IMPORTANT NOTICE: Copyrighted Images. DO NOT DOWNLOAD, copy, reproduce, or use in any way without written permission from Elizabeth Bickel.

Images in this gallery are protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. Unuthorized use of any image will automatically entitle the copyright artist to financial compensation as determined fair by the artist Elizabeth Bickel. For information concerning use or purchase, contact the artist privately. Copyright 2010 Elizabeth Bickel. All rights reserved.
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Ernest Shackleton ended his 17 month long, epic journey in 1916 at Stromness Bay whaling station. This once thriving community has long since been abandoned and now stands in major disrepair. Because of the current day danger of asbestos and of collapsing structures, even the rare visitors to this part of the world can now only approach the old whaling station at a distance. For more information about the history of Stromness: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromness,_South_Georgia

Nevertheless, Antarctic and sub Antarctic Wildlife still call it home today. Fur Seals rule the beaches and the ruins. Rather than sticking with my ship's group as they tried to cram everything possible in, I spent an afternoon just watching some of these critters interrelate. Spending time is the best way to do photography. Although this gallery contains many portraits, each portrait is of a different individual. Most of the group portaits are also of different individuals. If you look closely, you can see differences between the animals. Just as with people and other animals, even Fur Seals - by the thousands - are each unique in subtle ways.

Although (except during breeding season) fur seals generally get along very amicibly with others of their own species, they routinely will, however, charge humans without any provocation. Sometimes these charges can result in a nasty bite that will turn into an extremely difficult-to-treat infection. Therefore, Antarctic Fur Seals should be approached only with caution.