Svalbard - Franz Josef Land Voyages by Pt 78 Pty Ltd

1. Svalbard Odyssey Photo Tour

2. Franz Josef Land Explorer Photo Tour

7 – 19 July 2021

19 July – 3 Aug 2021

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

With Peter Eastway

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

The Remarkable Svalbard Odyssey, or the Franz Josef Land Explorer? It’s really difficult to describe in words what an

bays to tempt our cameras. So, expect more of the

amazing destination Svalbard is. Tucked way up

same in an even more remote corner of the globe.

north of Norway, it’s quite a flight to get there but the effort is more than worthwhile!

Both voyages will be on board the Greg Mortimer, Aurora Expeditions’ latest ship.

Svalbard is a photographers’ paradise, a land of towering snow clad peaks, giant calving glaciers

More information can be found on the following

and, we hope, polar bears!

pages, but on a trip like this, we guarantee you will see some amazing sights and capture lots of

But that’s just the headlines. There’s so much

incredible images. They are both voyages that will

more to Svalbard, from sea cliffs sinking under the

never be forgotten. Why not come on both?

weight of nesting guillemots, beluga whales rising from the depths, wide open tundra and even a

Full details and pricing are on the Aurora

smattering of photogenic buildings and ruins.

Expeditions website, but to ensure you are

Svalbard has it all for the wildlife, landscape and

a part of the Peter’s ‘insiders’ photography

travel photographer.

program, please book through Peter and Better Photography magazine.

As for Franz Josef Land, Peter hasn’t been there

Aurora Voyage References:

before, but looking at the maps, he says it looks

Svalbard:

similar to Svalbard, with lots more islands and

Franz Josef Land:

SVAL53G FJL002G

All Photographs by Peter Eastway on Svalbard

Polar Bear Phase One XF 100MP, 240mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Two steps to book. First, for more information on your voyage options, visit Aurora Expeditionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; website at www.auroraexpeditions.com.au Second, for bookings with the photography group, contact Peter Eastway or Kim Valenti eastway@betterphotography.com or kim@betterphotography.com If talking with Aurora, please mention Peter first to join the photo group!

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Camera Skills Photographing in the Arctic can be challenging,

activities like kayaking and diving. It means you’ll

but you should immediately put your mind at rest

enjoy lots of landings and Zodiac cruises, whereas

because all the challenges are handled for you.

ships with larger contingents tend to sail on by.

On these voyages, Peter will assist you with

And small ship cruising is all about getting ashore

the camera skills needed to capture the

whenever possible. In fact, you usually get ashore

many amazing moments and locations you’ll

twice a day.

experience. Everyone dons their splashproof clothes, life A ship is a perfect photography platform. You

jackets and Wellington boots, and lines up

go to sleep in one place and wake up at a new

to board the Zodiacs (stable and inflatible

destination. You can shoot from the deck and

watercraft), that are also perfect platforms for

there is always something happening outside in

photography.

the polar regions: birds, waves, clouds, shorelines, icebergs and sometimes pack ice.

Sometimes we just cruise along the shoreline, remaining in the zodiacs. This in itself is a

If you’re going to journey to the Arctic, an

wonderful adventure. However, generally we

expedition ship like Greg Mortimer is best, not a

land and spend from two to four hours ashore,

large cruise liner. There are limits to the number

exploring some of the most amazing locations on

of people who can land at most of the locations,

Earth.

usually 100 people. Aurora will have up to 100 land-based passenges, plus extra programs for

Breaking Ice at Isispynten Phase One XF 100MP, 55mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Editing And Post-Production Skills 8

One of the highlights for photographers on a

won’t stay on board in front of our computers!

voyage like this is the opportunity to edit and

Our main aim is to experience and photograph

improve their photography.

the amazing Svalbard.

