Svalbard 2022 Photo Expedition – September 2022

September 16 – 28, 2022

Svalbard, a tricky word to say but an amazing place to visit. This year was a bust due to the pandemic. I decided to change things up and rather than taking a larger ship and be part of a tourist itinerary I chartered one of the best Svalbard exploration ships available, the M/S Stockholm.

This means that the ship is ours and we can dedicate our whole adventure to getting the best photographs possible. Our trip will be extended to twelve days and we will have a trip that will be full of unique possibilities for great photography.

Autumn in the Arctic has arrived, the midnight sun gives way to shorter days and the purple saxifrage decorates the slopes. The ice has loosened its grip, which offers good opportunities to explore the seldom-visited eastern parts of the archipelago. With twelve nights on board, we have plenty of time for grand nature experiences and wildlife encounters. The whole ship is ours and dedicated to the pursuit of photography.

PLEASE VISIT THE ROCKHOPPER WORKSHOP PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION, PRICING, AND REGISTRATION (CLICK HERE)

Join me and 12 fellow photographers for a very special Svalbard Expedition with the Rockhopper Workshops. The accommodations will be onboard the M/S Stockholm. This is a 12-day trip that will allow us ample time to explore this fascinating region.

This is an adventure tailored to photographers. We will take the M/S Stockholm, one of my favorite expedition ships, and push our way north into the sea ice above Svalbard. If all goes well we will spend a few days drifting with the ice pack and waiting for the polar bears to come to us. This will be an excellent chance to observe bears on the ice pack.

We will then head east and then south and cruise to some of the most amazing places you’ll ever see.  We’ll cruise along the front of the Austfonna Ice Cap.  This is one of the most amazing sites I have ever witnessed.  It’s a wall of ice as far as you can see.  There are dozens of waterfalls flowing from the top of the ice pack.  Combine this with the right light and you’ll come home with images from this location that will amaze your friends. This alone for many is worth the price of admission.

We’ll also visit the Alkefjellet Bird Cliff.  This is another one of those places that will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  You’ll probably never witness so many birds in one place.  These birds are all nested on this cliff and the M/S Stockholm will give us the perfect platform to photograph this amazing site.

We’ll also do zodiac cruises along numerous glacier fronts and with some luck, we’ll witness some dramatic calving. When conditions permit (there being no bears nearby) we’ll do landings so that you can photograph the incredible landscapes. Each landing will have something special to offer. Our expedition team will make sure we are guided to the best locations.

All along the way, I will be there to help you see the best composition.  I’ll help you with the best lens selection, exposures, and other techniques that will help you capture the best images.  Back on board the ship, we’ll spend time in the lounge where we can do our editing of images. I will help you choose the best image and help you edit it to maximize the impact of the image.  I am an expert with Lightroom and Capture One as well as Photoshop and other programs.

A few years ago I did this trip with my friend Peter Cox and he wrote an article about the trip.  This article will give you an idea of what to expect.  Of course, weather and ice conditions will dictate where we can go but if all goes as planned this is a good representation of what you can expect.

PLEASE VISIT THE ROCKHOPPER WORKSHOP PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION, PRICING, AND REGISTRATION (CLICK HERE)

Arrive Early For A Day At Pyrimeden

After your booking is received I will send information about my annual trip to Pyramiden. This is an abandoned giant Russian coal mine settlement.  It’s an exceptional photo adventure. Usually the day before departure I take a boat to the settlement for an afternoon of photography.  The cost would be on your own and the trip is definitely worth it. Look for an article in the near future on photoPXL.

For more information, registration, a video, and a complete proposed itinerary please visit the Rockhopper Workshops website. Due to pent-up demand, as well as many folks, moving their reservations from previous years to this trip we expect the trip to sell out quickly. Please make your reservations today so you don’t miss out on this amazing adventure.

I hope you’ll join me on the adventure.

Kevin Raber
June 2021

Kevin Raber
Indianapolis, IN

Photography is my passion and has been for 50 plus years. My career in photography has allowed me to travel the world, meet some of the most interesting people on the planet and see things I could never have dreamed of. My goal is to share the passion of picture taking through photographs and teaching with as many people as I can, hoping it brings them as much joy and happiness as it has me. I do this through photoPXL.com, this site, as well as Rockhopper Workshops, and other projects, as well as teaching as Artist In Residence at the Indianapolis Art Center.