Photographing in the Arctic on an Expedition Micro Cruise

Whether you are joining one of our Expedition Micro Cruises or photography expeditions, being able to take great photos is all a part of the experience.

In this article, we talk to an expert photographer, Chase Teron, who shares his top tips on how to capture that perfect image in the Arctic and help you to get the best out of your photography.

You don’t have to be an expert photographer to take great shots, but being prepared is essential.

Be prepared

You have to be prepared for all of the uncontrollable variables at all times. You should expect snow, rain, wind, cold, sun, and for wildlife to be at different distances. The wildlife could be in perfect photography range and then they could leave, then the moment is gone.

You need to be able to anticipate encounters to have your gear prepared (multiple cameras with different focal lengths) and ready to go at any time because the most special moments could happen at any time. Which is what makes it exciting but also a little bit challenging. 

But with a small Zodiac, an efficient small group set up, and a good relationship with the guides, you can communicate openly and clearly what angle or positioning is best.

There’s a big difference between general trips to Svalbard vs. photography focused trips. With a photographer-instructor like myself, I can plan and prepare with the guides to get us into the best positioning without any friction. We aren’t just trying to find awesome wildlife viewing opportunities, we’re trying to find the best photographic opportunities.

A good photographer is always prepared, is skilled, is open, a visionary, and is resilient. You have to be prepared for the conditions and always be ready to shoot.

Know your camera

You need a degree of skill, in the sense that you have knowledge of your current camera system, where the shortcut buttons are located, how to operate the menu, how to problem solve, and you are well-practised in non-ideal conditions.

Keep learning

A good photographer is always learning and doesn’t operate with ego. I’m a professional and I am constantly watching other photographers, I invest thousands in attending workshops, and I keep my knowledge evergreen and am always evolving. Be open to continuous improvement and watch your photography take off.

Have a vision

The best photographers work on the story. They don’t just worry about shooting close up wildlife portraits, they want to capture different behaviours, positioning, environmental conditions/scenery, and they have thought of a creative vision. 

I always do a storyboard of the images I’m looking for, meaning positioning from unique perspectives, lighting conditions, and colour palettes. When I’m in the field, I shoot to edit. I know how to already edit a photograph when I take it in the field, because when a situation arises, I know what type of series to shoot with alternative exposures, etc.

Persistence is key

A good photographer needs to be resilient. You will have plenty of missed opportunities in the field from all of the challenging, uncontrollable variables – and a good photographer knows this. They know that they have to go back, to try again, to be better, to try something new, to slightly improve. 

A good photographer will see these failures as learning opportunities to progress. Also, they are flexible in their approach; when working in groups they are able to honestly communicate what they are looking to capture.

Quality not quantity

You find a lot of miserable photographers because their happiness is equal to their expectations minus reality. 

Year after year, for example, I will build and work on a portfolio of a specific animal and it may not always improve with each trip I go on. If you are out in the field, shooting consistently, and going on different trips, you should aim for five to 10 breathtaking images. 

The rest is practice. The rest is the photographer’s story. 50,000 photos in a year to get this one shot. A good photographer knows that to come away even with one stunning image or one personal best is worth every penny.

Practice makes perfect

If you’re an amateur and you’re coming to Svalbard, for instance, practise the right techniques and practise them until you have the muscle memory to change settings without looking. 

If you can, prior to the trip, go to farms to photograph cows, horses, or dogs in the park. Learning photography theory, the rules and the techniques and skills will provide the best return on your investment on a trip to Svalbard. You can take your best photographs ever in this location, so don’t just try to wing it. 

The right kit

Bring a 500mm lens with the 1.4x extender – aim to have a focal length of at least 500mm. Unlike Africa, for example, where you can get quite close, we tend to photograph the wildlife at some further distances in the Arctic. 

If you want to get nice intimate portraits of some of the wildlife, then having the extender option is great. I like the 1.4x extender for the only 1 stop of light reduction in the aperture and the speed of the autofocus isn’t as compromised at the 2x. 

Also, potentially bring a bean bag like a LensCoat to attach to the boat rail or to rest your camera when on the boat. Bring good gloves that you can use your camera with – touch screen-ready, flexible, and warm, with grip pads.

For the highest quality of photos of your Arctic expedition, here’s what I recommend taking:

• Full-frame camera allows for most light to hit the sensor, or a mirrorless – I use a Canon 5D Mark IV but will likely have a Canon R5 mirrorless. That way you can have a faster shutter speed for sharp shots and a lower overall ISO which also explains my lens selection/setup. I will be using either a Canon 400mm f/2.8 with a 1.4x or 2x or a Canon 500mm f/4 with a 1.4x of course with a UV filter to protect your lens. 

• Canon 70–200mm f/2.8 for closer wildlife and more habitat scenes and for mountain portraits with UV filter to protect your lens

• I bring a Canon 24-70 f/2.8 for portraits, adventure photographs, and general travel, with a circular polariser for glare and for the preservation of colour

• Waterproof cover for backpack or waterproof cover for padded duffle bag during Zodiac cruises. Sometimes the wind blows sea water on us and that’s game over for your camera and lenses.

• 2x rain/snow plastic covering 

• Windproof/waterproof shell pants, warm base layer, extra socks. Backup hard drive like a LaCie 4TB Rugged drive, extra memory cards, laptop with Adobe Lightroom / Photoshop downloaded, and any card readers to download and backup your images during the trip.