsons Huts.
I gave lecture today on Project Blizzard and Mawson's Huts,which was how I
got to visit the huts twice back in the early 80s. Yesterday I gave a talk
on the "Life of Sir Douglas Mawson, Australia's most famous Antarctic
explorer" which will hopefully set the scene for passengers whom knew little
on next to nothing about him.

We arrived in the pack Ice about 2 pm which meant that the ship is no
longer rolling quite so much which is a good thing. There was lots of
wildlife around as well for the birders and photographers of which there
are many many very serious ones. There is a whole group from China many with
huge lenses, which have just started to appear. They have an interpreter so
all the announcements are repeated in Chinese.

I have been too busy to spend much time on my own photography" but I did do
some shooting today when we had hot chocholate on the bow at 4 pm. It was
very chilly so the rum spiked drinks were much appreciated.

We may have a chance to visit Commonwealth Bay tomorrow but it is quite
heavy ice which has slowed us down so it may be the day after. We have
helicopters if we can't use zodiacs but we can't land closer than 1.5 km
however so it could be a tough walk. Mind you if it is windy, as it so often
is, we won't be flying. So even as far as we have come there are no
guarantees about getting to the huts but it will be so great if we can.
Bob Headland, from the Scott Polar Research Institute, and I are the
official hut guides. Each of us can go into the hut with just 3 others at a
time. Il could take quite a while together everyone throught the place if as
we have some 85 passengers.

Best wishes for now.

Jonathan on the frozen sea!

2011-12-06T18:58:00.001-08:00

Our Ship the Russian Ice breaker, the Kapitan Khlebnikov, slides into Hobart on its way to Antarctica. We leave at 8pm this evening for Commonwealth Bay.

2011-12-06T18:45:00.001-08:00

Breaking news.... We may well be heading to Commonwealth Bay, The Home of the Blizzard and Mawson's Historic Huts to help extricate a French resupply vessel the Astrolabe that has been stuck in the ice for weeks. Keep you posted

Australia and Antarctica

2011-11-21T08:48:00.001-08:00

I am off to Antarctica today on my way to East Antarctica with Quark expeditions.

First stop was Hobart, Tasmania for the Douglas Mawson Centennial Symposium.

Advice to Students and Aspiring Professional Photographers

2011-11-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

Photo Linda Trimble - JC face to Face with Nikita at the KC Zoo

HOW TO GET STARTED
If you wish to become a professional photographer, perhaps the the most important thing to do is to keep taking lots of photos. All the while try to master new techniques and develop you own style. This is all part of building a portfolio to show your level of interest and ability. Becoming a professional photographer involves learning how to wear many hats. These may well include being an: artist, technician, marketer, sales person, digital wizard, packhorse, visionary and business person. It is a long road, but if you are passionate about making images then these are some of the skills that will be a part of your journey to become a professional.

EQUIPMENT

Having a versatile camera will also help you a lot when you get serious.. Mind you, you can also take great photos with smart phone, so its not just about the camera. You cannot go wrong with an level entry Canon or Nikon DSLR . Sony have some very good cameras now as well since they brought the Minolta. DP Review website is a good place to compare cameras. They have a buying guide. I shoot Nikon so so I know most about their models. The Nikon D3100 looks to be a very versatile which Amazon sells for under $600. It shoots great HD movies as well. I am sure Canon, Sony and Olympus have comparable models. Get the best lens/s you can afford. This may be a lot $$$ for you at the outset but you will be amazed what you can do with quality cameras and lenses.

ASSISTING

Take any photo classes at school, or work on the college newspaper. Try to get some work as an intern and later as an assistant. This is a very good way of getting to know the business of photography. As far interning goes when you are out of school on breaks, especially over summer, there are often jobs going. I am a member of the American Society of Media Photographers which has chapters all over the country. They have a register of experienced assistants. Enter the location where you are living and there will be a lit of local people who you might be able to contact to find the best photographers to contact and other tips about getting work as an intern. You can become a student member of ASMP for $45. This will get you into meetings where all the photographers who you many find work with hang out.

Most digital photographers need help (as will you when you get more experience ) with what is called "work flow". This is the best place to find about more about this dpBestflow.org Learning about archiving and knowing these programs, Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop, PhotoMechanic, plus video editing programs FinalCutProX, Adobe Premiere, Afereffects will be a huge advantage to getting work as an assistant. You need a good computer system to do good digital photo work and learn all about these tools. My recommendation is an Apple iMac 21.5". The also consider becoming a member of PhotoShelter which offers a great service to store images off site, as well help you deliver to clients, and market your work. The have lots of resources to help learn about the business of professional image making.

WHAT TO SHOOT?

