Photography Equipment for the Polar Regions

You’ll probably take more pictures on a polar expedition cruise than on any other trip, so it’s important to pack the right photography gear. In this video, expedition guide and nature photographer Sara Jenner gives you the top tips on this subjective but vital topic. First, decide in advance what kind of pictures you want to take: decent snapshots for friends, family, and social media or high-resolution images you can print and display. In addition to your budget and how much equipment you want to carry, this decision will determine which of the following photography gear you take on your polar voyage. Assuming money and weight are no object, we recommend the following tips and gear: 1. Two or three good cameras • Camera with telephoto lens (70-300 mm for Antarctica, 400-600 mm for the Arctic) • Wide-angle camera for panoramic landscape shots • Action camera (GoPro or cellphone) for quick in-the-moment shots 2. Backing up images • Extra SD cards, flash drives, etc. • Back up your images every night • Do not rely on cloud storage 3. Filters • Polarizing filters may be useful • ND filter (gray filter) for long exposures 4. Tripods • Good for time lapses or slow motion • May be too cumbersome for wildlife photos 5. Protecting your equipment • Bring a good waterproof bag • Clean your equipment every day If you’re looking to travel lighter, a good compact camera or cellphone will do. More important than the gear is that you know how to use it and are comfortable doing so. And whatever camera you bring, remember to pack these three things: 1. Extra storage 2. Cleaning tools 3. Waterproof casing For more information on polar photography, see our polar photography pack list: https://bit.ly/3hNyHWq