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Photography
Take your photography to the next level with the world’s best!
Embark on a journey with Aurora Expeditions that fuels your passion for photography or videography, regardless of your skill level. All of our voyages offer an exceptional opportunity for expeditioners to capture some of the wildest and most pristine destinations in the world with expert guidance. Whether you’re taking your first shots or you’re a seasoned photographer, the experience of learning from some of the best photographers will inspire you to elevate your photography to the next level.
Throughout our expeditions, you’ll have the privilege of learning from our accomplished Photography Guides and renowned Special Guest Photographers, who will provide captivating lectures, insightful presentations and invaluable tips to help you capture unforgettable moments in Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond like a professional.
Gain insights into camera setup, composition enhancement and craft refinement, regardless of your camera gear or smartphone, through personalised guidance both onboard and during onshore adventures.
Request a quote today to secure your spot alongside our internationally acclaimed photography guides and travellers who share your passion and embark on an adventure that promises extraordinary exploration and a transformative photographic journey.
From towering icebergs, rugged cliffs and smiling faces, there is always something to capture on camera on an Aurora Expeditions voyage.
On every expedition, you will have the opportunity to increase your knowledge of the craft in lectures and presentations, and learn practical tips and tricks to implement on shore landings. Learn how to set up your camera and a range of technical skills including improving your composition.
‘Getting out amongst it’ is our philosophy, and that is exactly what we do. Our destinations offer a range of conditions for photography – from challenging hikes to the best viewpoints to Zodiac cruises that take you into the heart of the action – all with incredible rewards.
Whether you’re just starting your photography journey or refining your artistry, photographers and videographers of all skill levels can benefit from our Photography Program. You’ll get to learn new skills in photography lectures, or hone your craft with informal tuition both onboard or during landings and excursions.
Plus, your Photography Guide will be available to assist with technical queries and aid you with composition tips and tricks.
You can capture amazing images with as little or as much equipment as you like. For some travellers, this will mean bringing their DSLR and a range of lenses, while others will use their smartphone.
Wherever you are in your photography journey, here’s a list of tips about equipment and accessories you might consider bringing:
- Choose your muse – be it a digital, analogue, or your trusty phone. The choice is yours, reflecting your unique style and preferences.
- For digital camera enthusiasts, it’s essential to have a plan for storing your adventures. Carry a laptop or a dedicated storage device to safeguard your shots until you get home.
- Remember to pack your camera’s manuals – they can guide you through any technical tides.
- Ensure pristine perspectives with lens paper and cleaning fluid in your arsenal. The world might be wild, but your lens will always be picture-perfect.
- Capture every instant with your camera charged and ready, whether it’s a charger or extra batteries.
- Stash extra film, tape, or memory cards – a gallery of unexplored vistas awaits.
- Pack an electronic flash to illuminate your scenes with the radiance they deserve.
- A tripod is the secret to serenely still shots. Elevate your compositions with unwavering stability.
- Secure your gear in a waterproof bag, a shield for your tools of creativity. Or buy a waterproof case for your smartphone, and attach a cord to it so it doesn’t end up at the bottom of the ocean!
The Photography activity program is one of the many included activities we offer free of charge on every expedition.
Top reasons to choose a Photography holiday
Explore beautiful locations
Capture breathtaking images of landscapes, wildlife and cultures.
Renowned guides
Learn from some of the best photographers in the world.
1-to-1 instruction
Receive immediate feedback and refine your techniques while experimenting with styles.
Become an expert
Learn new skills or hone your skills behind the camera and gain a hobby for life!
Make friends
Become lifelong friends with your small group of like-minded adventurers.
Leave with the ultimate souvenirs
Create lasting and tangible memories with the photos you capture.
Enhance your experience
Add another layer to your once-in-a-lifetime holiday.
It's fun!
Have the time of your life exploring some of the wildest places on earth through a different lens.
Gallery
What do our expeditioners think?
Photography FAQs
Absolutely, our Photography Guides and Special Guest Photographers will be conducting engaging and informative photography lectures onboard.
Yes, our photography experts will be on-hand to help with any settings and equipment questions. However, prior to setting sail, we encourage you to familiarise yourself with your chosen equipment.
The aim is to ensure that you don’t get lost in a sea of settings but are ready to seize captivating shots.
Polar regions
The polar regions offer unique wildlife photography experiences. In Antarctica, there are many opportunities to encounter penguins, seals and whales, and occasionally we may even spot leopard seals or orcas.
In the Arctic, we’ll venture near nesting bird colonies, past massive glaciers and around large icebergs, however, we maintain a safe distance from polar bears and walruses. Our guides carry rifles and flare guns in the Arctic to ensure your safety against polar bears.
Temperate regions
Expeditioners in wild temperate regions can encounter diverse wildlife, including seals and basking sharks. You will have the opportunity to photograph some of the largest seabird colonies in the northern hemisphere.
Tropical regions
The superb wildlife-viewing opportunities are endless in the astonishingly biodiverse nature reserves we visit. Here you will have the chance to photograph marine and land mammals, coral reefs, tropical fish, sea birds and an astonishing range of rainforest birds.
The ship’s Captain and Expedition Leader always maintain close contact to ensure a safe expedition experience.
Ready to Capture the Extraordinary?
Embark on one of our Photography Expeditions
Capture the world’s wonders, alongside some of the finest photographers on the planet.
Our photographers will teach you the tricks of the trade, whether you’re wielding professional gear or snapping shots on your smartphone.
