Working as a Polar Expedition Guide allows me the privilege of experiencing the wonders of Antarctica and the Arctic firsthand. I captured this image about a year ago, last season in Antarctica.
It was a crystal clear, crisp morning at Cuverville Island, just off the north coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The air was cold and still. While scouting in a Zodiac with another guide, we came across this stunning blue iceberg nestled among a maze of channels in an offshore iceberg graveyard — a place where icebergs become grounded in shallow waters. The light perfectly illuminated a cave in the berg, creating a dreamlike scene with the blue ice seemingly glowing from within.
Thousands of Gentoo penguins were swimming back to the island from feeding out at sea. Excited by the prospect of a unique image, I envisioned capturing the penguins porpoising in front of this ethereal blue ice cave. All the elements seemed to be coming together. Shooting with my Nikon Z8, a 400mm f4.5 telephoto, and a 1.4x TC, I set the correct shutter speed to freeze the action in burst mode and underexposed to ensure I did not blow the highlights. Then, I positioned myself low in the Zodiac to get the right angle and waited for the penguins to porpoise in front of the blue berg.
And, on cue, they did! For me, it was a great thrill that the end result matched and even exceeded my vision. The action happened quickly, with the penguins swimming fast. The entire scene unfolded and disappeared in a second.
It was a great example of good luck, timing, and preparation intersecting at the right time and place — a day I will never forget, and one that perfectly captures the awe-inspiring beauty and fleeting magic of the Antarctic.