February 15–27, 2028: Antarctica for Photographers
Ten photographers, Steve Simon and Soichi Hayashi, and our own small expedition vessel. We fly over the Drake Passage to spend more time in Antarctica.
Planned datesFeb 15–27, 2028
LocationAntarctica · Punta Arenas, Chile
GenreWildlife · Landscape · Travel
Group sizeMax. 10
Skill levelAll Levels
Tuition$24,000 USD
Deposit and Payment Schedule Coming Soon
Workshop overview
There are many ways to visit Antarctica. This one is built around photography.
It is about having more time in the field. Being able to respond when the light changes, whales appear or the weather asks us to wait. It is about working from a comfortable, small expedition vessel with ten photographers instead of sharing each landing with a ship carrying hundreds of passengers.
Soichi Hayashi and I will lead this PhotoEducate workshop aboard Eldorado, a private 38-metre, two-masted expedition schooner. The plan gives us ten nights and approximately eleven days in Antarctica, within a journey of about thirteen days in total. Our experienced polar-expedition partner manages the vessel, charter flights, crew, naturalist, Zodiac operations, permits and Antarctic logistics. Soichi and I concentrate on helping you make the most of what unfolds in front of us.
More Time Where It Matters
We fly from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island in approximately two hours rather than spending several days sailing across the Drake Passage in each direction. Flying does not remove Antarctica’s unpredictable weather. We may still wait for a safe landing window. But it puts the emphasis where we want it: time in Antarctica.
Those additional days give us time to observe, wait and return to the deck when the light changes. If weather closes one possibility, our captain and expedition leader can adjust the route or seek a sheltered bay. Photography often rewards patience. This expedition gives us room for it.
A Small Group and a More Responsive Expedition
The vessel has a strict maximum of twelve guests, including Soichi and me, leaving room for ten workshop participants. With two Zodiacs and a group this small, there is less waiting and more opportunity for individual guidance, both in the field and while reviewing photographs aboard.
Our vessel operates under a research permit, giving the expedition team additional flexibility to respond to light, wildlife, sea ice and weather. It may make early- and late-light work and permitted drone photography possible. This is not unrestricted access: every landing, excursion and flight remains subject to the permit, current regulations, wildlife considerations, conditions and expedition-team approval.
Why February?
Our planned timing places us in Antarctica during an active part of the season. Penguin chicks may be fledging, molting and beginning to enter the water. We will watch for whales, seals and seabirds, as well as the changing ice and light. Wildlife makes its own decisions. No encounter can be promised.
You do not need to specialize in wildlife photography or arrive with the largest lens. What matters is curiosity, patience and a willingness to look closely. We’ll work on making photographs that communicate something of your experience, not simply a record of where you have been.
Penguins, whales, seals and seabirds give us reasons to slow down and watch. A gesture may last a fraction of a second; understanding the behavior that precedes it takes longer.
We’ll photograph from the vessel, Zodiacs and permitted shore landings, working on anticipation, shutter speed, focus and the relationship between an animal and its surroundings. Respectful distance and wildlife welfare come before a photograph.
Our February timing may coincide with penguin chicks beginning to enter the water and changing activity among predators. These are possibilities, not promises. The value of additional days is the room they give us to wait, adapt and recognize what is actually happening in front of us.
Ice, Scale & Changing Light
Icebergs, glaciers, mountains and open water ask different things of a photographer. The challenge is not only to show their size, but to find a relationship, a detail or a moment that makes the photograph your own.
We’ll explore exposure in snow and ice, layered compositions, atmosphere and the use of a small element to communicate scale. From the deck or a Zodiac, a change in position can transform the frame.
The planned route follows the Antarctic Peninsula toward the Antarctic Circle, with passages, islands and sheltered bays along the way. How far south we travel, and where we stop, depend on sea ice, weather and the judgment of our captain and expedition leader.
Our Own Small Expedition Vessel
Eldorado is our home, transportation and floating photography base. With only ten participants, Steve and Soichi, a professional crew and two Zodiacs, the experience is personal in a way a large ship cannot be.
The small vessel and research permit give the expedition team options when light, wildlife or weather changes. We may linger, adjust our route or seek a sheltered anchorage rather than simply sail past an opportunity.
Every cabin has an ensuite toilet and shower. A shared dining room, lounge and bar give us places to eat, review photographs and compare notes. Cabin occupancy and allocation remain to be confirmed. The emphasis is on a comfortable working base and time in the field, not resort-style facilities.