Enjoy extended opportunities for breathtaking shots, from specially designed Zodiac cruises to immersive onshore excursions, where every moment becomes an invitation to create.
Expert Guides
Michael Baynes
Photography Guide
Michael is a Freelance Travel Photographer and was born on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, where his love for photography and the environment was ignited at an early age. Michael has worked with a number of global clients, with his images being used in various forms of media.
Michael's love of travelling has seen him explore seven continents and over 50 countries, naturally with a camera in hand. He specialises in landscape and wildlife photography with a particular interest in photographing the Polar Regions.
Michael believes that there is no greater travel experience than exploring the remote Polar Regions, and loves getting off the beaten track with a small group of like-minded passengers aboard the Polar Pioneer. He especially enjoys sharing his passion for photography and assisting others to capture images of these incredible scenes.
Michael also has a Bachelor of Science and is a Director of one of Australia's leading Environmental Consultancies, delivering innovative and practical environmental management solutions for a wide variety of clients.
Jamie Lafferty
Photography Guide
With a passion for exploring the world and capturing its beauty through his lens, Jamie is a talented Writer and Photographer hailing from Scotland. He has visited all seven continents and over 50 countries, and earned the 2020 Consumer Travel Writer of the Year award. Jamie’s work has been featured in prestigious publications including the New York Times, Sunday Times, Guardian, National Geographic Traveller, Outside and Financial Times. He has journeyed to Antarctica eight times, spent a week in Svalbard while a horror film was being shot, and has stories to tell from just about everywhere in between. His favourite destination so far is South Georgia for its extraordinary history and unpredictable nature.
Always funny and invariably poignant, make time hear some of Jamie’s tales on your expedition, and learn a trick or two on capturing your best photos in his photography lectures.
Adrian Wlodarczyk
Photography Guide
Adrian is a world-renowned action and adventure photographer who specialises in photographing the wildlife and landscapes of the polar regions while being immersed in the planet’s most precious and provocative environments. His commercial work has been used by a host of travel, sport, lifestyle and expedition publications across the globe, and he has consistently worked with the athletes on the World Surf Tour and UCI World Cycling events.
Adrian is committed to assisting others develop the confidence to succeed at their passions through his high-performance strategy consulting company. He is currently working on a book that will explores the inner journey to fulfilling your full potential.
When not working, you can find Adrian watching a Liverpool Football Club match, sailing a yacht to an undisclosed destination, swimming laps or trying to discover which tequila accompanies the world’s best fish taco.
Pia Harboure
Photography Guide
As a child growing up in the 80s, Pia was fascinated by film and the power of images. Today, she still loves the role photography can play in creating awareness and inspiring social change. She asked for her first camera at age 9, started taking photography classes in high school and went on to study a degree in Audio-Visual Production and Photography. After graduating, Pia started her global education, travelling everywhere from Patagonia to Sri Lanka to the polar regions, working as a portrait and documentary photographer.
She has spent the last decade sharing the technical and creative photographic tips she has learned with travellers. For the past five years, she has tilted her practice to more collaborative and sustainable projects in areas of human rights issues, working for NGOs like UNICEF.
Scott Portelli
Photography Guide
Scott Portelli is an international award-winning wildlife, nature and underwater photographer. He’s a member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) and is regarded as a leading professional in his field. Scott has spent thousands of hours in remote locations across the globe filming and photographing nature, wildlife, the underwater environment and wild places.
Scott has spent over a decade working in the polar regions with a focus on Antarctica, the Subantarctic and Artic regions, producing a unique portfolio of fine art photography that showcases the intricate environment and its intriguing inhabitants. Working in extreme conditions, Scott’s photography provides a rarely seen glimpse above and below the surface in some of the harshest places on the planet.
As a professional nature, wildlife, underwater and aerial photographer, Scott spends a lot of time travelling the world to remote destinations in search of some of the most amazing creatures on the planet. For Scott, it is about the journey, bringing an idea to life by capturing a moment in time or by evoking an emotion. Each image has a unique story that is usually a very intimate moment that Scott may have shared with the subject.
“To create interesting concepts, it sometimes involves me immersing myself in an environment in order to research the location, subject matter and what opportunities may present themselves. I once spent two months on the back of a snow mobile in Baffin Island, Canadian Arctic in minus 37 degrees just to do a reconnaissance of the region for a series of photos I wanted to produce. In the end, I love what I do and I love sharing the natural world through photography.”
Scott was awarded at the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year in London in 2016, announced National Winner of the Sony World Photography Awards 2016 and Winner at Travel Photographer of the Year 2015. More recently, he was awarded winner in the Animal Behaviour Category at the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year ANZANG 2017, winner in the Underwater Category of the Asferico International Nature Photography Awards 2018 and runner up in the Behaviour Category at Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019. His conservation documentary also took out two awards at the prestigious French Underwater Film Festival in Marseille.
Scott's other notable awards include:
- 3rd Prize - National Geographic Travel Photo Contest - Nature Category 2019
- Winner - 13th Annual Black & White Spider Awards 2018
- Highly Honoured - Nature's Best, Windland Smith Rice International Awards 2018
- Winner - Sony World Photography Awards 2016
An accredited licensed RPAS/UAV Pilot, Scott has worked on aerial projects for some of Australia’s most sought-after tourism destinations.
Scott runs photography workshops and lectures to show enthusiasts and experts alike the best way to get the most out of their photography. On his Polar tours he specialises in Nature & Wildlife photography bringing the best tips and techniques for photographing in challenging locations.