While there always seems to be lots happening

However, on an average day, you can expect one

when you’re on board a ship, there’s still time to

and often two sessions in front of your computer

sit in your cabin and work on your files in private,

with access to and assistance from Peter. We have

or to join the other photographers in the lounge

‘planned’ afternoon sessions in the ‘library’ each

or library where Peter will provide one-on-one

day.

and small group assistance. For example, after an early morning shoot, we Peter will look over your shoulder or sit next to

might have breakfast and then spend a couple

you and help you work through the complexities

of hours before lunch working on our files, while

of Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom or Capture One.

the Greg Mortimer steams to our next destintation. And then following our afternoon expedition, we

During the voyage, there will be many

might spend an hour in the library, downloading

opportunities to learn about post-production

our files and talking photography. The ‘image

and to refine your editing skills. We don’t set

lab’ sessions are when you’ll learn lots about

definite times for when and where the editing

photography.

tuition will take place, because this depends on what’s happening outside the ship. If we have an opportunity to land three times in a day, then we

Mining history, Ny London Phase One A-Series 100MP, 23mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Formal Photography Presentations On the Greg Mortimer is a modern, purpose-

He’ll ask you what you need.

built lecture room which can be fully darkened for presentations with a digital projector and

This is why Peter brings a range of different

speakers.

presentations, so he can match the needs of his ‘students’.

It is a very popular room and is shared by all the ship for presentations on history, wildlife, geology

Importantly, the formal presentations are really

– and photography.

just a small part of the experience. Watching Peter work, or having him help you set up a shot or

Peter will give several formal presentations on

make suggestions, will be incredibly valuable to

photography. Some will be for all the ship’s

your progress as a photographer.

passengers, others will be only of interest to the smaller photography group.

And if you have a specific request, Peter will be only too happy to sit down with you and talk you

Peter has an extensive range of presentations for

through it. He might suggest you buy him a drink

photographers, covering everything from basic

from the bar first, but he is there to assist you!

camera skills up to advanced camera skills and indepth Photoshop post-production. Exactly which presentations are given will depend on the photographers travelling on the expedition - and that means you!

Walrus, Storoya Phase One XF 100MP, 240mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

How Do You Like To Learn? 12

Everyone has different ways of learning. For some,

to do is ask. Importantly, you will never be made

it is sitting back and watching an expert at work,

to feel silly because you asked a basic question

noting how he or she positions and uses the

- chances are many in the group don’t know the

camera, reacts to the light and the weather, or

answer either!

interacts with people and wildlife to achieve the best posing and expression.

Peter will be shooting as well. He is just as passionate as you are about photography, so he

Others like to be given suggestions, to understand

will be capturing his own images (like the ones in

what the experts are seeing and thinking, and

this brochure) and sharing them with the photo

then left to experiment and discover on their own.

group. He feels it is important to practice what

They are looking for guidance, but not too much.

he preaches and show participants what he has found.

And yet other photographers like to be shown how to find the photograph, how to compose

However, he is very aware that his primary role is

the image and what camera settings are required.

to act as your instructor and guide. And he wants

They want help with their camera controls

you to return on other workshops and trips, which

and detailed instructions on how to frame and

you will only do if you are happy.

compose. So, please don’t be shy to ask for help at any time Different photographers at different stages require

and it will be cheerfully provided with a smile!

different levels of assistance and that’s fine! Peter provides all three levels of interaction, all you have

Liefdefjorden Phase One A-Series 100MP, 23mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

What Level Of Photographer Do I Need To Be? You don’t need to be a serious photographer to

ideas and viewpoints participants bring. They

come on this voyage! There will be many other

see things I don’t, so I’m learning just as much as

guests on board whose primary goal is not

everyone else.

photography, so you can choose as much or as little photography education as you like.

“And importantly, it is all done in a positive and encouraging environment. I’ve been doing this

On voyages like this, we have had all levels

long enough that I don’t need my ego stroked.

of photographers attending, from seasoned professionals wanting to refine their skills, to

“I get a buzz out of helping other photographers

newcomers who need assistance with basic

capture great photos - my reward is seeing the

camera settings.

expression on your face when you nail a top shot or a great video clip.”