A flexible expedition route
Planned Itinerary
The following route represents what we hope to explore, not a fixed daily timetable. Antarctica will have the final word. Weather, sea ice, wildlife, aviation requirements, permit conditions and safety considerations may change the order of our activities or take us somewhere unexpected. The Antarctic Circle crossing and all named landings are conditional.
Our Punta Arenas street-photography day may fall before or after the Antarctic voyage, depending on the charter-flight schedule.
Before We Travel: Online Group Meeting & Lecture
We’ll meet online to prepare for the expedition, discuss photographic goals, equipment and packing, and answer questions before departure.
Arrival in Punta Arenas
We gather at our hotel in Punta Arenas, Chile. Airport-transfer arrangements will be specified in the final program.
We will meet for introductions and an opening workshop session with Soichi and me. We will talk about our photographic goals, preparing equipment for Antarctica and ways of working in a place where conditions can change quickly.
A mandatory expedition briefing will cover the charter flight, clothing, equipment, safety and the latest information from King George Island.
From this point, we will be on flight alert while our aviation team waits for a safe landing window.
Overnight: Punta Arenas
PhotoEducate Street-Photography Day
Before or after the Antarctic voyage, depending on the charter-flight schedule, we will dedicate a full day to photographing Punta Arenas.
Set on the Strait of Magellan, the city offers a mixture of historic architecture, colorful buildings, public squares, markets, working waterfronts and everyday life at the southern edge of Patagonia. Soichi and I will lead the group through the city, helping participants respond to street life and the challenges of photographing in an unfamiliar place.
The day will include field instruction and, when scheduling permits, an image review or group discussion.
Fly to King George Island
Our Antarctic expedition begins with a charter flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island. The journey takes approximately two hours.
After landing, we transfer to the shoreline, where Zodiacs take us to the vessel. Once everyone is aboard and settled, we begin sailing south.
If our flight arrives early enough, we may attempt our first Antarctic landing that same afternoon in the South Shetland Islands.
During the night, we cross the Bransfield Strait toward the Antarctic Peninsula.
Cierva Cove and Wilhelmina Bay
At Cierva Cove, enormous icebergs often gather within the bay, creating shelter for penguins and seals and a constantly changing landscape for photography.
We explore by Zodiac, working among the ice and watching for wildlife.
We then sail toward Wilhelmina Bay, known for humpback whales feeding on krill. If conditions and wildlife activity come together, we may return to the Zodiacs in the afternoon or evening.
The Lemaire Channel is a narrow passage enclosed by steep mountains, cliffs and glaciers. From the deck, the scale can be difficult to take in. Photography gives us a way to begin.
We plan to land on Petermann Island, home to colonies of Adélie and Gentoo penguins. From there, we continue south toward the Antarctic Circle.
Prospect Point and Crystal Sound
At Prospect Point, we hope to visit penguin and cormorant colonies while watching the surrounding water for whales and seals. The remains of the abandoned British Station J can also be seen from outside.
We then enter Crystal Sound, a remote region of islands, coves and large ice formations. Few conventional Antarctic itineraries spend much time this far south.
Our captain and expedition leader will use the flexibility provided by the vessel’s research permit to select landings and Zodiac routes according to ice, weather, wildlife activity and light.
Conditions permitting, we cross the Antarctic Circle.
Detaille Island and Marguerite Bay
Detaille Island is home to the remarkably preserved British Base W, now protected as an Antarctic Historic Site. Inside, objects left by researchers offer a direct and surprisingly personal connection to an earlier period of Antarctic exploration.
We continue into Marguerite Bay, photographing glaciers, open landscapes and large icebergs from the ship and Zodiacs.
Our planned southernmost point lies near the Adelaide Island group.
Any visit to the historic base is subject to access rules, local conditions and expedition-team approval.
As we begin sailing north, we leave this day intentionally open.
Perhaps wildlife appears. Perhaps the light changes. Perhaps weather sends us toward a sheltered anchorage we had not expected to visit.
The additional time built into the expedition, combined with the operational flexibility of the research permit, gives us the possibility of following those opportunities rather than simply sailing past them.
Port Charcot and Flanders Bay
Port Charcot on Booth Island offers penguin colonies, polar history and the possibility of a walk to higher viewpoints.
