By Grant Thomas
Exploring the depths of the Antarctic waters is an extraordinary experience. The icy world beneath the surface is a place where few people get to witness firsthand, which is why I feel extremely fortunate to be working as an expedition photographer and guide for Aurora Expeditions.
Travel is just the first half of the battle when shooting in extreme climates. 1/640 • f/13 • ISO 160 © Grant Thomas
Photographing in Antarctica requires extensive preparation. Unlike tropical dive destinations, the Antarctic waters demand specialized gear, thorough planning, and a deep understanding of the environment. The first consideration is the extreme temperature—Antarctic waters can range from 28°F to 32°F (-2°C to 0°C), meaning exposure protection and equipment reliability are paramount.
1/640 • f/18 • ISO 800 © Grant Thomas
"Photographing ice and icebergs underwater presents a mesmerizing challenge, combining breathtaking beauty with technical precision."
Challenges of Underwater Photography in Antarctica
Shooting in Antarctic waters presents numerous obstacles. Visibility can be great but also can quickly deteriorate due to algae blooms surrounding and ice and snow melt which can introduce a significant amount of suspended particulate matter into the water. Cold temperatures also affect both the diver and the equipment—batteries drain faster, LCD screens can become sluggish, and fogging inside the housing can be more of an issue to to the extreme temperature change.
Topside photography is just as challenging in these extreme climates. But capturing the behaviors of animals like the Gentoo penguin make it worth the effort. 1/1600 • f/5.6 • ISO 160 © Grant Thomas
Choosing the Right Camera and Settings
I was shooting with a Canon 5D mkIV with with a fish eye lens, enclosed within my Ikelite housing. Wide-angle lenses, especially fish eye lenses are ideal for capturing the immense ice formations and fast-moving marine life, such as seals and penguins. They also allow you to get closer to your subject, which reduces the amount of water and suspended particles between the camera and your subject, increasing clarity and sharpness.
Grant prepares his Canon 5D IV and Ikelite gear for the freezing temperatures of the Antarctic waters.
Settings needed to be adapted based on available light. In the summer months, Antarctica experiences almost continuous daylight, which provides great opportunities for natural lighting. The IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) rules forbid the use of strobe lighting around animals therefore I was quite limited with regards to my lighting options.
Encounters with Antarctic Marine Life
One of the most thrilling aspects of photographing in Antarctica is the incredible wildlife, especially the Gentoo penguins. On land, Gentoos appear clumsy, their waddling gait making them look like tiny tuxedo-clad comedians. But underwater, they became sleek torpedoes, propelling themselves at incredible speeds—up to 36 km/h (22 mph).
Topside the Gentoo penguins waddle about awkwardly. f/1600 • f/5.6 • ISO 160 © Grant Thomas
Gentoo penguins are recognizable by their bright orange beaks and distinctive white head patches, they are highly social and nest in large, noisy colonies. One of the most well-known Gentoo colonies is found at Brown Station, an Argentine research base on the Antarctic Peninsula. Here, thousands of Gentoos gather on the rocky, ice-free terrain, engaging in their comical waddling and frequent nest-stealing antics. Despite the harsh Antarctic conditions, this colony thrives, offering an incredible wildlife spectacle against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks and icy waters, a photographer’s dream!
Underwater the Gentoo penguins find their speed and agility, diving nimbly and at speeds up to 36 km/h (22 mph). 1/400 • f/9 • ISO 800 © Grant Thomas
As we approached Brown Station on our small Zodiac boat we were immediately greeted with rafts of penguins in the water. As we slowly approached, they splashed and bobbed in the shallows, their sleek bodies twisting and diving playfully in the icy water, completely unfazed by our quiet presence. As we slipped into the water they darted around us with playful agility. Their streamlined bodies cut through the water in swift, synchronized bursts, leaving trails of silver bubbles in their wake. It was as if I had been transported into their domain, an exclusive front-row seat to their underwater ballet. The experience was exhilarating—an intimate encounter with wildlife so perfectly adapted to its extreme environment.
Shooting these creatures required patience, a bit of luck and good preparation of camera settings. I chose to use back button focus on continuous focus mode, combined with a rapid shutter speed (1/400) to freeze the action.
Using back button focus on continuous focus mode is the optimal setting for capturing the quick Gentoo penguins underwater. 1/400 • f/22 • ISO 1250 © Grant Thomas
Photographing Ice
Photographing ice and icebergs underwater presents a mesmerizing challenge, combining breathtaking beauty with technical precision. Below the surface, ice formations take on an ethereal quality, their jagged edges and smooth, sculpted curves refracting light in dazzling shades of blue. The density and age of the ice influence its color, with older, more compressed ice appearing deep, almost glowing blue, while newly formed ice remains a translucent, ghostly white. Capturing these underwater landscapes requires careful exposure control, as the high contrast between bright ice and dark water can easily trick a camera’s metering system. Wide-angle lenses help emphasize the scale of towering ice formations.
A diver holds a large chunk of ice. 1/400 • f/22 • ISO 800 © Grant Thomas
Using Ikelite’s dome port allowed for split-shot photography, capturing both the world above and below the surface in a single frame. This technique adds an extra dimension to iceberg photography, blending the stark, frozen world above with the mysterious, fluid realm below. Achieving the perfect split shot requires a large dome port to create a smooth waterline and balance focus between the above and below sections of the image. Calm water conditions help maintain a crisp surface line, while adjusting exposure for the drastic difference in brightness between sky and underwater is crucial. These images tell a powerful story, showcasing the iceberg’s hidden bulk beneath the surface and revealing the contrast between the frozen and liquid worlds. With patience and the right technique, photographing ice and icebergs underwater can produce otherworldly images that highlight the raw beauty of Antarctica’s icy waters.
Split-shots help provide perspective and aid in storytelling. Using a large dome port is crucial for nailing a dynamic split-shot. 1/320 • f/22 • ISO 640 © Grant Thomas
The Reward of Underwater Antarctic Photography
Photographing underwater in Antarctica was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my career. The extreme conditions tested both my equipment and my skills, but the results made every effort worthwhile.
1/320 • f/16 • ISO 200 © Grant Thomas
For anyone aspiring to capture the icy depths of Antarctica, preparation is key. From choosing the right equipment to mastering lighting techniques, every detail contributes to successful shots in this unforgiving environment. The effort, however, is well worth it, as the images tell a story of a hidden, frozen kingdom that few ever get to explore firsthand.
Gentoo penguins swim at the surface of the water through freezing waters and ice. 1/4000 • f/5 • ISO 800 © Grant Thomas
Additional Viewing
Using Ikelite Housings in Arctic Cold or Extreme Heat
Lundy Island: The Best Seal Diving in the World
Tonga Underwater with Humpback Whales and Grant Thomas
My Arctic Ikelite System // Jacques de Vos' Underwater Housing Gear [VIDEO]
DON'T MISS the World Record Shot // Photographing a Freediver Under the Ice
Grant Thomas left Scotland with a degree in Engineering and a desire to travel. His travels developed into a passion for photography, a PADI SCUBA Instructor certification, and an underwater housing. Since then he's established himself as an award-winning underwater photographer including a distinction as British Underwater Photographer of the Year in 2018. He now works as a freelance photographer and expedition guide, leading tours and workshops to encounter and photograph animals like humpback whales and orcas. Read more...