We actually like a range of photographers to attend. The more experienced participants

And Peter lied about not needing his ego stroked.

invariably help the newcomers, and the

Please pay him a compliment every now and then

newcomers give all of us new ideas we’ve never

- you’ll get a lot more from him if he’s happy!

thought about! “One of the things that constantly keeps me grounded”, said Peter Eastway, “is the range of

Reindeer, Fuglehuken Fujifilm X-H1, 100-400mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Peter Eastway G.M. Photog., MNZIPP, Hon FAIPP, HFNZIPP, FAIPP

photography competitions, both as a judge and as an active participant. He judges and speaks

Sydney-based photographer Peter Eastway

internationally on a regular basis.

is a Grand Master of Photography and a two time winner of the AIPP Australian Professional

Peter’s work has been published internationally

Photographer of the Year. Known best for his

in photography and travel magazines, and he

landscape and travel photography, he has worked

was also the author of the Lonely Planet’s Guide

in most areas of the profession and also loves

to Landscape Photography. His photography has

sport, studio still life, portraiture and wildlife.

featured on the cover of the Lonely Planet’s guide to Australia, an Australian postage stamp, in

Peter is the editor and publisher of Better

articles in the Qantas inflight magazine, and in an

Photography magazine and website, a position

Apple television commercial. And he has worked

that has given him special access to many of

with Phase One researching and promoting its

the world’s leading photographers over the past

Capture One raw processing software, and with

30 years. His ability to communicate both the

Adobe on its Lightroom software.

technical and aesthetic sides of photography makes him a sought after speaker on the

He is familiar with Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and

international circuit.

Phase One camera systems.

Peter was the chairman of the Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards for many years and is still involved in all aspects of

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Tales By Light Now On Netflix The Tales By Light television series first screened on

visited some of the most amazing and remote

the National Geographic cable channel in Australia

locations on the globe, including Africa, India,

and is now available worldwide on Netflix.

Bhutan, Alaska, Tonga, America and Antarctica. And since then they have done Series 2 and are

Abraham Joffe approached a number of

now onto Series 3!

photographers with his idea for the television series. Explained Peter Eastway, “Over the years,

“It was also a huge investment by Canon. Sure, all

I had been approached by at least half a dozen

the photographers chose to use Canon cameras,

producers with photography-based ideas, but

but the product placement was the only reference

when Abraham said he had the support and

to Canon in the entire series. To Canon’s credit, the

partnership of Canon Australia, I realised it was

production is all about photography and it can

really going to happen.

be enjoyed by anyone, no matter what type of camera they use.”

“I’m still not quite sure why Abraham picked me as a presenter out of all the photographers in the

Peter and Abraham travelled to Antarctica with

world, but I was mighty glad he did, especially

Aurora Expeditions to shoot the program and

when he suggested we go to Antarctica to shoot

since then, Aurora has invited Peter back to revisit

the segment. Who would say no?”

many of the locations filmed in Tales By Light.

“Abraham and his wife Jen spent over a year

And now he’s visiting the Artic too where his polar

travelling with the five photographers. It must

experience pays off. However, don’t expect to see

have been a dream job for them because they

any penguins up north!

Gold Harbour, South Georgia Canon EOS-1D X, 24mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Svalbard Odyssey Itinerary 7-19 July 2021 (SVAL53G) SAMPLE ITINERARY ONLY

settlement on Amsterdam Island and learn of an

Day 1 – Longyearbyen

ill-fated ballooning attempt over the North Pole.

Enjoy a guided tour of the colourful Spitsbergen’ capital, Longyearbyen. Late afternoon sees us

Days 4 to 6 – Moffen Island & Woodfjorden

warmly welcomed on board the ship.

Rounding Spitsbergen’s northwest coast, we enter the Arctic Ocean and the world of pack ice.

Days 2 to 3 – Magdalenefjorden

Ghostly beluga whales rise up in open leads and

Wake up to spectacular alpine peaks and glacier

polar bears stalk ringed, bearded and harp seals.

valleys of Spitsbergen’s rugged west coast.