It is a good idea to concentrate on one or two areas of things that you love to do or are passionate about and photograph them in every way possible. You then can become the "go to" person for that sort of work or subject. Be it food, or fashion, architecture or sport, find the specialty organizations that focus on they type of work you aspire to do. If you like nature, for example, the North American Nature Photography Association - NANPA is a great organization for wildlife and landscape shooters and they also have grants and scholarships.

VISUAL LITERACY

Always carrying a camera and taking lots and lots images is only part of the equation to becoming a great photographer. Becoming more visually literate should also be a life long learning process. Studying the work of the masters (photographers, designers and painters...) on line, via exhibitions, galleries, magazines and books is essential to developing your own . While my own book Extreme Digital Photography is a little dated now as far as camera models go, the shooting techniques and principals are still applicable. Some of my favorite contemporary US photographers are: Jay Maisel Photography Vincent Laforet, James Natchway, Greg Heisler, Carsten Peter, Jim Richardson and Joe McNally to name just a few. These are some of my photographer friend's sites:Kingman Photography, Corey Rich Photography, Martin Sundberg Photography.

RESOURCES

The major camera companies have sites for their top users and also great instructional videos and tutorials.

Nikon

http://www.nikonusa.com/Learn-And-Explore/Photography-Tips/index.page

http://www.nikonusa.com/Learn-And-Explore/NPS-Pro-Spotlight/index.page

Canon

Canon DLC: Explorers of Light Home

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/live_learning/workshop_main.shtml

Other Instructional sites/portals
The Luminous Landscape
For Nikon Shooters
Thom Hogan's Nikon Field Guide and Nikon Flash Guide
Photoshop
Tom Bol Photo Blog
Workflow
dpBestflow.org
Miscellaneous photography blogs and sites that I like and look at regularly are:.
American Society of Media Photographers
PetaPixel
TimeScapes Time Lapse Photography
Rob Galbraith DPI: Home
The Digital Journalist
MediaStorm

Photography Classes at the Kansas City Zoo Saturday November 5th , Saturday November 12th

2011-10-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

Wildlife Photography Classes

with Jonathan Chester at the KC ZOO

Wildlife Photography Workshop 101 - Shooting wildlife from Africa, an introduction to wildlife photography just moments from your home.

Who: High school students and adults

What: It’s a beautiful morning when you wake up the Zoo. Let Jonathan Chester show you the secrets to capturing exotic African animals as they come on exhibit before the public has access. Bring your digital camera and laptop (optional) to fully expand your potential in digital photography. Jonathan Chester will give you pointers while shooting at exhibits then lead you in a critique of your work.

When: Either Saturday, November 5th or Saturday November 12th 7:30am until 12:30pm. Featuring the Africa section of the Kansas City Zoo.

Cost: $95 per person, enrollment minimum of 6 and maximum of 20.

Pre-registration is required for all photography programming at least 2 days in advance.

To register call the Education Hotline at 816-513-5723, or you can download a printable request form to mail or fax in your registration.

Registration

	FOTZ Price	Non-FOTZ Price
November 5th, 2011	$95	$95
November 12th, 2011	$95	$95

Photography Classes at the Kansas City Zoo Wednesday June 15, Saturday June 18th Both days from 7.30 a.m. - 12.30 Just $95.

2011-05-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

Photography Classes with Jonathan Chester

Wildlife Photography Workshop 101 - Shooting wildlife from Africa, an introduction to wildlife photography just moments from your home.

Who: High school students and adults

What: It’s a beautiful morning when you wake up the Zoo. Let Jonathan Chester show you the secrets to capturing exotic African animals as they come on exhibit before the public has access. Bring your digital camera and laptop (optional) to fully expand your potential in digital photography. Jonathan Chester will give you pointers while shooting at exhibits then lead you in a critique of your work.

When: Either Wednesday, June 15th or Saturday, June 18th 7:30am until 12:30pm. Featuring the Africa section of the Kansas City Zoo.

Cost: $95 per person, enrollment minimum of 6 and maximum of 9.

Pre-registration is required for all photography programming at least 2 days in advance.
To register call the Education Hotline at 816-513-5723, or you can download a printable request form to mail or fax in your registration.
Sorry, no refund for cancellations received two weeks from program date.

Registration

	FOTZ Price	Non-FOTZ Price
June 15, 2011	$95	$95
June 18, 2011	$95	$95

Kansas City Environmental Exploration - Pembroke Hill Summer School Multimedia Class June 20 - 24th 8.30am - 3.30 pm

2011-05-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Chester returns to Summer at Pembroke Hill School for the 3rd year to teach his acclaimed Environmental Journalism Class from June 20 to the 24th. At just $360 which includes lunch, no experience or equipment is necessary. Ideal for students of incoming Grades 6+.

