The Cuteness of Antarctic Penguins
Albert Dros
I spent some time in Antarctica a few weeks ago and next to photographing landscapes I couldn't help myself but to document the cute penguins. I quickly got addicted to photographing them as they're just so nice to watch. The funny movements they make, the cute interactions they make with their little chicks, and even their funny way of walking.
I could sit there and just watch them for hours. Being on the islands of Antarctica with the penguins and other wildlife like the seals and especially the whales was just magical. The whole experience of being there was something unreal.
We went there during a period of many penguin chicks so I portrayed a bunch of penguins and their chicks. The cuteness overload is unreal :)
One week after I returned the highest temperature ever was recorded of 18.3c. When I was there the temperate was rather normal for summer (around 0-5c). I do hope global warming will have a limited effect on Antarctica and it's wildlife and that our future generations can still go there in the future to see this magical side of our planet.
On a side note: I went to Greenland last summer and global warming was really noticeable there. Let's hope we can enjoy Antartica and it's beautiful penguins for a long, long time!
A Gentoo penguin and her 2 chicks screaming for food in the snow.
A Gentoo penguin chick in front of a dark backdrop peak. Most scenery in Antarctica is icy and white, but some parts have these black (volcanic) sand and rugged peaks.
Seeing penguins walk is something you can observe for hours. They're just too funny.
Magdalena penguin and her chick.
When we were going around with zodiacs there were always penguins jumping out of the water. It's not easy to capture them because they're very fast. Penguins can't fly, but if you see this photo you might think they can :)
A gentoo penguin feeding her 2 chicks.
Adelie penguin chicks are just so fluffy.
Gentoo penguin mom watching her 2 little chicks playing and catching snow flakes from the sky.
portrait of an Adelie penguin chick.
Chinstrap penguin group that looks like a gang.
Adelie penguin posing.
Can you spot the different one?
Jumping penguins in front of a giant piece of ice
Adele penguins annoying each other's nests.
Gentoo penguin in front of the giant peaks of Antarctica
Adelia penguins with a huge piece of ice in the backdrop.
Gentoo penguin feeding her baby chick
Adelie penguin with her chick. The chick is already almost bigger than his mom.
a funny ritual when a group of adelie penguins run into the water one after another.
A portrait of a Magdalena penguin. Magdalena penguins can already be found on the Magdalena island close to Punta Arenas in Chile.
Penguin highways are a thing. Penguins use certain paths to go to the water and back. They walk behind each other and follow the leader!
A Gentoo penguin having fun in the snow.
ok, not a penguin chick but I included some other chicks because they're just too cute.
Magdalena penguin posing. Notice all the white bokeh dots I the background. These are all other penguins.
Chinstrap penguin posing in front of a glacier.
Chinstrap penguin walking up rocks during this moody afternoon
No penguin chicks, but cute nonetheless :)
Magdalena penguin chick portrait.
2 magdalena penguins having the talk of the day.
Another non penguin chick, but couldn't help myself photographing some other cute birds too.
Magdalena penguin calling.
