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.