The aim of the class is have fun learning about some of the interesting environmental organizations and facilities in our city.

Field trips Each day we will make a field trip to a particular local site that embodies some aspect of the communities efforts to embrace an environmental or sustainable technology or practice.

Destinations may include: a community organic garden or farm, Shatto Milk , Ripple Glass recycling, Discovery Center’s green building. Lake Shore Nature Center, the Kansas City Zoo, Johnson County Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Participants will be encouraged to document their experience with video, still photos and sound recording equipment as a stepping stone to leaning environmental journalism.

Registration
Summer at Pembroke Hill 2011
400 W 51st Kansas City
MO 64112 816 9361377
www.Pembrokehill.org

More Details Contact Stacey Lukas Director of Auxiliary Programs 816-936-1377 slukas@pembrokehill.org

The Camera of the future - Today WVIL

2011-04-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

This demo on the trade show floor is very revealing .

The ARTEFACT group have a very very cool concept here. Wireless Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens camera. More details of the WVIL here

Heartland The Cookbook by Judith Fertig

2011-04-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

Becker Lane Pigs - Images by Jonathan Chester

A new cookbook is just out - Heartland The Cookbook by Judith Fertig. I spent 18 months traveling across much of the midwest photographing all manner of farms, markets, livestock, and produce and people for this endeavor . The book has just been published by Andrews McMeel

Judith was interviewed by Kansas City radio host Steve Kraske on Up to Date

Although much of the nation is just now embracing the farm-to-table movement, residents of the Midwest have been living off the bounty of the land since the pioneer days.

In her new cookbook, Heartland: The Cookbook, Judith Fertig blends contemporary cooking with an authentic and appreciative approach to the land, presenting 150 recipes for farm-bounty fare with a modern twist.

Judith Fertig is a food lifestyle writer and cookbook author. She has written for Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Saveur, Vegetarian Times, and The New York Times. Her previous books include Prairie Home Cooking and Prairie Home Breads, as well as six BBQ titles she coauthored with Karen Adler. She resides in Overland Park, Kansas.

Rainy Day Books and Jasper's Restaurant welcome Judith Fertig to celebrate the release of Heartland: The Cookbook, Monday, May 2nd at 7:00 PM at Jasper's Restaurant, 1201 W 103rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64114. Call 816 941 6600 for more information.

Wildlife Photography Workshop -Visual Storytelling

2011-03-01T11:40:00.000-08:00

Photography Classes

with

Jonathan Chester

Wildlife Photography Workshop 201- Visual Storytelling

Who: High school students and adults

What: In this new spring photography workshop, the goal is to tell a story with images and take your shooting to the next level. You will receive guidance on composition, exposure and other technical aspects. There will be suggestions on how to obtain different types of images that are the basis of a picture story. These may include environmental portraits, illustrations of key behaviors, macro shots, unique details of the setting, as well as viewer and keeper perspectives. We will also spend time learning about the biology of the animal subjects to enhance your photographic insights.

This workshop is ideal for those who have already taken one of the introductory classes and anyone who feels like they want to expand their shooting knowledge beyond the basics. It is recommended (though not essential) that you have a DSLR camera and your own laptop to get the most out of this class.

When: Either

Wednesday, March 9th or

Saturday, March 12th 8:00am until 1:00pm.

Featuring the brand new Polar Bear Passage, Tropics and Discovery Barn sections of the Kansas City Zoo.

Cost: $95 per person.

Pre-registration is required for all photography programming at least 2 days in advance.

To register call the Education Hotline at 816-513-5723,

or you can download a printable request form to mail or fax in your registration.

More Details at The Kansas City Zoo

Polar Bears on Thin Ice

2010-12-02T17:53:00.001-08:00

This essay first appeared in STAY COOL - A Polar Bear's Guide to Lifeby Jonathan Chester andPatrick Regan

The loss of an iconic species such as the polar bear is but a symbol of much larger and hugely significant changes that will occur in many ecosystems throughout the world if the climate continues to warm. For polar bears habitat loss is the most critical single concern… If the population of the planet is truly concerned about the fate of polar bears we need to collectively reduce greenhouse gas production significantly and quickly.

Dr Ian Stirling Senior research scientist for the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Dr Andrew E. Derocher, Professor of Biological Sciences University of Alberta, Canada

Polar bears are truly magnificent creatures completely at home in the frigid Arctic. They are the largest species of bear, the largest land predator and rank at the very top of the Arctic food chain. When standing erect mature males can reach up to nearly 9 feet, (3 meters), and are roughly twice the mass of females. Over the past 100,000 years these bears have evolved and adapted to thriving on and with the circumpolar Arctic sea ice. They are totally dependent on it for they major portion of their diet, for movement, resting and reproduction.

