Antarctica gave me some of the most challenging conditions I've ever photographed in: rain, snow, wind strong enough to push me over, and a boat that never stops moving. Here are my Antarctica photography tips: the camera gear and lenses I took, why I used such fast shutter speeds, and how to keep shooting when the weather turns.
This is part of my Antarctica series. For the trip itself, see what it’s like travelling to Antarctica. For penguins, seals and orcas, see wildlife photography in Antarctica, and for icebergs, mountains and sunsets, see my guide to Antarctica landscape photography.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
The camera gear I took to Antarctica
I shot almost everything on the Sony A7 IV. My most used setup was the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II with a 2x teleconverter, which gives you roughly 140-400mm and is light enough to carry on landings. On zodiac cruises I brought the 200-600mm for extra reach, and I had the Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM for wider shots of the landscape and people. For vlogging I used an A7S III with a 20mm f/1.8, which doubled as my wide-angle lens for photos.
| Gear | How I used it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sony A7 IV (body) | Main photo camera | US$2,498 / A$2,720 |
| Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II | Most used lens, especially on landings | US$2,798 / A$3,299 |
| Sony FE 2x Teleconverter | Turns the 70-200mm into roughly 140-400mm | US$790 / A$870 |
| Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS | Extra reach on zodiac cruises | US$2,099 / A$2,149 |
| Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM | Wider landscape shots and photos of people on the zodiacs | US$1,399 / A$1,583 |
Prices checked October 2026 and vary by retailer. The A7 IV isn't a dedicated wildlife camera, but with some patience you can definitely still get great shots from it.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Which camera bag to bring
On zodiac cruises I took my big camera bag, which opens from the back so I could fit all the lenses I wanted without taking it off. For landings, where there's a lot of walking on slippery rocks and snow, I switched to a smaller backpack with just the 70-200mm, the teleconverter and my vlogging camera. Here's what I packed for a landing. Remember you'll be wearing a life jacket and lots of layers too, so lighter is better.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Why I used such fast shutter speeds
A lot of you asked why my shutter speeds were so fast. The longer your focal length, the more motion blur you get, and I was usually shooting floating objects and moving animals far away, from a floating, moving boat. With slower shutter speeds I'd have way too many unusable photos, so I'd much rather accept a higher ISO. I explain it properly in this part of the video, including how I shot two Adélie penguins on a moving iceberg, handheld from a moving zodiac at 200-400mm.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Holding as still as possible helps too. I did everything I could to keep my camera steady, including holding my breath.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Shooting in rain, snow and wind
On our last landings a storm caught up with us. It was raining and snowing, and the wind was so strong it was pushing me over. Here's what helped:
- Bring several pairs of gloves you can shoot in. They get wet quickly from the zodiacs, the rain and handling wet cameras.
- Keep your cameras ready with memory cards in and lenses attached. The light changes in seconds.
- Swap to fresh memory cards and charged batteries before each landing.
- Bring lip balm and hand cream. The air is so dry I ended up with a big cut on my hand.
- Check your audio cables if you're filming. I accidentally unplugged my mic and lost the audio on some beautiful clips.
You can see how tough it got in part three of my Antarctica vlogs.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Edited with my Aspen preset.
Antarctica photography FAQ
What camera gear should I take to Antarctica?
A full-frame body plus a telephoto zoom covers most situations. I used a Sony A7 IV with a 70-200mm f/2.8 and 2x teleconverter, a 200-600mm for zodiac cruises, and a 35mm f/1.4 GM and 20mm f/1.8 for wider shots.
What is the best lens for Antarctica?
A 70-200mm with a 2x teleconverter, or a 100-400mm range, was the most useful for me. It's light enough for landings and gives enough reach for wildlife.
Why use fast shutter speeds in Antarctica?
You're often shooting handheld with long lenses from a moving boat at moving animals or floating ice, so fast shutter speeds avoid motion blur.
How do you protect your camera in Antarctica?
Bring a waterproof bag, several pairs of gloves, spare batteries and memory cards, and wipe your camera down after wet zodiac rides.
Is there Wi-Fi on Antarctica cruises?
Our ship had satellite Wi-Fi. It was slow when everyone was uploading photos but much faster in the middle of the night.
What preset did you use for these photos?
All the photos were edited with my Aspen Lightroom preset pack.
All the photos in this post were edited with my Aspen Lightroom preset pack. Browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, and if you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.
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