If you dig down a few centimetres into the loose, black soil, the ground becomes increasingly warm. Deception Island is, after all, an active volcano. So did I take off my gloves and dig into the earth?
Not a chance! Although some of the passengers on board took a dip (it was a few days before they warmed up again), I chickened out and struggled with the weather which was quickly closing in. In the distance are the remains of the whaling station. Behind me is an old hangar, but the one remaining plane had been removed a couple of years ago. Certainly flying in seemed an attractive option, weather permitting.
What I love about this photograph is the sense of atmosphere. I’ve used a very wide-angle lens and a moderate shutter speed, 1/80 second, yet the snow is moving so quickly it has streaked across the image. The snow is also creating the ‘hazy’ look in the distance. This is what I love about shooting in changeable weather – it’s so much more involving than a still, sunny day.
PHASE ONE 645AF WITH P65+ BACK + 28MM
F14 @ 1/80, EV -1, ISO 50
Landscape Photography Tip
Bad Weather Is Beautiful
Don’t put your camera away just because it is raining, hailing or snowing. Most cameras can handle a little precipitation, or you can put a plastic bag over the top of your camera. Or if you’re travelling, the plastic shower caps you find in many hotels makes a great camera jacket. The one downside of shooting in bad weather is that the light can be flat and a little drab. Ensure you have an interesting foreground as this will ensure you get the most colour possible, and be prepared to increase both the contrast and the colour saturation in post-production.
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