Today some 20,00 to 25,000 wild polar bears are estimated to live across the vast Arctic region in 19 discrete populations. In the past the polar bear habitat was relatively pristine, consequently the threat to polar bears came mostly from hunting and human development that was encroaching on the fringes their range. There was a sustainable balance in the traditional hunting practices of the Inuit that was upset with the introduction of rifles, hunting from aircraft and icebreakers. These changes saw polar bear numbers decline dramatically beginning in the 1930s. This accelerated in the 1960s with the advent of increased aerial hunting. In 1973 the 5 countries that border the Arctic the USA, Canada, Greenland/Denmark, Norway and the then Soviet Union made an historic agreement called The Conservation of Polar Bears that committed the parties to restrict hunting and protecting the bears habitat, denning areas and migration routes. As a result of these measures by the 1980s polar bear populations crept back to today’s levels.

While polar bears are not yet considered an endangered species, their future is far from certain. in 2006 they were added to the International Union of Conservation IUCN Red List and classified as Vulnerable on the basis of the projected affect global warming will have on the Arctic sea ice as determined by the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist group. This body of biologists and climate scientists forecast an overall decline in the total polar bear population of more that 30% in the next 30 to 50 years. The figures are constantly being revised upwards as new models are developed and studies are reported. There is some suggestion that the entire species will disappear by the turn of the century.

Today, in addition to the enormous effects of climate change, polar bears face unprecedented threats to their well-being in three main areas: increase pollution, oil and gas development and transport, hunting.

Being the top predator in the Arctic ecosystem pollutants become concentrated in the fat of polar bears with severely compromising reproduction and other biochemical pathways. They are building up to dangerously high levels as a result of the bears eating seals that are in turn contaminated by organic pollutants and toxic chemicals such as heavy metals, PCBs, radioactive elements and pesticides that the seal accumulate get from eating filter feeders lower down the food chain. The pollutants are very persistent and may well enter the environment far away from the Arctic, but be carried there by winds and ocean currents driving northward from more populated areas. Pollution affecting bears can also come from more local sources.

While development activities and industrial facilities associated with oil and gas exploration and extraction have been show to be tolerated relatively well by bear populations, oil spills pose a serious potential threat. Bears and their prey are at risk of direct exposure to oil in the event of a major spill.

Road’s and pipelines that are developed in support of oil and gas exploration and the opening up of shipping lanes, plus the inevitable encroachment of human settlement, military activities and growing tourist industry will result in more face-to-face confrontation between polar bears and humans. While polar bears are curious and generally fearless and they can do major damage to property, they do not typically attack humans unless a female bear is protecting her cubs or the bears are starving.

Some places like Churchill in Manitoba, Canada have been able to capitalize on their proximity to areas where large numbers of bears gather in the fall waiting for the ice to form on Hudson Bay. Since the 1970s an increasing flow of adventurous tourists are drawn to the self proclaimed “Polar Bear Capital of the World” where they are able to see polar bears in large numbers from the relative comfort, safety and security of so the called tundra buggies. These oversized rugged buses riding on giant tires ensure that humans are out of reach of the very hungry polar bears with minimal impact on the fragile tundra ecosystem. The town of Churchill itself has to contend with the ever-present threat of bears wandering into the built-up areas and rangers patrols the streets during the fall polar bear season. Wherever possible bears that stray into the city limits are trapped and contained in the “polar bear jail” until sufficient ice is formed on Hudson Bay when they can be safe relocated and are unlikely to return. In certain circumstances especially when there is a female with cubs, or the jail is full, bears will be relocated by helicopter some distance north.

Occasionally bears are shot in self-defense but in some parts of the Arctic particularly in traditional communities bears are still harvested as part of a subsistence traditional lifestyle but in the Russian arctic there is little to no monitoring of hunting and poaching is prevalent. While much of the traditional hunting of polar bears by local communities was sustainable, it is now believed that more recent tag limits have been based on erroneous population estimates and that the indigenous quotas do not take into consideration the effects of climate change on population reduction.

Global warming is affecting all aspects of life and the ecology of the Arctic. Studies have shown that air temperatures have increased sharply over much of the Arctic region in recent decades. Records show there has been a 5 degree C ? degree F rise in the last 100 years. Overall sea ice cover in summer has declined by 15% to 20% over the past 30 years. 2007 was the least amount of summer ice on record and subsequent summers have only shown a modest improvement. Looking ahead the US geological survey models suggest that the preferred habitat, the sea ice cover on and near the continental shelf will decline by almost 70%during spring and summer towards the middle of the century.

