Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica, Christmas Day
Imagine yourself laying on your belly in the snow with your arms and feet splayed outwards. Using your belly as a sled you paddle your arms and legs to propel yourself forwards, if you do this, you are now a penguin.
Penguins will lay down on their belly and extend their front flippers while gently kicking with their toes, almost like paddling. Their smooth bellies mostly free of friction allow them to slide with relative ease. I have seen them slide down hills with glee, sometimes taking small tumbles but for the most part executing this move with grace. Should the hill be really steep they err on the side of caution and waddle down on their feet.
The tracks left by Adélie penguins made a rather long S shape in the snow, I find it hilarious as they depict exactly how this penguin gingerly sled across the frozen sea ice of Wilhelmina bay.
Moving in this fashion can be very efficient, important for both conserving energy and preventing themselves from overheating as penguins are very well insulated and overheating is a real problem on warm summer days.
Canon EOS 5D, 16-35mm f 2.8L lens, 1/125s f/8.0 ISO50 35mm
If you like this, please do me a favour and share!
Who would have known penguins needed to worry about overheating. They must be fun to watch!
Antarctica was one of the most exquisite trips we've ever taken. We did the long trip that included the Falklands and South Georgia as well as the Antarctic Peninsula. A very amazing trip for photography and getting up close and personal with the wildlife!
So fun!
It's hilarious to watch! That's the best thing about going down to Antarctica, find a comfy spot on the snow, penguin watch, then laugh, hahaha.
+Kyle Marquardt, haha, maybe I should go to Antarctica then, it sounds pretty amusing. Can you view these guys in weather that isn't too cold?
I always go in the Antarctic summer, so days like that it's around 10 degrees C in the sunlight. The air temperature is usually hovering around zero, and the coldest I've seen it in the peninsula is around -20c. Not very cold by canadian standards. In my home city of Calgary I've seen it -40 while I enjoyed plus 10 in antarctica at the same time.
My friends joke that I go somewhere "cold" in the winter, but it's a heck of a lot warmer in Antarctica than it is at home that time of year
It would be warmer in Antarctica in the winter than it would be in my home city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario too +Kyle Marquardt. Is there any other wildlife out there besides the penguins to amuse yourself with?
That is such a cute photo +Kyle Marquardt! Penguins have been my favorite animal since I remember having a favorite animal. Keep up the good work
Great photo and description! Penguins are such neat animals. Thanks for sharing this.
+Billy Wilson you will see tonnes of whales if you go in February, minke, humpback, endemic orcas, southern right whales, so many that I've whale watched while brushing my teeth. Lots of seals, weddell, leopard, fur, elephant seals. And plenty of interesting bird species too. Not to mention there are 7 antarctic species of penguins, gentoo, adelie, king, chinstrap, macaroni, rockhopper and one I haven't seen a lot which is the famous emperor. (need helicopters and icebreakers for the emperors).
Haha +Kyle Marquardt, "while brushing my teeth". Wow, sounds like Antarctica is a place well worth going to for photography and seeing all of that wildlife! I haven't thought too much about the Antarctic before.
+Dhrumil Desai I did my first book report on penguins! If I only knew then that I'd get so close with them when I grew up!
+Shelly Gunderson Your welcome Shelly, I'm glad you enjoyed this!
+Billy Wilson I'll let you know about my next expeditions in late 2012m, 2013 and 2014 when I have those plans finalised!
It is expensive given they are on expedition vessels, it's usually a minimum of 10-14 days per trip, costing around $1000 per day. Many people save up for a long time for a trip of a lifetime, quite often it's their last continent.
Wow +Kyle Marquardt that's pretty expensive! I would definitely have to save up for one of those trips!
+Linda Villers Fantastic photography, I had a look through some of your work, excellent moments captured there.
Thanks +Kyle Marquardt. We really enjoy our trips and taking photographs has become a bigger part of each trip.
It's such a great thing to have while seeing amazing places isn't it? It's like being able to take a piece of the world home with you.
Very entertaining and beautiful tryptich. Pinguins are one of my favorite animals, which I still have to see in the wild. I'll share.
Wheeeeeeeeee! fun shot……..
Haha, this is awesome dude. Looks like a blast.
It’s always fun to be around penguins!
Kyle, amazing photos as ever!
Thanks buddy!
Thank you for the piece of the world!
Me ancanta!