The adventure begins traversing Argentina's famous Beagle Channel. Destination - Antarctica! Plowing through the notorious Drake Passage in stormy seas on the M/V Akademik Ioffe Rocking and rolling on the Drake Passage crossing the South Atlantic Ocean! A magnificent castle iceberg approaching the Antarctic Peninsula. An enormous humpback whale breaches the waves in the Gerlach Straits A humpback whale flaps his pectoral fin in a regal salute A tip of the flipper as if to say goodbye Arching backward - the humpback whale plunges back into the sea Sunset cruise though ice flows and bergy bits on New Years Eve on Crystal Sound, near the Antarctic Circle Cruising Northwest on Crystal Sound Cruising Northwest on Crystal Sound at sunset Cruising through thinning ice flows and bergy bits on Crystal Sound Into the open waters on Crystal Sound Taking in the beauty of Crystal Sound as sunset approaches Magic hour on the ice strewn waters of Crystal Sound Last rays of the day on Crystal Sound Painted skies over the French Passage Fire in the sky! Fiery clouds and corpuscular rays radiate from behind snow-covered peaks at sunset on the French Passage. Between Heaven and Earth. A glorious sunset on the French Passage Engine controls and plotting instruments on the bridge of the M/V Akademik Ioffe traversing the Bransfield Straits Towering peaks overshadow an expedition ship entering the narrow and majestic Lemaire Channel Plodding slowly through the ice-choked Lemaire Channel Watching ice flows and bergy bits pass by on the Lemaire Channel Pushing through the ice on the Lemaire Channel The M/V Corinthian cruises beneath the towering peak of 2822m Mount Francis at the Lemaire Channel With wings outstretched, a Gentoo penguin looks across the snowy expanse of Booth Island Three Gentoo penguins waddle down the snow-covered slopes of Booth Island Five Gentoo penguins ascend snow-covered slopes to their nests on Danco Island An Antarctic tern attacks a Gentoo penguin too close to its nest on Booth Island A soaring Antarctic tern hunts for a meal at Booth Island Zodiac cruising past glorious ice sculptures at Wilhelmina Bay Ethereal ice near Trinity Island Sculpted by the wind and sea at Yarlour Islands An gigantic and stunning blue ice bridge at Wilhemina Bay Grandeur and Majesty at Portal Point Chinstrap penguins play hide and seek on a snowy ridge at Graham Land on the Antarctic Peninsula Chinstrap penguins swim behind a zodiac cruising past a sculptured iceberg at Cierva Cove Natures beautiful art sculpted by wind and water at Cierva Cove A brown skua rests on a whale of an iceberg at Wilhelmina Bay! Towering mountains and beautiful reflections at Neko Harbour A glorious sunset painted in hues of pink and mauve on the Bransfield Strait A docile crabeater seal rests on a rocky shore Oh my back is itchy! A Weddell seal squirms on an ice flow in Graham Land With its wings outstretched, a curious Adelie penguin approaches the photographer Brown Bluff, Weddell SeaAn Adelie penguin trumpets for its mate at Brown Bluff, Weddell Sea Portrait of an Adelie penguin and its jagged teeth Brown Bluff, Weddell SeaAdelie penguins trumpet and sway back and forth in mating rituals Brown Bluff, Weddell SeaTrumpeting their affection in a squall Brown Bluff, Weddell SeaTwo Adelie chicks are warmed and protected by their parents Brown Bluff, Weddell SeaAdelie chicks chirp to be fed Brown Bluff, Weddell SeaEntering the narrow and hazardous Neptune Bellows Deception Island, South Shetland IslandsApproaching majestic Whalers Bay at Deception Island The immense volcanic caldera of Deception Island A brown skua floats above an ancient decaying whalers boat at Deception Island Gee I wonder what this is! Curious Chinstrap penguins at Deception Island Chinstrap penguins waddle down the volcanic black sand beach at historic Whalers Bay Deception Island, South Shetland IslandsI don't want to go in! A Chinstrap penguin hesitates entering the icy water Whalers Bay, Deception IslandChinstrap penguins frolic on the beach at Whalers Bay Chinstrap