We then continue to Flanders Bay. When ice and weather permit, this can be an excellent place for extended Zodiac exploration and whale photography.
Neko Harbour, Cuverville Island and Orne Harbour
At Neko Harbour, participants may walk to a panoramic viewpoint or remain near the shoreline with the penguins and seals.
Cuverville Island is known for its large Gentoo penguin colony and glacial setting. Later, we hope to enter Orne Harbour and photograph Chinstrap penguins in the evening light.
We sail through Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island.
The remains of its whaling station give us another glimpse into Antarctic history. Subject to current conditions and regulations, there may also be an opportunity for a polar plunge.
At Half Moon Island, we look for Chinstrap penguins, fur seals, Weddell seals and the occasional elephant seal.
Return to Punta Arenas
We return to King George Island and coordinate our disembarkation with the aviation team.
If the flight schedule allows, we may have time for one final landing or photographic session. We then fly over the Drake Passage and return to our hotel in Punta Arenas.
Overnight: Punta Arenas
Final Workshop Session and Departure
Depending on the placement of our street-photography day, we will conclude with either our Punta Arenas field session or a final PhotoEducate gathering.
Our closing session will give us an opportunity to reflect on the expedition, discuss the editing process and consider how the photographs from Antarctica and Punta Arenas might come together as a cohesive visual story.
Airport transfers will be arranged according to the final program. We will meet again once home for a post workshop Zoom session to discuss the final edit and portfolio narrative.
Soichi and I will photograph alongside you during landings, Zodiac excursions, sailing days and our Punta Arenas street-photography session. Instruction will be practical and responsive to what is happening in front of us.
We’ll work on composition, anticipating gesture and behavior, photographing wildlife patiently, and communicating scale without losing intimacy. Snow, ice, changing weather and a moving Zodiac bring technical challenges of their own. We’ll discuss exposure, focus, shutter speeds, equipment care and finding visual order when everything seems to be moving.
You are welcome at any level of photographic experience. No particular camera brand is required. The small group gives us time to understand what you want to improve and offer guidance that fits the way you work.
Image Reviews, Editing & Visual Storytelling
When the expedition schedule permits, we’ll gather aboard for image reviews, presentations and informal conversations. These sessions will be supportive, practical and candid. We’ll look at what is working, consider what might be strengthened and bring those discoveries back into the field.
We’ll think beyond isolated photographs to sequences and a personal visual narrative. What belongs in your final edit? What does a photograph add, and what can you leave out? Our aim is to help you build a body of work that feels connected to what you experienced.
Optional Drone Photography
Drone photography is completely optional. You do not need to own or fly a drone to participate fully. Soichi and I have both worked with drones, and Soichi brings his experience as a licensed drone pilot to discussions of planning, composition and responsible operation.
Any flight requires expedition-team approval and compliance with the research permit, current regulations, wildlife-distance rules, weather restrictions and any equipment or insurance requirements. Permitted drone use may be possible; it is never guaranteed. Wildlife welfare comes first.
Punta Arenas: A Different Kind of Looking
A full day of street photography provides a creative counterpoint to Antarctica. Beside the Strait of Magellan, we’ll look for people, gesture, color, architecture and everyday life. Observation, timing and patience connect these photographs to the work we make among the ice.
Before and After the Expedition
Our pre-workshop online group meeting and lecture will help you prepare. Once we are home, we’ll meet again on Zoom to discuss your final edit, refined sequence and the visual story of your expedition.
Our planned dates are February 15–27, 2028, beginning and ending in Punta Arenas, Chile. The journey is approximately thirteen days in total, with ten nights and about eleven days in Antarctica. Final timing depends on the charter-flight schedule and Antarctic conditions.
Round-trip charter flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island are included. Each flight takes approximately two hours. We fly over the Drake Passage rather than cross it by sea, but flights may be delayed while the aviation team waits for a safe landing window.
A mandatory expedition briefing covers clothing, equipment, safety and the latest operational information. Our captain, naturalist and expedition team manage the Antarctic program, including Zodiac operations, landings and permits.
The expedition involves a moderate activity level, with optional walks on uneven terrain. Shore activities and Zodiac excursions depend on conditions and expedition-team decisions. Packing and preparation will be discussed before departure.
Flights to and from Punta Arenas are not included. Airport-transfer arrangements will be specified in the final program; transfers should not be assumed included unless expressly confirmed. Additional hotel nights, meals or expenses caused by weather delays or changes to the itinerary are not included.
