One-Year Ago (01-January-2015) — Antarctica

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage on the MS Fram. Day 17: Antarctic Peninsula.

We woke on New Years day to see more amazing icebergs. The first stop was at Brown Station (Estación Científica Almirante Brown) in Paradise Harbor. I took a panorama of the harbor and research station from the deck of the MS Fram while waiting to go ashore. Then to Bransfield House (location of the southernmost post office) at Port Lockry. The Gentoo Penguin eggs were just beginning to hatch. Later in the day we proceeded to the Lemaire Channel in the Southwest Antarctic Peninsula. The blue colors of the water, glaciers, and sky were unreal. I did my best to accurately record the colors. All of the panorama images need to be viewed in full screen mode.

Iceburg in Antarctica from the Deck of the MS Fram. Composite of three images taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/11, various) Raw image processed with Lightroom, Nik HDR Efex 2, Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Iceberg in Antarctica from the Deck of the MS Fram. Composite of three images taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/11, various) Raw image processed with Lightroom, Nik HDR Efex 2, Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Panorama of Paradise Harbor and Brown Station (Estación Científica Almirante Brown) in Antarctica from the Deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Composite of 16 image takens with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, Photoshop CC 2015, and AutoPano Giga Pro (David J Mathre)
Panorama of Paradise Harbor and Brown Station (Estación Científica Almirante Brown) in Antarctica from the Deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Composite of 16 image takens with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, Photoshop CC 2015, and AutoPano Giga Pro (David J Mathre)
Gentoo Penguin on its Rock Nest Built with Pebbles. Underneath are a New Years Chick that Just Hatched, and a Second Egg Where the Beak Just Appeared. Next to Bransfield House, Port Lockry in Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/11.3, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Gentoo Penguin on its Rock Nest Built with Pebbles. Underneath are a New Years Chick that Just Hatched, and a Second Egg Where the Beak Just Appeared. Next to Bransfield House, Port Lockry in Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/11.3, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Northern Entrance to the Lemaire Channel in the Southwest Antarctic Peninsula. From the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. In camera panorama taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/8, 1/180 sec). Jpg image processed with Capture One Pro 8 and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Northern Entrance to the Lemaire Channel in the Southwest Antarctic Peninsula. From the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. In camera panorama taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/8, 1/180 sec). Jpg image processed with Capture One Pro 8 and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Zodiac Leading an Antarctic Cruise Ship Through the Lemaire Channel. I had never seen clouds this color blue before, and they were that color blue. I am guessing it is blue light reflecting off the glacier. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 31 mm, f/11, 1/40 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Zodiac Leading an Antarctic Cruise Ship Through the Lemaire Channel. I had never seen clouds this color blue before, and they were that color blue. I am guessing it is blue light reflecting off the glacier. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 31 mm, f/11, 1/40 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (31-December-2014) — Antarctica

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage on the MS Fram. Day 16: Antarctic Peninsula.

Floating Ice in Antarctica from the Deck of the MS Fram. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/11, 1/180 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC.

Floating Ice in Antarctica from the Deck of the MS Fram. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/11, 1/180 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (© 2014 David J Mathre)
Floating Ice in Antarctica from the Deck of the MS Fram. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/11, 1/180 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (© 2014 David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (30-December-2014) — South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage on the MS Fram. Day 15: South Shetland Islands.

Old wooden boat stuck in the snow on Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands (north of the Antarctic Peninsula). Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/100 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014.

Old Wooden Boat Stuck in the Snow on Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands (North of the Antarctic Peninsula). Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/100 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014 (David J Mathre)
Old Wooden Boat Stuck in the Snow on Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands  Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/100 sec).  (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (30-December-2014) — South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage on the MS Fram. Day 15: South Shetland Islands.

Sailboat Anchored Near the Argentine Research Station at Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands off Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/10, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and Photoshop CC 2014.

Sailboat Anchored Near the Argentine Research Station at Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands off Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/10, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and Photoshop CC 2014 (David J Mathre)
Sailboat Anchored Near the Argentine Research Station at Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands off Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/10, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and Photoshop CC 2014 (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (29-December-2014) — Elephant Island

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage on the MS Fram. Day 14: Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands.

Pair of Snowy Sheathbill’s  and a Chinstrap Penguin on Elephant Island. This was at the desolate beach on Point Wild where Ernest Shackleton’s crew survived for 4 months in 1916 while Shackelton managed to sail to South Georgia and ultimately assured their rescue. I assume that the Sheathbill’s (as well as the Penguins and Seals) would have been on the menu for the sailors during this time. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC.

Having spent only one hour on this desolate beach, it is amazing that the twenty some sailors/adventurers survived for 4+  months. This was only the 2nd time that the MS Fram was able to land passengers at this historic location.

Pair of Snowy Sheathbill's on Elephant Island. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Pair of Snowy Sheathbill’s on Elephant Island. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Chinstrap Penguin on Elephant Island. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Chinstrap Penguin on Elephant Island. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
You Look Your Way, I'll Look My Way. Snowy Sheathbill and Chinstrap Penguin on Elephant Island. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18 -56 mm lens (ISO 100, 55 mm, f/16. 1/500 sec) Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
You Look Your Way, I’ll Look My Way. Snowy Sheathbill and Chinstrap Penguin on Elephant Island. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18 -56 mm lens (ISO 100, 55 mm, f/16. 1/500 sec) Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)