penguins muzzle in a mating ritual at Whalers Bay Deception Island Glacial meltwaters tumble over a small horseshoe-shaped escarpment at Deception Island A zodiac boat cruises the still waters of spectacular Orne Harbour A Chinstrap penguin guards its young chick at Orne Harbour A trumpeting Chinstrap penguin reveals its sharp cerrated beak used to feed on krill Neko HarbourA Chinstrap, left, observes a Gentoo penguin. Penguin species do not interbreed Roberts PointGentoo penguins gather on the slopes of Neko harbour to nest and breed. A Gentoo penguin closely guards its chick from another threatening Gentoo Neko HarburA Gentoo warms and shelters its young chicks at Neko Harbour A gentoo feeds a plump youngster. Both parents help raise the chicks Neko HarbourA Gentoo penguin basks in sunlight as its young chick chirps Neko HarbourA gentoo penguin swims past in shallow water hunting for tasty krill Danco IslandPassengers cruising in a zodiac watch a feeding humpback whale Graham PassageA diving humpback whale reveals its distictive ridged tale fluke Graham PassageThe M/V Sergey Vavilov polar ship enters the pristine waters of Paradise Harbour Surrounded by towering snow covered peaks, kayakers paddle the mirrored waters at Paradise Harbour Orange huts of an Argentine research station at Almirante Brown are dwarfed by glaciated mountain peaks at Paradise Harbour Snow covered mountain peaks are reflected in the still waters of Paradise Harbour Mountain peaks glow as sunset nears at Paradise Harbour The golden glow on Christmas Eve at Paradise Harbour Dream a little dream! Hues of pink and mauve at midnight on Christmas Eve at Paradise Harbour A huge iceberg carved with blue caves floats in the Bransfield Strait near Deception Island The rustic Ukrainian Vernadsky research station nestled at Marina Point on Galindez Island The Wordie House British research station on Winter Island. Today it is a protected historic site My tent and snowshoes all setup for a night of camping on Winter Island Antarctica! Chinstrap penguins preen and prepare their nests in early morning light at Half Moon Bay, Livingston Island A huge and noisy Adelie penguin colony congregates at Hope Bay The M/V Akademik Sergey Vavilov polar ship is dwarfed by a gigantic glacier and a pinnacle iceberg Turret PointPassengers descend to a waiting zodiac for an excursion to inhospitable Elephant Island Through a choppy sea passengers explore the towering and dramatic Elephant Island Chinstrap and Macaroni penguins climb up to their nests on jagged Elephant Island With distictive yellow eyebrown feathers, a Macaroni penguin pauses on a rocky ledge Elephant IslandThree Elephant seals growl and howl in a hilarious three part harmony on the rocky shore of Elephant Island More growling and howling by the Elephant Seal Trio! The song is almost over! A last roar before nap time! Elephant IslandAhh, time for a snooze! Elephant IslandA yawning and sleepy Elephant seal reveals its pink mouth A massive tubular iceberg floats off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic SoundTaller than the ship, a crew member watches warily as the M/V Sergy Vavilov cruises past a huge tubular iceberg Antarctic SoundGigantic icebergs float off the coast of Deception Island in late evening light on the Bransfield Strait A towering iceberg glows in orange hues as sunset approaches on the Bransfield Strait Peace and tranquility on the Erebus and Terror Gulf, named after British ships commanded by Captain James Clark Ross (1839–43) Floating clouds glow at sunset on the Erebus and Terror Gulf Moonrise Serenade. A nearly full moon chases the purple hues of the Belt of Venus above Active Sound A Cape Petral glides above the norotious Drake Passage in search of its next meal A large Southern Albatross swoops and soars through air currents on the Drake Passage A spectacular view of the Andes Mountains approaching the world’s most southern harbour at Ushuaia, Argentina Photojournalist, writer and videographer Frederic Hore on a high snowy ridge at spectacular Orne Harbour
