08-JAN-2004
The Shock of Color, Deception Island, Antarctica, 2004
Manmade color placed within a monochromatic landscape comes as a shock to the senses. I chose this photograph in direct contrast to the previous image. As we sailed into the flooded caldera of Deception Island – actually a huge underwater volcano -- dark skies splashed wet snow upon the black and white sides of the caldera. Suddenly, what seemed to be a mirage appeared through the thick snowflakes falling on the distant shore. A brilliantly colored cluster of buildings— a Spanish research station – incongruously presents a dreamscape of an entirely different nature.
07-JAN-2004
A Study in Scale, Antarctica, 2004
Dreams are based on fantasy. To see a huge cruise ship reduced to the size of a toy is an unforgettable experience. I shot this image from the bow of a bouncing Zodiac on the way back to our ship from Cuverville Island. To see a large ship appear small at a great distance is commonplace. But to see one utterly dwarfed by the scene behind it is not. This, too, is the stuff of dreams – it indelibly defines the vast scale of the Antarctic landscape.
06-JAN-2004
Dreamscape, Lemaire Channel, Antarctica, 2004
The narrow, glacier lined Lemaire Channel is considered one of the most picturesque in Antarctica. I chose to shoot directly into a luminous sky and underexpose this view of it, abstracting the scene down to an essence of harsh yet haunted beauty. Vast glaciers are barely revealed. Sharp peaks that line the channel are thrust against a glowing sky and tower over glistening water. So much of the excitement of travel is rooted in the human imagination. The Lemaire Channel was Antarctica as I had always imagined it would be. My camera is a tool that allows me to interpret reality as I wish and make this vision mine forever. I select this dreamscape to conclude my dream-like picture sequence and also provide a suitable exclamation point to the entire photo-essay.