Offshore, walruses feed on clams or haul out on

In Magdalenefjorden we Zodiac cruise a safe

beaches, especially on Moffen Island, a walrus

distance from the aqua-blue ice cliffs of 14th

sanctuary.

July Glacier or Waggonway Glacier, and take long walks among summer flowers, alert for reindeer

We visit trapper huts and stay alert for reindeer

and Arctic fox.

and Arctic fox. Delightful walks reveal delicious berries and some of the tundra’s 164 exquisite

Thanks to the nutrient-rich Gulf Stream and

flowering plants, including purple saxifrage,

relatively mild temperatures, Atlantic puffins and

yellow spider plants and Svalbard poppies. If ice

guillemots fill the cliffs. We look for bearded seals,

conditions allow, we attempt to cross latitude 80°

with their precious curling whiskers. We may

north before turning south to Woodfjorden.

visit the remains of a 350-year old Dutch whaling

Raudfjorden Glacier Phase One XF 100 MP, 240mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Days 7 to 8 – Hinlopen Strait, Barentsøya and

deeper into the wonders of Spitsbergen’s north

Edgeøya Islands

and west coasts.

We attempt to pass through narrow Hinlopen

Strait, a channel flanked by austere, cream-

Day 11 – Longyearbyen

coloured slopes rich in fossils between

A midnight cruise of glorious Isfjorden returns us

Spitsbergen and ice-capped Nordaustlandet.

to Longyearbyen and the end of our voyage.

This polar desert is a landscape eroded by severe

Itinerary is subject to ice and weather conditions.

frost. Even in summer, pack ice could bar our way, but there is much to strive for. We Zodiac cruise beneath Alkefjellet, sheer basalt cliffs rising more than 250 metres – literally buzzing with some 200,000 nests of Brunnich’s guillemots. During shore excursions, we seek eider ducks, Arctic foxes and the elusive Svalbard ptarmigan. As we pass Barentsøya and Edgeøya islands, we cross polar bear migration routes. Days 9 to 10 – Hornsund & Bellsund Fjords This is true expedition cruising. If ice conditions allow, we round South Cape and sail north toward Hornsund and Bellsund, deep fjords home to stunning glaciers and wildlife. If ice bars our way, we simply adjust our itinerary, backtrack and delve

Remote Home Life, Ny Alesund Phase One XF 100MP, 55mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Voyage 2: Franz Josef Land Explorer 19 July - 3 August 2020 (FJL002G) SAMPLE ITINERARY ONLY

to the soldier of WW2 and also the first nuclear

Day 1 – Embark the Greg Mortimer in

icebreaker, Lenin.

Kirkenes Sample Itinerary: FJL001G

Days 3-4 – At Sea

Arrive in Kirkenes, Norway, located on the border

Over the next two days at sea, enjoy informative

with Russia. Join a pre-arranged half day excursion

and entertaining lectures from our expert

or activity prior to boarding the Greg Mortimer

expedition team including naturalists, historians

late afternoon. Airport transfers will be included if

and photographer!

arriving on preferred flights into Kirkenes. Time and weather permitting, we may cruise You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before

along the coast of Novaya Zemlya on day 4, to

our important briefings. Sail the scenic Bokfjord to

have a first glimpse of the tundra of the High

reach the Barents Sea on our way to Murmansk in

Arctic. We may even try a landing in the tundra or

neighbouring Russia.

a zodiac cruise in front of our first glacier (at a safe distance).

Day 2 – Murmansk After sailing overnight into Russia, we stop in

Days 5-11 – Franz Josef Land

Murmansk, to undergo formalities to enter Russia.

