The Nature of Light is an ongoing series featuring landscape, nature and wildlife photography in which light is as much the subject as the scene itself.
For the first edition, we're featuring a collection of photographs by David Ames, captured during an expedition across the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula in 2017.
The Expedition
Setting out from Ushuaia, Argentina, David travelled aboard a small expedition vessel through some of the most remote waters on Earth. The journey included Zodiac excursions at water level, visits to remote islands and coastlines, and a crossing of the Antarctic Circle, offering a rare opportunity to photograph Antarctica's landscapes and wildlife up close.
From the vast king penguin colonies of South Georgia to the fjords, glaciers and icebergs of the Antarctic Peninsula, the expedition traced a route through some of the most dramatic landscapes of the Southern Ocean.
South Georgia's Abundant Wildlife
The expedition’s first stop was the Falkland Islands, before continuing towards South Georgia. The Falklands offered an early glimpse of the region’s incredible wildlife, but for David, South Georgia was a revelation. Steeped in the history of Shackleton’s expedition, the island’s northern coast is home to extraordinary gatherings of king penguins, southern elephant seals and fur seals.
"It was raw, harsh, and magnificent — a place where history of whaling and fur seal trade collided with the harshness of our southern frontier."
Antarctic Sound & Brown Bluff
After departing South Georgia, the expedition continued towards Elephant Island, where the rougher seas gave way to calmer conditions. Near Brown Bluff and Joinville Island, the ship anchored offshore and the group travelled ashore by Zodiac among hundreds of Cape Petrels.
"A series of Adelie penguins were off for an early afternoon feed, and I caught this couple on their way to snack. The grey shade of the shoreline in the background helps the stark black and white of the penguins stand out."
A stop at Brown Bluff at dusk provided unique conditions for photography, as the final light of the day fell across the surrounding ice formations.
"Temperatures hovered near freezing, yet the world around us burned with light — skies that shifted from steel to deep azure."
Towards the Antarctic Circle
The expedition continued along the Antarctic Peninsula to Spert Island, a small, uninhabited island within the Palmer Archipelago. Here, David photographed the patterns and textures of the surrounding sea ice before the journey continued through Cierva Cove and onwards to Crystal Sound.
"Sea ice provides a never-ending array of shapes, textures, blues, whites, and
greys changing constantly with the color of sky and sea."
At Cierva Cove, the expedition encountered Weddell seals, while sightings of humpback and minke whales became more common further south towards the Antarctic Circle.
As the expedition came to an end, the anticipated challenge of crossing the Drake Passage was eased by calmer conditions on the return journey to South America. With his expectations surpassed, David hopes to return to this part of the world.
About the Photographer
David Ames is a photographer and business professional who has called Thailand home for more than two decades. He and his wife, Diane, divide their time between Thailand, Washington State and British Columbia, and share a love of travel, scuba diving, road trips and photography.
Explore more of David's photography on Instagram: @buffleheadprod
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