Exploring Patagonia

A few months ago I took a 2-week trip to Patagonia, a land resplendent enormous glaciers and dramatic landscapes. I traveled with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions on the polar rated NG Resolution ship, which is fully prepared for expedition cruising. Photography opportunities were abundant.

I was able to take photos of high snow-capped peaks and massive tidewater glaciers quite easily from the ship as it traveled in the Straits of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, and down many remote fjords. Sometimes we hopped on Zodiacs to get closer to land for more intimate landscape photos. If you have ever done this, you know that photographing from a Zodiac can be challenging. The boat not only rocks and bobs, but fellow travelers sometimes inadvertently block your shot. However, the drivers try to let everyone capture the photos they want.

There were many occasions when the Zodiacs would transport us to a remote beach, the starting point for a hike. I particularly enjoyed these landings, as they gave me the opportunity to take my time in setting up a composition.

Perhaps the most well known and most photographed location in Patagonia is Torres del Paine National Park. The ship docked in Puerto Natales and we took a 2-hour bus ride to the eastern entrance. This was fortuitous because most visitors enter the park via the more photographed western entrance, so I had the opportunity to take nice shots from a less-frequented location and later took photos at the western entrance.

If you haven’t visited Patagonia, I encourage you to give it serious consideration. You won’t be disappointed. Your camera will come home with thousands of photos on the memory card.

For a sample of some of the photos I captured in Patagonia, check them out here.

Torres del Paine National Park, Eastern Entrance