My Partners in Crime

In addition to the various scientist aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea there are also various photographers and vidoegraphers. From new to the art, such as your local blogger, to the seasoned pro, i.e. Daniel Cox, who is currently working for Polar Bear International.

Photos tell a story, and if captured in the right way can be very effective. The photographers aboard are here to tell the story of different scientific groups heading to the Arctic.

Of course Greg Marshall from National Geographic is here, and Daniel Cox, as mentioned before, but there is also Rick Morris, a freelance videographer who is documenting the ice-dive teams, and Christina Galvan, a Hayward, Calif. native, who is here to gain experience, take photos, and blog to her students about her trip.

Aside from the inherent beauty and cold temperatures of filming in the Arctic comes with a bountiful cornucopia of challenges to over come. Challenges that include but are not by any means limited to as shipboard isolation, slow or no Internet, potential for equipment failure and just plain not having the right equipment at the right time, and preparing cameras and lens for different atmospheres.

The icebreaker is also fundamental challenging to shoot because its overhead florescent lighting, steep ladders, and constant ambient noise that is always being picked up by the camera.

I had every intention of time lapsing a sunrise sequence this morning, however I got outside just in time to watch the fog roll in. It is a good thing I have four and half weeks left.