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title: Antarctic Expeditions Part 2
description: "Choosing an Antarctic Expedition: Part 2 Joshua Holko – Go to Part 1 In the first part of this article we looked at the options of either flying or sailing […]"
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 October 20, 2023

# Antarctic Expeditions Part 2

 By  [Really Right Stuff](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/light-and-shadow/author/really-right-stuff)  ·   6 minute read

## **Choosing an Antarctic Expedition: Part 2** [**Joshua Holko**](http://www.jholko.com/)**–**

In the first part of this article we looked at the options of either  
flying or sailing to Antarctica. As we discussed, this is a critical  
decision which will have a huge impact on both your wallet and  
your overall Antarctic expedition experience.  
In this second part of our series we are going to explore what you  
need to know about choosing a ship suitable for your needs if you  
have indeed made the decision to sail to Antarctica.  
The first and most important consideration when you are  
investigating the multitude of sailing options to Antarctica is “How  
many passengers does the ship take?”  
This very critical piece of information is going to significantly impact  
how much shore time, and in turn, what sort of photographic  
opportunities you can expect whilst you are in Antarctica.  
Before we discuss this in further detail it is important to understand  
that the IATTO (International Antarctica Treaty Organisation) body is  
responsible for the protection of Antarctica and managing tourism to  
the continent. Their regulations are continually being refined and  
updated. The critical regulation you need to consider when choosing  
your ship is the maximum number of passengers permitted to land on  
Antarctica at any given point in time is limited to no more than 100  
people (including ships expedition staff).

[![](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/H9P9886-Edit.jpg?width=898&height=1340&name=H9P9886-Edit.jpg)](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/H9P9886-Edit.jpg)

Therefore, if you choose a ship that carries 100 passengers or more you will be forced to  
wait your turn and rotate on landings in order for the expedition company to comply  
with IATTO restrictions. This will be extremely frustrating having travelled all the way to  
Antarctica and being made to wait your turn. In short, you will miss landings, miss wildlife  
opportunities and miss the best light of the day as you sit with increasing impatience  
waiting for your turn.  
My recommendation is therefore that you choose a ship with as few passengers as  
possible. Anything less than 100 is acceptable with something around fifty or less being  
ideal in my experience. In fact, the fewer the better – period. Keep in mind that fewer  
passengers also decreases the potential for other guests walking into your photographs  
during landings.  
Once you have made the decision to choose a ship that carries fewer than 100  
passengers, the next thing I recommend you check with your expedition company is  
what ice class the ship has been rated. You want to make sure that your chosen vessel is  
capable of going into broken sea ice and that it is able to push ice out of the way. This is  
going to ensure that you can get nice and close to icebergs for the best photo  
opportunities and that you can get into ice-filled bays that other ships simply cannot  
access. There is an important distinction between an ice breaker and ship that has been  
ice hardened. You are unlikely to find an ice breaker for your expedition as such ships are  
usually reserved for commercial operations and are far from comfortable during a Drake  
Passage crossing (they roll and wallow in high seas due to their hull design).  
Rather, you’ll want to select a ship that is rated Ice Class 1. Ice Class 1 is the next class  
down from an icebreaker and ships with this rating are capable of pushing not  
insignificant pieces of ice out of their way. I have quite literally driven one of these ice  
hardened ships into the pack ice; parked it, stepped out and walked on the frozen sea.  
That is an experience not to be missed.

[![](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Antarctica-2759-Edit-2.png?width=1800&height=900&name=Antarctica-2759-Edit-2.png)](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Antarctica-2759-Edit-2.png)

A word on ship stabilizers. Some expedition companies market the fact that their ships  
have stabilizers to help keep them from rolling around too much as you cross the Drake  
Passage. Whilst stabilizers can and do make a difference to ship movement, you should  
be aware that ships equipped with outboard stabilizers are generally unsuitable for use in  
the ice. Stabilizers are easily damaged by large pieces of ice so the captains of these  
ships are usually going to avoid taking the ship into the ice or too close to icebergs.  
Therefore, I recommend you avoid ships that are sold and marketed as being “stabilized.”  
Once you have chosen a suitable ice class ship that carries fewer than 100 passengers  
the next thing you need to ensure is that the ship has sufficient zodiacs (small rubber  
boats that you will use for cruising and landing in Antarctica) for all passengers to be  
transported at the same time. On average, you can comfortably accommodate up to ten  
photographers (8 is better) on a Mark V Zodiac and still have sufficient room to  
comfortably photograph.  
Therefore, a fifty passenger boat is going to need not less than five (and preferably six)  
zodiacs. Ships will always want to keep one zodiac in reserve for safety purposes so  
always bank on the total number of zodiacs on the ship being one less than advertised.  
The number of zodiacs available for operations is as important to your photographic  
experience as the total number of ships passengers and the ships ice class rating.  
Another significant consideration in choosing a vessel is the amount of deck space  
available on the ship for photographers. You are going to be sharing this vessel with up  
to one hundred (or possibly more) other photographers who are all going to be  
jockeying for the best position to make photographs during your expedition.