Our home in Antarctica is Eldorado, a 38-metre, two-masted expedition schooner built for extended voyages in polar waters. Its small scale gives us a close connection to the landscape and a comfortable place to return after time on the water or ashore.
We are not dependent on wind alone. The vessel also has a diesel engine, electrical generators and a bow thruster. Two Zodiacs support landings and excursions, while the professional crew and expedition team oversee operations.
Every cabin has its own toilet and shower. Cabin occupancy and allocation are still to be confirmed.
The dining room, lounge and bar provide shared spaces for meals, rest and photographic conversation. All meals and non-alcoholic drinks aboard are included. Alcohol and personal expenses are separate.
Hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas is included as specified in the itinerary. Hotel details and the final allocation of nights will follow the flight schedule. Meals ashore are not included unless expressly listed in the final program.
Vessel and interior photographs from the original expedition material. Cabin occupancy and allocation remain unconfirmed.
Who you’ll work with
Your Instructors
Steve Simon
Steve Simon is an award-winning documentary photographer and the author of five critically acclaimed books, including The Passionate Photographer, selected as one of Amazon’s “Top Ten Art and Photography Books.” He has photographed in over 40 countries on assignment, with work appearing in publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Time, Mother Jones, Le Monde, Colors, Life, Harpers, Macleans, and The Walrus.
Best known for his humanistic approach, Steve’s photography explores the complexity and beauty of the human condition—capturing authentic, unscripted moments in real time. His images have been exhibited in solo shows in New York, Toronto, Montreal, and Buenos Aires, and three times at Visa Pour L’Image in Perpignan, France. An excerpt from Empty Sky, his photographic tribute to the aftermath of 9/11, was published by Life Books. The 9/11 Memorial Museum later acquired the complete set of prints for its permanent collection—recognizing the work as both witness and memorial.
A passionate educator, Steve has taught at the International Center of Photography (ICP) and the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, and continues to lead workshops around the world. He is currently working on two new books—one on the art of photographic critique, and another exploring the American political convention.
Soichi Hayashi
Born in 1973, Soichi Hayashi is a freelance photographer and director based in Tokyo. After serving as a creative director for the ad agency, he became independent in photography business. For many years he has been privileged to work alongside the world’s finest photographers with their diverse backgrounds and genres, infusing him with the ability to capture evocative imagery from both a creative and technical perspective.
His photographic interest began early, influenced and nurtured by his father and grandfather – both professional photographers. His skills allow him to shoot nearly any subject whether on location or in the studio but his longstanding passion lies in natural landscape. He travels the world and is available for assignments.
Expedition details
Pricing
Tuition is $24,000 USD for this small-group photographic expedition with Steve Simon and Soichi Hayashi, limited to ten participants. It includes the round-trip Antarctic charter flights, the planned voyage aboard Eldorado and the instruction and expedition services listed below.
Cabin occupancy remains to be confirmed. Please contact us with questions about the expedition while the deposit and payment schedule are being finalized.
Round-trip charter flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island
Ten nights and approximately eleven days aboard our private 38-metre expedition vessel in Antarctica
A cabin with an ensuite toilet and shower; occupancy and allocation to be confirmed
Hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas as specified in the itinerary
All meals and non-alcoholic drinks aboard the vessel
Zodiac transportation and excursions, with scheduled shore landings subject to conditions and expedition-team approval
Photographic instruction, personal guidance and image reviews with Steve Simon and Soichi Hayashi
A dedicated street-photography day in Punta Arenas, placed before or after the voyage
Professional captain, crew, naturalist and expedition personnel
Necessary landing permits and expedition fees
Pre-trip preparation, packing and equipment guidance, plus our pre-workshop online group meeting and lecture
A post-workshop Zoom session to discuss the final edit and portfolio narrative
Our goal is to provide a seamless, supportive experience so you can stay focused on making your strongest work.
Not Included
Flights to and from Punta Arenas; airport transfers unless expressly included in the final program; passport, visa and entry costs; mandatory travel, medical, evacuation and cancellation insurance; extra hotel nights, meals and expenses caused by weather or flight delays or itinerary changes; meals and drinks in Punta Arenas unless specified; alcohol; personal expenses, laundry, phone charges and excess baggage; gratuities.
Before you reserve
Deposit & Cancellation Policy
Deposit and Payment Schedule Coming Soon. The deposit amount, deposit terms and payment dates are not yet confirmed.
