Gentoo penguins on Aitcho Island Photo

Photographer’s Note

The total population of gentoos (Pigoscelis papua) is somewhere between 300,000 and 350,000, most living south of Antarctic Convergence, mainly on South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula.

Gentoos return to their colonial breeding grounds in October/November at Peninsula. Their attachment to the nest-site is not strong, but their pair-bond is strong, and they usually mate with the partner of the previous season. In the south rookeries usually are on open beaches, from shoreline to as high as 50m, even on fairly steep ridges.

Gentoos enjoy a varied diet of fish and crustaceans, taken by pursuit in dives which may be in shallow waters for krill or over 100m down for fish.

Cloudy weather with some rain, 1 ºC. We've landed on Aitcho Island.

You can see on the background the research vessel Akademik Ioffe of the ice class at the anchorage.

Length: 117.04m
Breadth: 18.28m
Draft: 6.09m
Engines: 5,000 kW diesel, twin engine, twin
propeller, 600 kW bow and stern thrusters
Ice Class: KM*L1(1)A2, Canadian Type B
Gross Registered Tonnage: 6450

alainh, jrj, singuanti, rfdias, bibiweb has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

alainh (35391) 2005-08-18 3:29

hello Nikolay
picture very well composed with these differents elements. fantastics animals in a fantastic country. you are very lucky to see this ice's earth.
regards
alain

danyy (69539) 2005-08-18 4:23

Bonjour Nikolay,
j'aime énormément cette photo où l'on voit les bébés se protéger.
Un tout bon cadrage qui nous fait découvrir en plus cette large baie derrière.
DOF que j'aime beaucoup, met l'accent sur ces pingouins tout en laussant distinguer ce qui se passe dans le fond.
Des très belles photos de ces zones polaires.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

jrj (34779) 2005-08-18 15:15

Very charming this penguin protecting the small ones, probably not to happy with people to close. Good background displaying the ship and the rubber boat. Another interesting one N.

singuanti (15240) 2005-08-20 23:59

Hi Nikolay. Nice little family photo you have here. That weather is balmy for Antarctica! What I really like about the shot is the perfect moment you captured them all in. Despite the sub-par light the shot still turned out pretty well. Nice work Nikolay.

yesterday (9787) 2005-08-31 10:49 [Comment]

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bibiweb (8) 2005-09-02 10:45

Hello Nikolay,
Your photos from Antarctica are really wonderful ! I like this shot of this Gentoos family with the little ones huddling against their parent. Colours are good despite the lousy weather and the background with the boats is also interesting.
Regards, Brigitte

kumbarov (210) 2006-03-03 12:24

Hi Nikolay,
Fantastic shot. I like the main points in your composition: the penguins and the ship. If not the note I would have never noticed the vessel.

Regards,
Atanas Kumbarov