Crossing the Drake Passage can prompt a host of emotions. Some dread the thought of rough seas, others embrace the potential power and try their best to harness that power in an image. That has been this photographer’s goal for nearly 15 years. Hours out on deck, dressed in polar gear, towel in hand to clean off lenses and camera. Just you, the wind, the sea and its birds, and perhaps another hearty soul or two willing to brave the elements on deck. Sometimes those efforts pay off and a fleeting, yet statistically abundant moment in a place like this, is captured at 1/2000th of a second. Those brief moments when wind, and sea, and swell, and timing coalesce to produce art. Those are the moments I live for on days like these.
2/20/2022
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National Geographic Resolution
Fortuna Bay and Hercules Bay, South Georgia
National Geographic Resolution arrived to Fortuna Bay early in the morning under a cloud-covered sky. The protection of the bay created a nice relief from the winds. We landed our long hikers shortly after breakfast so they could begin their trek over the headlands to the colony. We then repositioned the ship toward the head of the bay to land the rest of our guests. Fortuna Bay is known as the final leg of Shackleton’s route across the island, and it is home to a large king penguin colony. After we sailed to nearby Hercules Bay, we were treated to conditions calm enough for kayaking and Zodiac cruising. With so much wildlife in the area, guests had some wonderful encounters, especially with the colony of macaroni penguins low on the cliffs of the bay. The ever-fickle weather brought sunshine and light snow flurries, embodying the nature of the island.
