Protecting Antarctica

Here is a valuable link to issues around protecting Antarctica publisned in NY Times on February 27,2011

An Amazing Journey

It has been over four years already since I travelled to Antarctica, but it is a journey that leaves an indelible feeling of awe within. Today I happened upon the following video from Russian ocean expeditions. This time lapse nine minute video lets you in on an amazing expedition.

РАЭ-54 с борта НЭС "Академик Фёдоров" from North Pole on Vimeo.

Музыкальный ряд - (c) John Degweed. 2009 г.

Experience a Tale of Endless Light, Pure Air, Blue Ice, and Penguins

Seeing penquins waiting ashore is a special moment on a Zodiac run.

Despite its frigid climate, Antarctica is fast becoming a hot spot for tourism. With a history of challenging even the most heroic explorers, what draws people to want to become a member of the “frozen chosen?” Isn’t such travel too risky and harsh for the untested? Maybe, but not for a group of fourteen intrepid travelers, most from San Miguel, who ventured there this past December.

Sallie Kravetz, photographer and digital storyteller, yielded to the call. She wanted to see giant blue green icebergs, get a glimpse of penguins in the wild, experience light-filled nights and breathe the clearest air on the planet. Now she has crafted a presentation designed to take others along for the adventure. She will be premiering her work: Antarctica: Sharing the Splendor, A Multimedia Journey at the Villa Jacaranda on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. under the auspices of Audubon de Mexico

“Having the opportunity to visit and then to share the journey is happening at a very propitious moment in the modern history of Antarctica,” says Kravetz. “Every fifty years, the world’s scientists join together to shine the spotlight on both poles and collaborate on a massive scale about current and future issues. The first project like this started in 1832. Last time around, in the fifties, it was referred to as the International Geophysical Year. This time around it’s called the International Polar Year and we are right in the middle of it now. It is dynamic and exciting”

Drawing on her background as a recently retired high school Library Media Specialist, Sallie has mined the depths of the Internet to augment her own photography to create what she refers to as a “media rich” digital story. “I think that the presentation will hold a few surprises and will be as much fun for the audience as it is informative. Of course, it is a given that you are bound to run into a few penguins.”

Sallie has been a fine arts photographer for the past thirty years. She has received critical recognition for her work in the genres of performing arts photography, particularly dance, Polaroid manipulations and, most recently, digitally produced photographs. One of her San Miguel images was selected as a prize winner by Women In Photography International. Her work has also been selected for the past two Garden Club calendars; this year for May and September. Her multimedia production experience has been honed through her work with teachers and students.

The Antarctica trip is a foray for Kravetz into the world of nature photography. “Before I went, I viewed imagery of the magnificence of the Antarctica landscape. I was smitten. I knew that one day I would have to go and try my hand, and eye, at capturing it myself.”

A native of Baltimore Md, Ms. Kravetz is a frequent visitor to San Miguel. She uses her camera to capture and convey the color, flavor and texture of what she sees as the theater of the street, particularly vibrant in San Miguel.

However, no matter whether her venue is the street or the ice, Kravetz says her guiding principle is found in the words of the poet Louise Bogan:” …in a time lacking in truth and certainty and filled with anguish and despair, no woman should be shamefaced in attempting to give back to the world, through her work, a portion of its lost heart.”

Through this presentation, that is precisely what the photographer sets out to do.

A Gift from the Gods

This photograph was taken in Paradise Harbour from the Zodiac . We had just left our very brief landing on Duthiers Point, our one and only official contact with the continent. The Zodiac driver was running the motor full throttle to ferry us back as fast as humanly possible so the hundreds of others would have their chance while the weather held.

My body was bouncing up and down so hard that I thought my organs would disconnect. The probability of shooting anything seemed impossible. I had come thousands of miles to capture the majesty before me and now it seemed the moment would be lost. I kept the camera close to my eye and shot like a crazy anyway. Suddenly, we whipped right past one of those corrugated icebergs (my own unscientific handle for them). My finger must have been pushed by the pressure of all of the jostling: I thought I had missed it.

Every once in a while a free gift is thrown in with all of the trash. When I downloaded the day's catch, I was delighted to find my iceberg.

Oh No. Here Come the Humans Again

Antarctica Reunion Slideshow

Click on the link below to see a surprise. San Miguel Antarctica Reunion Party

Quick. Get the Penquin Police

Yes. It's true. The Expedition Staff have designated Penquin Police. They wear bright yellow vests (shown below) and shoo you away if you get too close to the penquins. Ultimate respect for the creatures in their habitats is strictly enforced. While many would just love to hug the darlings, no can do. And no, they are not available as pets or else the person pictured here would surely have brought one or three back to San Miguel.

Penquin Police Vests Raise Over $500 For Project
At the end of the trip two vests were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Each one brought over $250 for a special project being done in the Falkland Islands by Dr. Peter Carey, the ship's expedition leader.

Chinstrap Flirts With Camera

I think they know that you are taking their picture. Look at this. Shameless.

Frolicking Chinstraps on Half Moon Island

On December 22, we made a last landing at Half Moon Island leaving us with a lasting memory of playful Chinstrap penquins.

Entrance to the LeMaire Channel

The Bow of Discovery Pointing South
At approximately 7 pm on December 21 we reached south latitude, 65'04" about 1770 miles north of the South Pole. Ice blocked us from traveling through the LeMaire Channel whose mouth can be seen dead ahead.

Even though we could not enter the LeMaire Channel, the landscape leading up to its entrance was haunting. This was taken during the late afternoon of December 21, 2007.

The Trip Has Ended. Now the Editing Begins

Above: Four Gauchos at Rest. December 25, 2007
One of my favorite "human" photographs taken during our trip is this one shot behind the scenes at the ranch we visited outside of Buenos Aires on Christmas Day. The gauchos had finished their show of horsemanship and while we were being feted with an Argentine style barbecue and folkloric dancers, these guys were taking a well earned rest.

I returned home midday on December 27, just in time to get ready to ring in the New Year. After the initial round of "Welcome Home" greetings and a flurry of visits, things have quieted down. Now the mammoth task of sorting through thousands of images is in full swing. My goal is to produce an online story using Soundslides Plus and or Picasa.

As I edit images I will add at least one or more to the blog each day but in no particular order. The idea is just to keep the blog fresh and interesting for now until the project is more fully developed.

Good Air, Beautiful Sunshine

Buenos Aires. Good air...no, intoxicating air. The weather is glorious and makes it hard to think of leaving. Everyone is winding down and sitting around the pool. I sat on the terrace with Matt, my dear friend's son who lives here. We chatted and shared our present lives. I loved seeing him.

Folkloric Dancer Through A Window
The ranch was beautiful, about a 90 minute drive outside of town. There was a display of equestrian beauty and gaucho skill that was exciting to watch, a typical feast of Argentine steak and chicken, crafts and folkloric dancers.

The tango show told the story of the rise of the tango from the barrios to the present. We went to El Querandi, had tapas, a drink and watched the show. I would have enjoyed more seeing dancers on the streets but no time.

All in all a bountiful and rich Christmas Day The best gift of all was being in such lovely surroundings with one of my dearest friends from San Miguel.

What a perfect trip.