Bear / Camera / Action

30th December 2010

At least four million viewers, now liberated from their own icy grip, were captivated by the ‘Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice’ BBC documentary last night. It contained spectacular scenes never filmed before as big license fee budgets were spent not only on groundbreaking technology but also the most valuable commodity of time, to operate the gizmos to maximum effect. Icebergcam, blizzardcam and snowballcam were all used to film intimate moments of the Polar bears’ lives.

With the advance of wildlife documentaries, some soft armchair travellers maintain that there is no need to travel to these areas anymore. They are wrong. Not only is the sight of a Polar bear on ice one of nature's most rewarding canvasses, it is a currency made harder knowing you have beaten the BBC to their prize.

For those of you who were fascinated by the whale carcass scene, you may be interested to know that Exodus' Paul Goldstein led two 'Spitsbergen Photographic Charters' to this very fjord (Holmiabukta is its name) last summer. His clients enjoyed extended excursions, maximising the 24-hour daylight, to enjoy their own views of hungry bears picking at the carcass and diving down for meat. Nothing was going to stop Paul and his clients eking out every magical moment with this polar dining table. One hour gazing at the images on TV compared to 18 hours spent with the real thing just 50 metres away? The newspapers were quick to recognise the exceptional nature of this event and carried the story back in August.

We have already been contacted by clients from the two 2010 Spitsbergen Photographic Charters wondering if what they saw last night on their TV screens was what they had seen with their own eyes. It gives us great delight to reassure them that it was. They must feel special; they had the perception to book this fantastic voyage. Paul Goldstein is friends with many of the cameramen and fixers that make these incredible programmes but he is probably very happy to have stolen a march on them.

In 2011 Paul will be leading two more 'Spitsbergen Photographic Charters'. These expeditions will take you into the heart of Svalbard on board small (approx 100 passengers) ice rated vessels. They are not cut and dried cruises; the ship’s route is dictated as much by weather and ice as it is by the expedition leader. Join us and let your own Arctic documentary unfold.

What to know more about Exodus' Polar Voyages?

Then come to one of the two evening presentations in London and see Paul Goldstein in person and view some of the amazing images he captured in Spitsbergen last summer.

Wildlife Exposed - London, Date: 6th January 2011 Time: 19:00
Venue: Copthorne Tara Hotel Scarsdale Place, Kensington, London W8 5SR
Click here to book your free seats(s) online now.

Polar Journeys - London, Date: 22nd February 2011 Time: 19:00
Venue: Copthorne Tara Hotel Scarsdale Place, Kensington, London W8 5SR
Click here to book your free seat(s) online now.

Photographic Specials

Photographic & Polar Bear – Exclusive Exodus Voyage 16 June 2011
Photographic & Polar Bear – Exclusive Exodus Voyage 16 July 2011
Led by Paul Goldstein, these two voyages will be a Polar bear pilgrimage. Paul has guided the Svalbard Archipelago many times, and intends to maximise every one of the 24 hours of daylight. He is fascinated by Polar bears and intends to work every moment to ensure his two departures are extra special in this respect.

Photographers and wildlife fans: these are must departures.

Episodes: Read about the Photographic Specials of June and July 2010 from Paul's article (August 2010).

The Daily Mail writes: Arctic: Polar bears and cubs (August 2010).
The Independent - writes about Arctic Voyage, White Nights (July 2008).
The Sunday Times - writes about Polar bears and whales on an Arctic safari (March 2008).

If the images below look familiar and bear a striking resemblance to the programme last night, it's because Exodus clients were there too!