A world away

FEATURED / Antarctica
14 September 2021

Photographer and naturalist Justin Hofman shares some of his favourite images of Antarctica; a frozen land teeming with vibrant life that few humans will ever observe.

Photography by Justin Hofman

Born and raised in California, Justin Hofman has travelled to every continent in search of wildlife – from swimming with white sharks in Africa to documenting unknown species of insects in Sierra Nevada caves.

Justin shares his lifelong passion for the ocean with yacht owners and charterers while working with EYOS Expeditions as an expedition leader, dive master, naturalist and photographer. These missions allow him to explore the wonders of the Arctic and Antarctic both above and below water.

“My first introduction to the underwater world was through documentaries. David Attenborough was a huge part of my upbringing and his enthusiasm for the natural world shaped me as a five-year-old,” he explains.

Cruising in Antarctica, you never know what lies around the next corner. Justin is constantly amazed by the shapes the wind and water can create.

An Adelie penguin rubs the salty water from its feathers during an Antarctic snow storm.

A humpback whale dives deep into the dark waters of the Antarctic Peninsula in search of krill. These animals will travel thousands of miles each year to feast on a bounty found nowhere else on earth.

Dimpled by the sea and complete with a few small pools, this large iceberg will serve as a handy rising spot for a crabeater seal as it waits for the next krill feeding run.

Created at around 2 am, with the sun just below the horizon, the sky was a beautiful pastel pink, which just allowed just enough light to properly expose the setting moon.

After corralling the krill into a tight ball, humpback whales will take in a massive mouthful of krill and water. With their throat expanded to an unimaginable size, they squeeze out the water, leaving only energy-rich krill. When the food is dense, they will feed for hours at a time.

The sea is an endless source of fascination for Justin.

“After my marine biology studies, becoming a scientific illustrator allowed me to pursue all sorts of interests and use my artistic talents across a variety of projects.”

A tip for up-and-coming underwater photographers: Justin professes a love for Sony mirrorless systems. “They have such incredible customisation, which is key.

“Being able to program a suite of buttons to do the function that I want, rather than being hamstrung by an engineer that maybe has never dived in their life, has made underwater shooting just a little bit easier.”

The elegance of whales in the pristine water.

Adelie penguins return to the sea after a brief rest on a large iceberg, Antarctica Peninsula.

A moment frozen in time.

This pair of Adelie penguins was courting and dancing in teh cold sunset atop their tiny island fortress. Antarctica is one of the best places for intimate access to wildlife behaviours few ever get to see.

A times, the water appears as if a mirror.

An orca (killer whale) glides through the water.

The majesty of the frozen world.

In 2017, Justin’s photo of a seahorse holding a cotton bud was featured in the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and soon afterwards went viral across the globe.

The image is now forever associated with a growing movement to eradicate single-use plastic waste in the ocean.

Currently, he splits his time between expedition ships, wildlife photography and illustration. He most enjoys when these disciplines converge and he can use his understanding of ecology and animal behaviours to help inspire others to care about the wonders of the planet.

Justin regularly shares stories from his adventurous life at sea and among wildlife on Instagram.

instagram.com/justinhofman
eyos-expeditions.com

Justin Hofman shares his lifelong passion for the ocean with yacht owners and charterers while working with EYOS Expeditions as an expedition leader, dive master, naturalist and photographer.

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