Journey to the Icy Wilderness

Back in November 2019, Rich and Jingru spent 20 days exploring Antarctica, one of the most remote and untouched places on Earth. During the journey, they traveled by Zodiac to reach remote shorelines and spent their days surrounded by incredible landscapes and wildlife. They photographed penguins, albatrosses, seals, and whales, capturing the character and beauty of these animals in their natural surroundings. Their images reflect both their appreciation for wildlife and the strong connection they felt to this remarkable part of the world.

Jingru Luo in Antarctic

β€œThe Welcoming Committee” exhibited as β€œXIANW” A row of king penguins stands along the rocky shoreline as an inflatable Zodiac brings expedition passengers ashore behind them. Elephant seals doze at the water's edge, entirely unbothered by the arrival. The frame places human visitors and Antarctic wildlife at the same respectful distance from one another, a quiet study in how casually these animals accept our presence in their world.β€”Jingru Luo

PSA GOLD MEDALS: 2020 Bengal, 2020 CFA Circuit, 2020 Pentagon Circuit, 2020 Artistic Creations

An adult king penguin feeds its brown downy chick on the sandy beach of Saunders Island in the Falklands.

β€œBaby Food” PSA GOLD MEDAL: 2020 Calcutta Super Circuit

Awards in 17 International PSA and FIAP Exhibitions

β€œBaby Food” An adult king penguin bends to feed its fluffy brown chick on the open sand of Saunders Island. The chick's dense down contrasts sharply with the adult's sleek plumage and the orange flash at its throat. Photographed from a low angle at a careful distance, the image captures an ordinary moment of parenting in one of the least ordinary places on earth. β€”Richard Bailey

Two rockhopper penguins face off in a shallow puddle on the rocky shoreline of Saunders Island, wings spread and water splashing around them.

β€œArgument” Two rockhopper penguins splash and posture at each other in a shallow puddle along a rocky shoreline, wings flung wide and water flying. Their spiky yellow crest feathers and red eyes give them a permanently indignant look that the moment only amplifies. Whatever the dispute was about, both parties were fully committed to it.β€”Richard Bailey

A Zodiac carrying passengers in orange jackets passes beneath a natural iceberg arch in polar waters.

β€œExploration,” (ζŽ’ι™©) exhibited as β€œTanx” PSA GOLD MEDALS: 2020 Grip Grin Circuit, 2020 Vivid Circuit, 2020 Uluberia International, 2020 Calcutta Super Circuit

A Zodiac full of orange-jacketed passengers slips beneath a natural arch carved through a drifting iceberg. The scale is deceptive until you find the boat: the ice dwarfs it completely. Meltwater sculpting and the deep blue of compressed glacial ice give the arch its shape and colour.β€”Jingru Luo

Two young elephant seal pups tumble and play together on a snowy Antarctic beach.

β€œOuch” Awards in 8 International PSA and FIAP Exhibitions

β€œOuch” In Antarctica, we came across two seals playfully rolling around together in the snow. They would move around, pop their heads up, and then continue playing. Their behavior was so entertaining that it almost seemed as though they were putting on a show for us. It was a wonderful example of the playful side of these animals.β€”Jingru Luo

A large gathering of king penguins and southern elephant seals on a misty, rocky beach in Antarctica.

β€œKingdom of the King Penguins,” (ηŽ‹δΌιΉ…ηŽ‹ε›½) exhibited as β€œWQEWG” - PSA GOLD MEDALS: 2020 Gold Huabiao, 2020 Digitalna Foto, 2020 Mammoth Circuit

Awards in 30 PSA and FIAP International Exhibitions

Fog rolls across a rocky shoreline crowded with king penguins and enormous southern elephant seals. The animals move through the mist, hauling and sliding along the shore, their outlines softening and sharpening as the weather shifts. The atmosphere does as much work here as the wildlife does.β€”Jingru Luo

A group of king penguins stands on a rocky shore beside sleeping seals and a seal pup, with ocean water behind them.

β€œHowdy” King penguins pick their way along a rocky shore past sleeping seals and a single pup, none of the parties paying the others much attention. Multiple species share this beach with an ease that is startling to watch. The absence of predators on land makes for an unusually relaxed neighbourhood.β€”Richard Bailey

β€œHowdy” Awards in 31 International PSA and FIAP Exhibitions

Two chinstrap penguins stand side by side on a snowy slope with their heads tilted back and beaks open, calling.