With sea ice has been breaking up earlier in the spring and freezing later in the fall this lengthens the time the bears must fast. Most experts now believe that the decline in Arctic sea ice could result in the loss of two thirds of the polar bear population within the next 50 years. There is growing evidence that global warming is affecting polar bear populations through increased death rates from drowning, cannibalism and fasting. Of the 19 recognized populations studies have shown that 8 are declining in numbers, I is increasing 4 are stable and there is not enough data about the remaining 6 to be able to make any assessment either way.

As a result of this alarming situation various governments around the world and especially those boarding the Arctic have been taking action individually and in co-operating, notably the USA, Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. Some positive steps have been taken but there is much more to be done. There is increasing pressure to ban the trade in polar bear artifacts, claws, hides and skulls. The mechanism for this is the up listing of polar bears from the “regulatory” Appendix II to the “prohibited” Appendix 1 in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and of Wild Fauna and Flora (C.I.T.E.S.)

Under pressure from the pubic and non-profit groups like The Center for Biological Diversity, the US government has also been taking steps to protect polar bears and manage new realities of the warming world. In May 2008 the US Department of the Interior listed polar bears as threatened under him under the Endangered Species Act because of decreasing sea ice. In October 2009 the Department of Interior also announced it planned to designate 500,000 km² (128 million acres) of Alaska’s north coast as “critical habitat” This encompasses the entire range of several Alaskan bear populations numbering 2500 individuals and we protect the bears ice habitat as well as barrier islands. While this measure does not address the underlying problem of habitat loss due to global warming, it’s does represent a positive step recognizing the need to manage areas in the Arctic where bears currently still exist. More work needs to be done to increase the international legal protections for polar bears as their ranges cross many national boarders.

These government steps all need popular support to be created and enacted. There are a number of other organizations that are focused on educating people about the plight of polar bears and offer information and resources as a way of providing legislators and policymakers with the necessary scientific information to make important decisions. Polar Bears international is solely focused on education and funding scientific research but other global NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund and Defenders of Wildlife and the David Suzuki Foundation also have extensive campaigns focused on the Arctic and polar bears We all need to take greater responsibility for our contribution to the problem of increased greenhouse gases and try and minimize our carbon footprint. Small personal actions modifying how daily routines to be more energy efficient from the way we eat, cool and heat our houses, transport ourselves, and consume all manner of resources. When added together across millions of people can make a significant contribution. Ensuring that our politicians and policymakers are also making informed decisions on behalf of our country is also equally important, as this is a global problem. It requires leadership, the burden of which falls squarely on developed nations given that have the resources, technology and are, per head of population, some of the worst offenders in terms of output of greenhouse gases in the first place.

So will polar bears sink into oblivion in decades to come only to be found in Zoos their or will they survive to hunt and thrive in renewed icy arctic. We are all part of the problem but we can also be part of the solution.

Polar Bears International

http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/

World Wildlife Fund

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/polarbear/polarbear.html

Defenders of Wildlife

http://www.defenders.org/programs_and_policy/wildlife_conservation/imperiled_species/polar_bear/index.php

Center for Biological Diversity
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/polar_bear/index.html#

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature IUCN/SSC Species Survival Commission Polar Bear Specialist Group

http://pbsg.npolar.no/en/index.html

Climbing Broad Peak 80047m Karakoram Mountains Pakistan 1986

2010-11-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

Many many moons ago as a dedicated mountaineer I sought every opportunity to climb where ever and whenever I could. I cut my teeth rock climbing on cliffs and coasts in Australia, from the stunning crags of Moonarie in the Flinders Ranges of mid-northern South Australia to the legendary Mount Arapilies in Victoria. I went on to learn mountaineering in New Zealand in 1975 on Mount Aspiring and later on Mt Cook. I then graduated to small expeditions to Peru, successfully making ascents of Alpamayo and Huascaran in the Cordillera Blanca. Then after almost a decade and several expeditions to the Nepal Himalaya, I was invited to go an Australian Army expedition to the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan. On this expedition we successfully climbed Broad Peak, one of the "easier" 8000m peaks.

Recently my book group selected Three Cups of Tea to read. A signed copy of his had been sitting in my bookshelf for 5 years ever since I heard Greg Mortenson speak on his work with the Central Asia Institute building schools in the most remote areas of Northern Pakistan. I had in fact trekked to and from Broad Peak 8047 m up and down the Braldu River and Baltoro Glacier passing by on the opposite bank, the tiny village of Korphe, where Greg helped the villagers build his first school. From near the summit of Broad Peak K2 is clearly visible in the distance (above) wearing a plume of cloud. Greg had failed on an attempt on K2 some years after our climb of Broad Peak, but this failure in turn led him to a completely different life path which resulted in making a very positive impact on thousands of people in Asia and inspiring others around the world.

