A writer and critic for the New York Times once told me that every landscape picture worth taking had already been taken. He also claimed that landscape photographers continued in a futile quest to get farther and farther away, to more difficult and inaccessible places, only to return with images that looked basically the same as prior work. I could not disagree more with both statements. I personally feel that any notion that all landscape images worth capturing have already been captured is absolutely preposterous.

I am also a strong believer that in spite of the gross overpopulation and pollution of our planet, there are still spectacular areas that remain in a pristine state with unparalleled beauty that needs to be protected and documented. Furthermore, these areas still contain precious resources and invaluable scientific evidence, materials, plants and animal life that are precious and must be saved for posterity. In view of the above, I jumped at the opportunity to visit Antarctica with a group of experienced photographers.