β€œClose Bond,” (  δΊ²ε―† ) exhibited as β€œQingmi.” Two chinstrap penguins stand shoulder to shoulder on a snowy slope, heads thrown back and beaks open toward the sky in a joint display. The behaviour is territorial and social at once, and it carries surprisingly far across the ice. Their black-and-white plumage cuts hard against the snow behind them.β€”Jingru Luo

Two enormous southern elephant seals confront each other on a beach while penguins look on from behind.

β€œElephant Seals” PSA GOLD MEDALS: 2020 Indian Photo, 2020 Vivid Circuit

Awards in 14 International PSA and FIAP Exhibitions

Two southern elephant seals rear up and roar at each other on the open beach, close enough to fill the frame. A cluster of penguins watches from behind, and smaller seals rest undisturbed nearby. The bulls' bellowing carries down the whole shoreline, and the moment came only after the roar cleared the other photographers out of the way.β€”Richard Bailey

A large group of king penguins crests a snowy ridge in Antarctica, waddling forward in a long procession.

β€œPenguins Like an Avalanche,” (ζŽ’ε±±ε€’ζ΅·) exhibited as β€œPSDHQE” As I stood at the base of a snowy mountainside in Antarctica, camera in hand, a large group of penguins crested the ridge, advancing slowly in a waddling procession. Their black-and-white forms stood out vividly against the vast, snowy expanse, each step a deliberate shuffle through the powdery snow. While a few playfully slid down on their bellies, the great majority marched upright, their determined waddle unbroken as they passed right in front of me. I snapped away, capturing the rhythmic parade, their soft honks mingling with the crunch of snow, unfazed by my presence in their icy domain.β€”Jingru Luo

Two juvenile elephant seals interact playfully on a beach, their mouths open in what looks like a smile.

β€œHappiness” Two young elephant seals lean into each other on the beach, mouths open in expressions that read unmistakably as grinning. The anthropomorphism is unavoidable and entirely the point. A photograph that tends to make people smile back.β€”Richard Bailey

The expedition ship Sea Spirit sits in Antarctic waters with penguins on the shore in the foreground and ice-covered mountains behind.

β€œBirds and Boats” PSA GOLD MEDAL: 2021 Visual Arts Circuit

β€œBirds and Boats” The expedition ship Sea Spirit rides at anchor in Antarctic water while penguins go about their business on the shore in the foreground, a few of them pausing to study the visitors. A Zodiac makes its way back toward the ship. Ice-covered mountains close the scene behind. β€”Richard Bailey

A group of photographers in red jackets taking photos of penguins on a snowy shoreline with ocean in the background.

β€œPhoto Shoot” These guys have finally found something interesting that caught their attention. This is another candid shot I took with my 100-400 zoom.β€”Richard Bailey

A group of penguins walks single file along a well-worn snowy trail between large rocks in Antarctica.

β€œPenguin Highway” In Antarctica, penguins stick to set paths between their nests and the ocean. So regular they're actually called β€œpenguin highways.” In this photo you can see them confidently marching along one of these snowy trails. Down there, penguins have the right of way no matter what. If one crosses your path, you stop and wait, it’s just how it works. You’re not allowed to approach them, but if a penguin decides to come up and say hi (which happens more than you’d think), that’s totally okay. It’s one of the coolest things about being around wildlife in their worldβ€”Richard Bailey

A large penguin colony spread across an Antarctic shoreline with snow-covered terrain and icebergs in the background.

β€œPenguin Village” We made another Zodiac landing along the Antarctic shore, and the area was filled with penguins. They were everywhere, walking across the snow, flapping their wings, preening their feathers, and interacting with one another.

I focused my camera on a large group gathered together, capturing the different things they were doing among the snow and ice. The Antarctic sunlight illuminated the scene and brought out the details in their feathers and the surrounding landscape. With so many penguins moving around, the shoreline felt like a small village of its own.β€”Richard Bailey

A group of penguins walks past resting elephant seals on a rocky shoreline beside the ocean.

β€œAmong The Giants” A parade of penguins threads its way between resting elephant seals on a rocky shore, the size difference between the two species doing all the storytelling. Neither seems concerned by the other. A study in scale and in the strange calm of a place with no land predators.β€”Richard Bailey

If you're considering a trip to Antarctica, click here for more details.