Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/02/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Some pretty amazing things you saw on your trip! Leo Wesson leowesson.com > On Feb 28, 2014, at 1:31, Jayanand Govindaraj <jayanand at gmail.com> > wrote: > > The only time we actually set foot on the Antarctic Continent proper > was in Neko Harbour, a very popular landing area for tourist ships. It > is surrounded by huge, active glaciers, audibly grinding away and > calving. A panorama of the mouth of one such biggie, both in colour > and monochrome: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Panoramas/antarcticpanos_001/Antarctica_20140117_5264C.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Panoramas/antarcticpanos_001/Antarctica_20140117_5264.jpg.html > > As the crew were preparing for landing, I was taken up with the play > of light and shade on this hillside, as the sun struggled to break > through the clouds (the moon is actually visible in the last shot): > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5266.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5278.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5286.jpg.html > > First off the ship were those of us who wanted to hike/climb up the > hillside: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5338.jpg.html > > As we landed on the beach, we were greeted by a Weddell Seal, fast asleep: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5361.jpg.html > > But the chief attraction of Neko Harbour was a roosting colony of > Gentoo Penguins with their young in their circular surface nests of > stones and pebbles: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5384.jpg.html > > The parents reassured the chicks: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5410.jpg.html > > Fed them - this was a newborn: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5492.jpg.html > > Gentoos normally lay two eggs, and there were those nests, where one > egg had hatched and one was yet to hatch: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5551.jpg.html > > There were raucous scraps between adults, mainly caused by one Gentoo > being caught stealing pebbles from the nests of others: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5563.jpg.html > > Gentoos were calling everywhere: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5555.jpg.html > > And, above the whole rookery, on the slopes, were the opportunistic > Skua, waiting for their chance to snatch a chick or an egg: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/antarctica/Antarctica_20140117_5461.jpg.html > > Please see LARGE > > Comments and criticism, as ever, welcome. > > Cheers > Jayanand > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information