Small Ship Photography Cruises — Taking Instagram-Worthy Shots In The Coolest Places

By Anne Kalosh.

Photography buffs or budding photographers can hone their skills in fascinating destinations with top experts on several small ship photography cruises that provide subjects ranging from polar bears to penguins to vineyards.

50 Years of Victory

Imagine the scenic bounty on a trip to the top of the world! Reaching the North Pole, 90°N, is something very few people will ever accomplish so this really merits recording. In 2019, Quark Expeditions is extending its Photography Series to a North Pole journey aboard the nuclear-powered Russian icebreaker 50 YEARS OF VICTORY.

Instagram-worthy moment at the North Pole. Photo: Quark Expeditions

The June 23 to July 6 voyage features two renowned photographers who have worked for the BBC and National Geographic Traveler. Cindy Miller Hopkins and Sue Flood will run workshops on how to capture the perfect shot in Arctic conditions.

Travelers will have plenty to capture as the mighty 50 YEARS OF VICTORY crushes through thick ice, past polar bears, walruses and other wildlife. They'll get opportunities to explore by helicopter and Zodiac and, upon reaching 90°N, can even ascend in a tethered hot air balloon.

Fares start at $29,995 per person. (The hot air balloon costs $495 extra.)

Learn how to take the best polar bear shots on a Quark voyage to the North Pole. * Photo: Quark Expeditions

Silver Cloud

At the other end of the earth—Antarctica—Silversea Expeditions offers My Photo Academy aboard SILVER CLOUD. At private or group lessons, travelers can learn to master digital photography in workshops for both beginners and pros. Among the topics are an introduction to photography, social media and the use of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop software tools to edit images.

Shooting icebergs from Silver Cloud. * Photo: Silversea Expeditions

SILVER CLOUD's Photo Studio, designed and implemented in collaboration with Galardi Media Network, a Swiss company, provides an incubator for creativity with the latest equipment for both Mac and PC users. This includes high-quality printers for use on a fee basis for travelers who want to create postcards or take home frame-ready pictures.

Guided by a professional photo manager, passengers can learn and practice their photo editing skills on such high-grade professional equipment as six HP Envy 27-inch, all-in-one desktop computers; six iMac 27-inch, all-in-one desktop computers; four Loupedeck photo-editing consoles for Adobe Lightroom, two DNP dye sublimation photo printers, two Epson inkjet plotters, custom workshop management software, three Samsung 55-inch screens with 4K picture quality and one Samsung 65-inch screen with 4K picture quality.

Silver Cloud's Photo Studio provides all the tools at individual workstation. * Photo: Silversea Expeditions

Additionally, budding photographers can schedule a 20-minute, one-on-one appointment with a photo-editing expert to receive guidance on matters ranging from gear recommendations to help with social media and posting on Facebook and Instagram.

SILVER CLOUD expedition voyages to Antarctica are offered from November through February.

Emerald Liberte

For entirely different subject matter, Emerald Waterways is helping travelers to beautiful Burgundy and Provence improve their smartphone photos. Travel and lifestyle photographer Jack Hollingsworth, author of The Joy of iPhotography, will lead workshops during the “Sensations of Southern France” cruise aboard EMERALD LIBERTE departing Aug. 4, 2018.

Photographer Jack Hollingsworth will share tips aboard the Emerald Liberte. Photo: Emerald Waterways

The seven-night cruise between Lyon and Arles visits Chalon–Sur–Saone, the birthplace of photography and the center of Burgundy’s wine region; Macon, gateway to the Beaujolais vineyards; Tournon, with its 16th-century castle and Roman ruins; and Avignon, where the Papal Palace and Avignon Bridge are among the monuments protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Workshop participants can learn how to compose a better shot, which apps the pros use (and how to use them) and how make the most of the powerful cameras that live inside their smartphones. (Maybe even tips for focusing after drinking lots of wine?)

To reinforce these lessons, Hollingsworth will offer hands-on assistance during afternoon and evening sailings and on shore excursions to ensure passengers go home with photos that will be the envy of their friends and families.

Fares for the eight-night sailing start at $3,905 per person.