Franz Josef Land is a stark yet beautiful world of

During clearance procedures, we may go on a

glaciers, mosses and lichens. Approximately five

city tour of Murmansk visiting the monument

million seabirds nest on the archipelago every

Arctic Iceberg Phase One XF 100MP, 55mm lens

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

year, with the Brünnich’s guillemot accounting for

the elusive bowhead whale if we’re lucky, and

approximately twenty per cent of the population.

certainly plenty of opportunities to photograph

Other seabirds such as fulmar, kittiwake, black

sea birds.

guillemot and little auk, are common throughout

the archipelago.

Day 14 – Murmansk Back in Murmansk for clearance procedures before

On the flat tundra, nest species such as: common

continuing to Kirkenes.

eider, purple sandpiper, arctic skua, glaucous gull, ivory gull, arctic tern and snow bunting can be

Day 15 – Kirkenes

seen.

Arrive in Kirkenes in the morning, farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all

Franz Josef Land is home to two arctic giants –

continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a

the polar bear and the walrus.

newfound sense of the immense power of nature. A transfer to the airport is included in the cost of

The waters of Franz Josef Land are visited by

the voyage.

whales, including humpback, bowhead, narwhal and white beluga whale. Possible landings may include Prince George Land, Alexandra Land, Bell and Mabel Island, Champ Island and Cape Flora (Northbrook Island). Days 12-13 – At Sea The return crossing of the Barents Sea offers some good opportunities to encounter whales, perhaps

Itinerary is subject to ice and weather conditions.

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Camera Equipment For The Voyage 28

Peter is not an equipment snob! Yes, he uses

them, each with a different lens. If the weather

professional equipment, but that’s his full time

gets challenging (and exciting), or there’s

job.

windblow snow or spray, changing lenses is not advisable. Also, when wildlife appears, it can

So, whether you turn up with the latest DSLR or

happen very quickly – so having one camera with

an older camera you’ve loved for many years, it

the telephoto attached and another with a wide-

really doesn’t matter. However, there are some

angle, means you’re always ready for action.

lenses and accessories that will certainly help you capture a wider range of photographs and videos.

This is a preferred approach, but not essential. Bad weather days are not the norm and usually a

We do recommend you bring everything you

weather front passes through quickly, so on the

think you might need, but not so much you can’t

majority of occasions, especially when you’re on

carry it with you. If in doubt, bring it, because you

shore, there’s plenty of time to safely change your

will be able to leave equipment behind on the

lenses. If you only have one camera, no trouble

ship in your cabin at any time. However, be aware

(although we still recommend you bring an older

of weight restrictions for any flights to or from the

or smaller second camera as a backup).

ship - Peter’s suitcase has very little in the way of extra clothing and not everyone likes to travel this

A lot of photographers are very happy with a

way!

standard zoom – like a 35-70mm or a 28-120mm. And there’s so much to see on the voyage, if this

If you have two camera bodies, it can be sensible

is the only lens you bring, you will be incredibly

to travel ashore or in the zodiac with both of

happy.

Antarctica Photography Expedition with Peter Eastway & Abraham Joffe

Even so, if you’re reading this before you travel, Peter has a couple of suggestions. If you’re just wanting the one lens to do everything, most cameras accept wide range zooms, like a 18200mm or 28-300mm zoom and these are ideal for both landscapes and wildlife. And if you’re a step more enthusiastic, then he’d suggest taking two extra lenses - the widest angle and the longest telephoto. The really wide-angle can be great for big skies (and you’ll get a lot of them), while the longest telephotos are fantastic for closeup portraits of the animals. The wider and longer the better. For example, Peter’s Canon outfit uses an 1124mm and a 300mm f2.8 with a 2x converter. His Fujifilm outfit has an 8-16mm and a 100-400mm. And don’t forget a laptop and Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One or similar. Photography is two things – capture and post-production and there’s nothing better than sitting on the ship, editing your photos.

Recommended Camera Stuff Here’s an incomplete list of some of the things you may need. •

DSLR or mirrorless camera

•

Backup camera - preferrably taking same lenses

•

Standard zoom e.g. 35-70mm or 28-100mm

•

Wide-angles - as wide as you have

•

Telephoto - 300mm is not too long, a 100-400mm ideal; 600mm awesome if you can hold it!