Reading this fascinating book prompted me to seek out some images of my own trek and climb to share with my book group. This quickly became a more involved exercise that I was unable to complete before we met and discussed the book. Producing the resulting slide show Climbing Broad Peak 8400M however, gave me a heightened interested in the region and prompted me to listen to Stones into Schools, Greg's follow up book. The great work that Mortenson and the CAI is doing in Pakistan and Afghanistan is to be commended and supported financially.

To Love is to Fly

2009-11-10T18:03:00.000-08:00

Discover the Power of Love

People from all walks of life have long tried to comprehend the complicated and mysterious emotion of love; although it may be hard to comprehend, there’s no denying it’s power. Our new gift book ( Patrick Regan and Jonathan Chester) , to Love is to Fly understands this perfectly.

To Love is to Fly pairs Patrick Regan’s clever narrative with stunning penguin photography to illustrate the ups, downs, and butterflies-in-your-stomach feelings of love that everyone can relate to. Like us, penguins sacrifice for their families and are mostly monogamous (not to mention they also can’t fly!), making these lovable birds perfect subjects for a celebration of love.

CORKS FOR CONSERVATION

2009-11-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow evening ( Wednesday Nov. 11th 5 - 7 pm ) I am doing a book signing at the Kansas City Zoo WINE TASTING fundraiser CORKS FOR CONSERVATION. My latest book "To Love is To Fly" will be on sale for the very first time. I will be screening penguin and polar bear videos and slide presentations and talking about shooting in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Local climbing star and artist, Jeremy Collins, will do a live painting during the event which will be auctioned off at the end of the evening to benefit the Zoo's conservation efforts.

Hope you can join us.

Timelapse of Aurora Borealis from space and from Cape Churchill.

2009-04-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

Creating time lapse movies with a digital SLR is easy (especially if you have a high end Nikon camera), lots of fun and it can be very creative. Many people are trying this in all sorts of circumstances... even in space. Astronaut, Don Petiit, shot timelapse movies of the aurora from the International Space Station in his spare time.

As his narration indicates, you can show phenomena that cannot be see easily by the naked eye because the are either very very slow or, difficult to record. In the case of aurora, the light levels are so low it is not possible to capture it very successfully with regular video cameras. But with the time lapse technique, you can make a time exposure of many many seconds and so build up an image that then becomes a single frame in a movie. This of course is also then a speeded up version of reality showing how the elements of the scene move even when you cant detect it with the naked eye..

While shooting polar bears at Cape Churchill, November 2008 we were lucky enough to have one clear dark night when I was able to also make a time lapse of the Aurora Borealis, the so called "Northern Lights". This sequence was shot over 4 hours with a Nikon D3 camera from a tundra buggy at the Tundra Lodge. The professional Nikon cameras have an intervalometer built into the menu.

The technique is set the camera on a solid tripod to full manual and capture at the basic quality jpeg image size. It is worth taking the time to experiment with the exposures with a few trial shots and once a good exposure setting is established then you can work out the interval between frames. With this Nikon model you can also use the long exposure noise reduction setting, but this lengthens the time the camera takes to process each image and also increases the battery drain. It is best to have the LCD review function also switched off to reduce battery drain.

The images are then processed using Quicktime Pro to create the movie. You can adjust the frame rate to render the best looking movie by trial and error. Full y step step details of how this can be accomplished will be outlined in a future blog. Stay tuned.

The Big Move

2008-12-03T08:39:00.001-08:00

Soon after 8 am our group of 10 loaded into Buggy 16 with all our camera gear then for the first hour we cruised around as the rest of the staff began disassembling the Tundra Lodge. It was overcast and blowing snow …. not very good weather for searching for bears and by all account most had moved on from the Gordon Point area anyway. So the whole day was to be dedicated to moving our rolling camp to Cape Churchill a further 20 mile to the East. We were driven Chris who was on his very last season as a guide. His new career as a professional photographer and wife studying for a PhD. in biology in Saskatoon meant that after 9 seasons, he was prepared to take a break from chasing bears each fall as driver for Tundra Buggy Adventures. While the buggies are capable of carrying 28 people, with a specialized trip like ours the numbers are kept to 10 per buggy so that we could each have a seat on both sides of the isle enabling us to swap from side to side depending on where the best viewing was to be had. Then if there was action behind us we often moved out on the back deck. This was on a first come first served basis but it also could be very very chilly out back so there was less demand for this airy perch.

The weather became progressively worse during the morning and the job of un hooking the trailers then hitching them to the back of the buggies became more and more challenging. On top of cold and drifting snow whenever anyone was on the ground for any reason there was always another staff member on guard with seven shot pump-action shotgun at the ready.

