“It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” Ibn Battuta
Standing on the bridge of our ship taking in the sea or mountains, or walking the beaches among thousands of penguins, seals and seabirds, the same question came up time and again: How can we possibly describe the awesome beauty of Antarctica to others?
We’re sometimes asked, “What do you do there?” I go blank while I run the movie of blue magnificence through my mind. Mere words cannot convey the sights, the sounds, the pure air, the ethereal sense that this is a very, very special place. Imagine large numbers of diverse wildlife, snow capped peaks rising mightily from the sea, radiant blue skies and the sea moving from azure to a faded blue to cobalt and back again.
South Georgia Island, Antarctica, and Elephant Island are pristine in beauty, packed with wildlife and are an awe-inspiring natural wonderland.
This was our second trip to Antarctica, but our first time at South Georgia and Elephant Islands. We’re in the planning stages to return in 2024. Why, you ask? My wife Carol and I have traveled the world extensively and this may just be the most beautiful place we’ve visited. As a professional photographer, I had two cameras going most of the time and even then, left too many photos behind.
This is not a “last-minute travel” destination — it’s hard to get to. Sailing about the South Atlantic Ocean and the various seas within can be challenging. We had 25-30 swells some days/nights, but around the islands the seas were calm. There’s also significant flight time: Denver to Houston, to Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Is it worth it? Only if you’d like to experience a place like none other.
Steve Sorensen is an award-winning professional photographer living in Lone Tree. Find Steve at EarthReflected.com or IG: @EarthReflected.