We invite you to join us on an exciting 7 days photo-expedition to Svalbard, specially arranged for nature photography enthusiasts. Naturfokus will be chartering the exclusive services of the entire vessel, MS Stockholm, during the period of September 3 to 9. This photo-expedition offers many advantages for photographers, as compared with the typical Svalbard tours:

- Nature photographer Ole Jørgen Liodden will be the leader of both the expedition and travel group, which means that he will collaborate with the photographers who are participating in determining where we will go and when. Lighting conditions and photo opportunities will determine much of our travel route instead of the standard stops along the way. IMPORTANT NOTE: The vessel’s captain, the polar bear guards, along with the prevailing weather and ice conditions will set the limits concerning what we can do with regard to accessibility and safety.

- We will number 12 photographers (+ expedition leader and 2 boat drivers) distributed among 2 Zodiacs, which entails 6 to 7 persons per Zodiac. This is a MAJOR advantage considering all of the photo equipment and compared with typical tours involving 13 to 14 persons in each Zodiac. This will enhance our photographic endeavors considerably!!

- We can be out in the Zodiacs for longer periods and be more flexible concerning mealtimes and other "fixed" program matters. We will therefore give participants the opportunity to make food packs.

- We may decide to remain at places where the lighting conditions or the opportunity to get incredible pictures tend to dictate this strategy instead of roaming around aimlessly in search of tourist attractions.

- We will obtain updated info on where we can find exciting animal life, etc., so that we can more effectively and more directly approach the species and types of nature we wish to photograph.

- Our vessel, the MS Stockholm, is built similarly to MS Origo, but has removed 10 to 12 sleeping bunks and has much more space on deck both forward and aft. Cabin space is considerably greater than on Origo. NOTE: All 6 cabins are double occupancy.

- We will be omitting all of the standard "stops", souvenir shops, rusty ovens and abandoned whaling stations, unless there is a clear desire to visit some of these places on the part of the majority of the participants.

- We will enjoy the services of an experienced captain who is skilled at navigating in close proximity of animals and photographic subjects so as to allow the best possible angle for photography.

 - Naturfokus has already arranged 4 photo expeditions to Svalbard with satisfied photographers, so we have the knowledge and expertise to make you safe and happy.

Svalbard is situated at about 80 degrees north, and we must schedule the expedition in accordance with prevailing weather and ice conditions. Our captain is an expert at dealing with arctic conditions and will be an important advisor with regard to planning in a manner that allows us to get the most out of this trip. We will be including some excursions which involve going ashore among walrus colonies (or walrus on the ice), bird cliffs and places that are seething with life during that time of year. In September, the arctic light is great for photography! 

Ice Map: The ice will determine where we can navigate our vessel. Get an updated report of ice conditions [here] (updated almost every day).



Safety: Our safety will have top priority during the entire expedition and will be maintained by the crew of the M/S Stockholm. We must therefore adhere to all applicable safety regulations – especially with regard to polar bears. This also pertains to use of the Zodiac boats (inflatables) in close proximity to icebergs and glacial edges where there may be elements of risk which we do not see or of which we are not fully aware. The more secure we fell, the easier it will be for all participants to concentrate on nature and photographic opportunities.

Ethics: We shall NOT contribute to a worsening of the impression some people have got of the nature photographers who visit Svalbard. We will therefore be scheduling somewhat longer stops than is usual when going ashore in order to provide participants with ample time and the calm conditions needed to get excellent pictures without exposing the wildlife to unnecessary stress. We are omitting the traditional "cruise-ship stops" as these eat up precious time without providing us with any truly interesting photographic opportunities.

General information: M/S Stockholm is spacious and well suited to photography. All participants will be lodged in double-occupancy cabins where all cabins have a private shower and toilet. The beds are made ready and bed linen and a towel are provided. Food service will be at a designated time, but we intend to be flexible in this regard if photo opportunities arise which dictate that the food can wait. The cook generally has a varied and exciting menu.

Cabins at M/S Stockholm
 

The first day aboard the vessel may consist of a transport leg, and it may be advisable to have taken tablets for seasickness along with taking it easy until your body has adjusted to being aboard. We have a projector which can be used for viewing pictures. The vessel’s crew members speak Swedish / Norwegian and English.

Inflatable Boats: We have use of 2 Zodiacs which are both very spacious. These boats will be used to get closer to photo subjects or while going ashore. It is a good idea to bring rubber boots due to certain wet conditions when going and exploring ashore.

Info concerning photography: There are no scheduled lectures/photography courses during this trip, but we may have an opportunity to look at each other’s pictures via the projector if there is an interest in doing so and ample time. Vibrations from the vessel’s motor may present problems when photographing polar bears, etc. A monopod, IS lenses or handheld photography may present a solution. This problem is minimal under lighting conditions which allow a min. 1/1600 sec shutter time even with a 600mm lens mounted on a tripod. It is wise to bring a laptop computer in order to transfer and review pictures as quickly as possible. You can easily surpass 10,000+ exposures on this type of trip such that an external hard drive or lots of available space on your computer’s drive is the best way to go. There are 220V outlets in the cabins for charging batteries, etc. Be sure to bring along enough batteries and memory cards. There may be ocean fog and poor lighting conditions on Svalbard such that fast optics is a definite advantage.

• 7 nights aboard the M/S Stockholm, with boarding on 3 SEPTEMBER at 16:00 and disembarking on 10 SEPTEMBER at 09:00

• All meals aboard the vessel

• Expedition leader, guide, guards and other personnel

• Excursions with the Zodiacs

The expedition price does not include:

• Airfare to/from Longyearbyen (price from Oslo is about NOK 3000)

• Overnight accommodation prior to and following the trip aboard the vessel

• Personal expenses related to mineral water, alcohol and souvenirs purchased aboard the vessel

• Tips (recommended) for the vessel’s crew members

• Travel insurance and cancellation insurance
  
  

If you have questions, please contact us at email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

Welcome to Svalbard!