At last the 13 vehicle wagon train was on the move and we were 3^rd in line. The average speed was not much faster than a walk, especially with all the stops we had to make. The drivers were in constant communication via VHF radios and if any driver lost sight of the buggy ahead there was a call for them to slow down or stop. Whenever there was soft snow the leading buggies had quite difficult time with engines straining and overheating despite the searing cold.

If one buggy had a mechanical problem then the entire convoy came to a halt. It was very slow going.

The first significant hold up came when one of our team noticed the staff accommodation box on the trailer in front of us had come separated from the bogie (wheel assembly) and was in danger of toppling off . Two mechanics in special utility buggies managed to put it back in place and the first repair with long screws but this only lasted a few minutes. The second repair was more substantial which involved welding. We were lucky in that all this happened right in front of us and so as well as being able to photography the action and we knew what was going on. Those traveling further behind in the wagon train were quite in the dark in all ways.

The second major delay came when our buggy suddenly overheated. The mechanics diagnosed a problem with our alternator belts and so there in the middle of a blizzard they were under the buggy with “bear” like bare hands deftly working spanners and wrenches in the freezing cold performing mechanical miracles once again. We were on our way after about another hours delay but again we had a ring side seat.

Sunset comes at 4 pm in this latitude and we were still well short of our destination. Buy the time we finally arrived it was blowing about 20 knots with horizontal snow and finding the right place to re assemble the lodge took some time. The Wapusk National Park authorities preferred that we camp on a frozen lake so that the gray water would not impact the tundra quite as much. On the first attempt to un hook and line up the trailers one of the buggies broke through the ice which meant an hour of re aligning the wagons on higher ground. All this time staff were on the ground battling the elements and the ever present danger of polar bear. All the buggies and their occupants not directly involved in the set up were cruising around on the lookout for bears. The radio was constantly crackling with instructions and request and it was hard to see how any one knew what was going on.

After an hour or so of this we were becoming a little less vigilant, but then we sighted some fresh tracks. Suddenly a good sized bear appeared in the headlights coming towards us!. Chris was instantly on the radio informing all the others that of our discovery and people on the ground scrambled for the safety of the buggies. Another buggy zoomed in alongside us and drove forward pushing the bear back into the darkness, but not before I grabbed a few quick shots.

After another hour of maneuvering the lights came on in the lodge indicating we were close to re-inhabiting our rolling hotel.

All the while I managed to keep shooting the headlights piercing the blowing snow and men and women battling the cold. I marveled at the ability of the D3 cameras on loan from Nikon to capture sharp images at 4000 ISO with just available light. It was after midnight when we finally left the buggy and many were so tired they skipped the spaghetti supper and hit their bunks immediately. It had be a long and dramatic day.

Relocation Gallery

Above CHURCHILL and BEYOND

2008-12-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

CHURCHILL ....a town on the edge of the habitable world… It is a rude shock to step off a plane from balmy Winnipeg and land in a snow-clad outpost sandwiched between the frozen tundra and the icy shores of Hudson Bay. While the sun was still shining its late November and with a biting wind it was 5 degrees below C. All the same Churchill is a hopping at this time of year with dozens of swaddled polar bear tourists and photographers staggering around the streets coming off a trip, or about to head out on one, as we were. This was the last opportunity for shopping and a neoprene face mask, felt inner soles, special gloves and D.V. tapes were on my list as well as 30 lbs. of rice for my Vertex Photo Molar bean bag camera support. The Northern convenience store had been cleaned out of beans by all the other photographers that had passed through town during the course of the polar bear season but rice was a good substitute.

Serious sightseeing (museums and folk art galleries) took took a back seat to eating and the helicopter ride with Hudson Bay Helicopters. Immediately after the flight I was frustrated with what I did not get in the way of photos and the fact that the weather and time limit meant that we did not get all the way to Cape Churchill which we would be visiting in a few days by tundra buggy. On reflection however, the flight was a quick re introduction to the vastness of the Arctic and how amazing it is that there is this annual concentration of polar bears so safely accessible to visitors with the curiosity and deep enough pockets to make this pilgrimage. There is no other place in the entire world for seeing these magnificent creatures in the wild in such large numbers. On our hour long flight we saw about a dozen within 20 miles of town including a mother and cub. Most of the bears were holed up in snow banks on the lee of low willow stands but a few were out in the open. There were a few hanging around the dog lines where Brian Landoon keeps his huskies chained up. By all accounts certain bears congregate here knowing the can scavenge some scraps when the dogs are fed. When we were overhead there were bears very close to the dogs and a film crew were wondering about shooting well away from the safety of their vehicles, much to the consternation of our pilot Daryl Ressler.