•

Macro lens - optional

•

Spare camera batteries & battery charger

•

Backpack style camera bag

•

Tripod (with a quick release plate) (optional)

•

Plenty of storage cards for your camera

•

Polarising filter

•

Neutral density filters (0.9x, 4.0x optional)

•

Card reader and cable if necessary

•

Laptop computer (Mac or PC)

•

External back-up drives and cables

•

Photoshop, Lightroom or Capture One

•

Mouse or stylus/tablet

•

Camera/sensor cleaning gear

•

Dry bag (large enough for camera bag with easy opening and closing). See next page for details.

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

Dry Bags 30

We don’t plan to get your camera gear wet!

down the gangway if you need two hands to

However, after we leave the ship to go ashore, the

hold onto the railing. The other option is the

weather can change and so our return trip may be

Sealline Boundary Portage Pack (check your

a little more exciting! Specifically, wind chop and

camera bag will fit in - Peter uses the large 115

swell can have water splashing into the zodiac

Litre size). It has shoulder straps which are not

and the bottom of the zodiac can be awash with

all that comfortable, but get you up and down

water. This is very rare, but it can happen.

the gangway more easily. However, once in the Zodiac, they aren’t as quick to access.

This won’t worry us because we have Wellington boots and spray-proof clothing, but our camera

On shore, you leave the dry bag with your life

bags can soak up salt water, which is not great for

jackets at the landing point, so they are only used

our cameras and lenses inside.

while actually in the Zodiac.

One solution is to use a dry bag into which you

For travellers with smaller camera bags, smaller

put your camera bag. You can also use heavy duty

dry bags will work just fine. The above bags are

plastic garbage bags, but many photographers

fully waterproof, but they don’t need to be for use

opt for the Sealline range of dry bags. Peter has

in the Zodiac. Their main purpose is to keep your

used two Seallines.

camera dry while it is sitting on the bottom of the Zodiac, and from splashes coming over the side in

The Sealline Widemouth Duffle is great for

transit.

working in the Zodiac because it is easy to open and access gear. However, it’s harder to carry

There are other options as well. For instance, most

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway

camping or outdoor shops sell waterproof ‘inner liners’ for backpacks - when the backpack gets soaked in rain, the inner liner keeps its contents dry. They are quite robust and can be

is very quick to put your cameras away, in the

carried in your camera bag.

case of wind or waves and there’s no worry about water on the floor of the zodiac because it’s made

When the weather is calm, you just use your normal

of plastic. However, the downside of the Pelican

camera bag (being aware that salt water is corrosive

case is when you get ashore because it is a pain to

and can seep into some camera bag materials,

carry. Who wants to carry a suitcase on a walk? A

so placing your bag on the wet floor of a zodiac

backpack or shoulder bag is much more sensible!

remains hazzardous). And when the weather turns more challenging, you pull out your waterproof

Peter’s current approach is to take the Pelican

inner liner and put your camera bag into it. It will

case with a Sealline inside as a second bag when

keep your cameras and camera bag dry.

he flies, so when he arrives he has the best of both worlds.

Yet another option is a Pelican (or similar) waterproof hard case. The advantage of a case

If we are doing a zodiac cruise and not going

like this is when you’re shooting in the Zodiac.

ashore, or if the weather is tricky, he takes the

The case is quick and easy to open, you can take

Pelican case. If we are just transitting to shore with

out a lot of the dividers and put in two cameras

the Zodiac, he takes his normal camera backpack

with lenses - usually one will be a long telephoto

inside the Sealline, and then leaves the Sealline

for wildlife, and a second wide-angle for the

with the Zodiac while he walks around on shore.

landscapes, but not always. And there’s room for a spare lens (if it’s safe to change lenses), batteries,

There’s no single answer - worst case, bring your

memory cards and so on. In tricky situations, it

normal bag and a heavy duty plastic bag.

Svalbard & Franz Josef Land with Peter Eastway