If you withdraw more than 90 days before the workshop begins, tuition paid beyond the deposit will be refunded once we receive your cancellation in writing. If you withdraw less than 90 days before the workshop, a refund is possible only if we can fill your place from the waitlist; in that case, tuition paid beyond the deposit will be returned. If your place cannot be filled, tuition cannot be refunded.
If we need to cancel the workshop, your deposit will be refunded. Because hotels, transportation, bookings and local partners require fixed commitments in advance, PhotoEducate and The Passionate Photographer Inc. cannot offer refunds or credits for medical or family emergencies, travel delays, illness, weather, transportation disruptions, political events or other unforeseen circumstances.
A Note on Travel & Medical Insurance
Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is mandatory for this expedition, including emergency medical and evacuation cover and trip cancellation or interruption protection. Insurance is not included in tuition.
Check that a policy covers your itinerary, activities and circumstances. Reimbursement, pre-existing-condition cover and other benefits depend on the policy’s terms and limits. Coverage for delays, lost luggage and camera equipment is also worth considering.
Testimonials
From Steve’s Previous Workshops
“Best workshop I’ve ever taken! Steve is not only a great photographer, he is also a terrific teacher. He is patient and very hands- on. In some workshops the instructor sends students out to shoot after a short lecture–Steve goes out with his students, coaching them throughout the process. His course is well organized and covers diverse topics. He is funny and engaging and generous with his time and knowledge. I had SO MUCH fun and am ready to sign up for the next one. Highly recommended!”
Anna Blanco, New York City
“My week in Steve’s Street Shooting workshop challenged me tremendously. There’s nothing like taking your work apart and putting it back together with new vision to make you a better photographer. If you take this workshop, I guarantee you will see the world differently at the end.”
Anne Dunford, Ithaca, New York
“What a fabulous experience. I learned more about photography in one week than I had in 5 years. Steve is very knowledgable about the technical side as well as composition. He is very patient, gives excellent feedback and will work one on one with you on any photography subject you want. I asked him for help on night photography and at 10 PM he was out on the streets of Havana with me with step by step instructions on how to take the shot. 5 star plus rating!!”
Gary Niederpruem, Chicago
“Steve’s passion for photography is contagious and his teaching abilities and knowledge extraordinary! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in photography.”
Paul Lavergne, San Juan, PR
“Participating in the NYC Street Photography Workshop was an enriching and exhilarating experience. It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone to improve my skills. Steve’s curriculum and hands on approach offered me an opportunity to learn new techniques, add some creativity and visualize subject matter from another perspective. Each day presented abundant photo opportunities, resulting with the capture of some amazing images, exceeding my greatest expectations.”
Chapman Solomon, Mountain View, CA
“Not only is Steve a great photographer, he is also a caring, compassionate person as well. He is constantly trying to help participants achieve their photographic goals in a gentle, caring, and sincere manner. Sadly, the critiques of my work were very helpful. Steve was right-on in terms of his suggestions to better my work. The totality of the workshop was terrific, primarily because the parts were all excellent as well. Choice of shooting locations, image reviews, suggestions, videos shown, and galleries visited were all great. Steve also promoted wonderful interactions among the participants. The venue was perfect for the workshop. We could spread out, leave your things there, use the facilities, and eat the goodies provided. You know you’re in good hands with Steve! An outstanding workshop!!”
Stephen Sholl, New York City
“This is an outstanding workshop. It is impossible to spend time in a room with Steve Simon and not be inspired to get out there and make great images …I had high expectations and you exceeded them…Steve is very personable, articulate and passionate about photography, very welcoming with a warm, engaging personality. Steve’s style is outstanding. I knew of Steve from the TWiP podcast and would have attended if he was talking about how to watch paint dry…”
Steve Lavelle, London
“I just spent the last three days with Steve Simon, What a wonderful experience, the best time spent in a workshop ever. Steve is a perfectionist, every presentation not only had spectacular photography but also the perfect music to enhance the mood, a roller coaster of emotions. He cannot hide his journalistic background every single image tells a story. His technique is flawless; his teaching patience unparalleled. I am eager to start a new chapter of my photography applying what Steve taught me in the last few days.”
Oscar Piñeyro, Dallas
Antarctica for Photographers
February 15–27, 2028 · Limited to 10 photographers · $24,000 USD