It is therefore prudent to find out if there is an open bridge policy and if you can venture  
out onto to the bow and stern of the ship for photography when it is safe to do so (many  
ships have closed bow policies and forbid passengers to access this area of the ship). Ask  
your expedition company about the places on the ship you can and cannot go so that  
you have a good understanding of exactly how much space you will have available. If  
possible, try and obtain a deck plan for the ship so that you can analyse potential  
shooting locations.  
Don’t underestimate the importance of maneuverability on board the ship for  
photography. When the ship is under steam and you are passing icebergs you need to  
have ample deck space and to be able to move quickly to obtain the best angles.  
One thing you should be acutely on the look out for is generic expeditions that offer a  
photographic component as part of their overall program; or expeditions that comprise  
in the majority of general tourists with what is marketed as an additional small dedicated  
photography group that plans to co- exist on the same ship. These expeditions are  
disasters for photographers who are dedicated to their work and who want to achieve  
the best possible photographs. Any expedition that comprises in the majority of general  
tourists will first and foremost have to cater to this majority (and not the much smaller  
group of photographers). Such groups will not rearrange their schedule to suit the best  
light for photography and will not be able to suitably serve the needs of the dedicated  
photographers.  
I can tell you from experience that these sort of expeditions are incredibly frustrating as  
you are forced to photograph during midday landings in harsh light in order to meet the  
standard meal times when the light would be optimum for photography. If photography  
is your primary goal, avoid any sort of mixed expedition at all costs.

[![](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Antarctica2016-26306-Edit.jpg?width=1800&height=1200&name=Antarctica2016-26306-Edit.jpg)](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Antarctica2016-26306-Edit.jpg)

You should also do your research on your expedition leader and photographic leader. Try  
and find out what sort of experience they have working in Antarctica. It is of critical  
importance that your expedition leader have experience working with photographers  
and that they understand the needs and requirements of photographers looking to  
capture stunning images in the best available light.  
The expedition leader is in charge of daily operations and therefore is going to make all  
of the decisions pertaining to shore landings and zodiac cruises. If those operations are  
planned for midday light to accommodate standard meal times you can expect a very poor  
experience from a photographic perspective. You absolutely must have an expedition  
leader who is willing to shift meal times to ensure you are out in the best light of the day.  
Typically in Antarctica this is very early in the morning and very late in the evening. It is  
the responsibility of your photographic leader to liaise with the expedition leader to  
ensure you get the best opportunities.  
It is also fairly common for photography guides to have little to zero real world Antarctic  
experience. Such guides should generally be avoided as they are likely to be far more  
interested in their own photography than in helping you or others on the expedition. If  
possible, try and select an expedition that includes a photography guide who specializes  
in polar photography or who otherwise has significant experience operating in  
Antarctica. Such guides know what to look for in terms of subject and know how to  
position a zodiac for the best backgrounds and to take advantage of prevailing light.  
Such leaders also know how to liaise with expedition leaders to deliver the opportunities  
you would otherwise miss.  
The photographic leader and expedition leader you choose are going to have as much  
bearing on the success of your expedition as the ship you choose to travel on. They are  
critical elements to your success, and as such you should weigh equally your leader and  
ship choice for any expedition to Antarctica.  
In part three of this series we are going to look at the very important decision of what  
time of year you should travel to Antarctica in order to achieve your desired  
photographic outcomes.

[![](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Antarctica-3133-Edit.jpg?width=1297&height=1800&name=Antarctica-3133-Edit.jpg)](https://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Antarctica-3133-Edit.jpg)

 

[Joshua Holko](http://www.jholko.com/) is a full time professional Nature photographer who specializes in polar photography. Joshua is a fully accredited AIPP Master of Photography and member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP). He has won countless awards for his photography including being named the 2015 Global Arctic photographer of the Year. Joshua is officially represented by Philip Kulpa and the Source Photographica Gallery in Australia and Aspen USA. Words and images ©2017 Joshua Holko. All rights reserved.

 

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