SPECIAL FEATURE
34
is maintained in the brighter
highlights. Inevitably, some post-
camera exposure tweaking will
be needed in Photoshop –using
either Levels or Curves – but it’s
a good objective to get as close
as possible in-camera, especially
when shooting JPEGs. I found
+0.7 EV worked well most of the
shots, dialling up to +1.0 EV when
the frame was virtually entirely
filled with whiteness. The flightcrosses into George V Land which
is part of the Australian Antarctic
Territory (AAT) and again reaches
the coast which is hugged by
ice shelves or punctuated by the
chunky outflows of glaciers. As we
fly roughly north-west, the viewing
conditions are absolutely superb
with only an occasional smattering
of light cloud and, not surprisingly,
nobody objects when the captain
announces we’re going to stay a
little longer. Time then to try out
Sigma’s much-acclaimed 50mm
f1.4 DG HSM prime lens which has
been likened in terms of its optical
performance to Zeiss’s best. It is
indeed a beautifully-made lens –
one of the brilliant f1.4-speed Art
line models – and stunningly sharp
which is what you want when
shooting highly-detailed aerials.
Before too long though, the
Qantas 747 turns north again
and the jagged Antarctica coast
recedes behind us. Around five
hours has slipped by in what
seems like just a few minutes and
as the aircraft climbs to cruising
altitude, it’s hard not to think it’s
all been a dream. Sitting back
and checking the images in the
camera’s monitor screen, proves
that it was indeed a very real
experience... and undoubtedly one
that will never be forgotten.Thanks to C.R. Kennedy & Company
Pty Ltd. The next season of Antarctica
Flights begins on 26 November 2017 from
Sydney, with flights from Melbourne on 31
December 2017 and 11 February 2018.
For more information and bookings visit
http://www.antarcticaflights.com.auAll images by Paul Burrows. Copyright 2017.“there’s absolutely nothing here... because, more
than likely, no humans have even been here.”
CamMayJune17_026-034 SigmaAntarctica.indd 34 13/04/2017 12:17 AM