Hudson Bay had lots of ice but it was clearly not consolidated enough for the bears to head out onto... at least that's what I was hoping ... otherwise there would not be any bears at Cape Churchill. The one dramatic visual reference in the bay was the wreck of the Orion that ran aground in a storm

We first flew over the town and out to the old Prince of Wales Fort across the Churchill River which was remarkable from the air for it's geometric design. Later we witnessed a polar bear lift, as it is called, where a mother and cub were flown out of the Polar Bear Compound and sent up north to be released on the shore. I later learn that the compound was fill and although the ice had not formed sufficiently they do not like to keep mothers and cubs in captivity for too long. The cub was held in the back seat while the tranquilized mother rode in the sling below the helicopter.

Aerial Images Gallery

The Helicopter Flight

2008-11-18T04:43:00.001-08:00

Back in the warm hotel lobby again after the one hour helicopter flight which was very successful from the point of seeing bears . We spotted about a dozen including a mother and cub but it was hard to get great shots. I won't really know if I got anything very special they are until I get a chance to down load much much later when we get out to the Tundra Lodge. The sun is close to setting and it is not even 3.30 pm so we will be in darkness on the way to the Lodge. The pilot was trying to avoid disturbing the bears so he maintained his distance and altitude which meant the bears were small yellow dots in a white landscape. A 200 mm lens brought them a little closer but the vibration is significant so to avoid camera shake you need a very high shutter speed and also a high ISO.

The highlight was a bear being flown out from the Polar Bear jail to a be realeased about 30 KM north of Churchill. This happened while we were on our tour and so we flew down and got a glimpse of this from the air. Our helicopter held 6 passengers and so there were only 4 seats with windows and luckily I had one of those. I was at the back however so I only had a side on view but the pilot circled most significant subjects and so we had a fleeting good view of all the choice spots.

Off to the bus pick up point now and on to the next leg of this tundra adventure.

This may be my last email for some time...

On the way to Churchill at last

2008-11-17T16:30:00.000-08:00

I flew into Winnipeg from Kansas City today. It was minus 8 degrees C when we landed and the fields were covered with a light dusting of snow, all of which is a great introduction to what lies ahead weather wise. It will even colder tomorrow I'm sure, which is just fine if it brings out the bears. The one shown here is from a trip I did to Spitzbergen a decade ago where I first got hooked on shooting bears in the wild. My Antarctic clothing kit is finally going to get some use again, although it has been more useful in Kansas City than it ever was in California.

Thanks to some sponsorship from Nikon Professional Services I have the best camera equipment that I can possibly want for such a challenging assignment. All up I have twice the recommended weight allowance, but not having done a trip quite like this before, I erred on the side of variety and versatility. A bean bag camera support, tripod, monopod a 500 mm lens, video camcorder, chemical foot and hand warmers, battery chargers and cables, computers and back up hard drives, there is a never ending list of gadgets and gear that digital photography entails today. Out on the Tundra for 7 days or potentially round the clock shooting, who knows how many images I can capture.

Now the challenge is to get all this into and even smaller space on the next flight tomorrow to Churchill and then under my bunk on the tundra lodge. There is a helicopter ride tomorrow out over the tundra as well which will be exciting. My one chance to get some aerials of the region and hopefully some bears as well.

From Pole to Pole

2008-10-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Greetings Fellow Photographers and Travelers.

I am launching this new blog to be able to keep my family and friends up to date with my adventures in the Arctic and Antarctica over the coming months and years of travel and shooting at the ends of the earth.

I will be heading to Churchill,Manitoba, on the shores of Hudson Bay in northern Canada on November 17 to spend a week photographing polar bears. I will be staying out on the tundra for 8 nights on the amazing Tundra Buggy Lodge with Tundra Buggy Adventures . It is like a series of train carriages with oversize dump truck wheels and 8 ft diameter tires that has you perched 12 feet up above the ground at all times out of reach of the bears. Each day we will be venturing out on the equally awkward bus-like Tundra Buggy's seeking out bears and other arctic wildlife, foxes. This is the trip of a life time for wildlife photographers.

From Churchill we travel to Polar Bear point 20 miles west of Churchill where we spend the first 4 nights. The the Tundra Buggy Lodge is then
towed out to Cape Churchill where we will experience a completely different population of bears that should include mothers with year old cubs and older males. Cape Churchill is inside the Wapusk National Park that was created in 1996 to protect one of the largest and most concentrated polar bear dening areas in the Arctic. Tundra buggy tours started going to this location long before the Park was created so this one end of season trip was grandfathered into the Parks Management regulations and it is the only trip allowed to this hallowed destination. Looking forward to sharing the excitement and images of this and many future journeys.