We’re sharing veteran wildlife and nature photographer George Ritchey’s tips for getting the most out of your equipment and experience. With over 35 years of wildlife photography experience and credits including Robb Report, Atlanta Journal Constitution andBirmingham Magazine, Ritchey offers travelers tips on how to capture, preserve and enhance their memories while traveling.

• Equipment: I don’t recommend that you bring a tripod unless it is a very light and mobile. Many of us will have cameras as well as binoculars. More equipment will become cumbersome and difficult to use. I am bringing a combination of walking stick and monopod. Often if your subject is an animal you will not have a lot of time to capture the image before the animal flees thus a tripod is of little use in these situations.
• Wildlife: When approaching animals in the wild begin taking images during the approach process since you never know at what distance the animal will flee. Take lots of images. It is easy to delete unwanted ones. It is always better to capture a shot approaching the animal rather than the animal fleeing. Zoom in as close as possible. Have your camera ready and accessible at all times. Most animals will not wait for you –Sloth excluded.
• Composition: Include reflections in your composition. Often the reflection itself will make a good photo. If your composition is in the sun or bright light a neutral density filter or circular polarizing filter should be considered but in darker situations such as the rain forest you will not need to use a filter.
• How to pack: If your equipment includes many individual parts bring a small day bag or small backpack to house all the pieces that are not in use. Remember travel as light as possible. You will have a much more enjoyable trip. I would rather have the basic equipment than too much equipment.
• Before leaving home review and study your camera manual. You should know how to operate it and that all functions are working. This is very important if you have a new camera or it’s been awhile since you used your camera. Remember we will have very limited access to any stores after we arrive in Lima. Once a participant in my seminar brought a five year old camera that she did not check, and after driving four hours she was disappointed to find that the camera did not work.
• Make sure that you pack your camera manual. Many of the new cameras do not come with the manual and if you want one you need to download the manual from the manufacturer. Many strange and unusual malfunctions have occurred in the field and the manual often will supply instruction that can correct the problem. It may mean the difference of lots of images or going home with a disappointing number. Remember most of us will not travel the Amazon again!
• Bring some type of rain protection for your camera equipment. There are specialty waterproof systems such as Aqua Tech or Kata, Inc. camera covers or you can use something as inexpensive as Ziplock bags. These bags come in sizes from 1 to 3 gallons. I once failed to use an adequate water protector in Alaska, and I spent many hours trying to dry my equipment and praying that it would work. I was successful but many photographers have not been so lucky.
• Bring some type of security to attach your camera to you. I know that we all want to go home with all the equipment that we started out with. A neck strap or chest harness is acceptable. Gear Keeper offers a retractable device for smaller cameras. Cotton Carrier offer several chest strap carrying systems. I do not think a wrist strap is adequate. One inexpensive solution is to tie a string or small cord to your camera and to the button hole of your shirt.

Now that you’re a pro, plan your next photography-rich small ship cruise adventure in the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands.

evo•tourism (ē vō toor’ iz’ əm) n. travel intended to promote awareness of evolution.

The article celebrates ten desinationa that span 300 million years and six continents. The destinations include:

• Kangaroo Island, Australia – Where the Wild Things Are
• Foraminifera Sculpture Park, China – 330-Million-Year-Old Organisms
• Wadi Hitan, Egypt – Whales Walked Here
• The Cradle of Humankind, South Africa – Human Evolution History
• Jurassic Coast, England – A Fossil Treasure Trove
• Mendel’s Garden, Czech Republic – Where Modern Genetics Was Born
• Ashfall Fossil Beds, Nebraska – The Prehistoric Pompeii
• Isle Royale, Michigan – A Fight for Survival
• Galápagos Islands, Ecuador – Where Darwin Found Natural Selection
• Mount St. Helens, Washington – Life Begins Anew

Of these, the last two are destinations visited by small ships (which, of course, excites us at Sunstone Tours & Cruises).

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Darwin’s Laboratory

• Best Evotourism Site For History Buffs
• Best Evotourism Site For Budding Photographers

The 19 islands of the Galápagos are the tips of volcanoes that began emerging from the ocean some five million years ago, steaming with fresh lava and devoid of life. The plants and animals that dwell there today are descended from castaways that arrived by sea or air. Finches and mockingbirds were blown off course by storms; iguanas floated on rafts of debris; and the tree-like scalesia plants are the overgrown progeny of sunflowers that made landfall via airborne seeds. It’s easy to study the diversity of species here in part because there aren’t all that many species to see.

Read the entire article…

The Galápagos Islands are a stunning travel destination, best seen by a small ship cruise. Typically exploring several of its 19 islands, you’ll experience the full diversity of its wildlife, geology and history. Blue-footed boobies perform goofy mating dances, frigate birds with their inflated red pouches, sea lions and marine iguanas swim curious loops around snorkelers, and the only place on earth where penguins and flamingos cohabitate.

Read the entire article:

View Galápagos Islands Small Ship Cruise Itineraries

Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA

Life Begins Anew

• Best Evotourism Site For Familes
• Best Evotourism Site For Budding Photographers

Catastrophic events shape evolution by killing off plant and animal populations and creating opportunities for new species. When Mount St. Helens exploded, scientists seized the opportunity to study the aftermath. “It’s been an ecologist’s dream to stay here for decades to watch how life reinsinuates itself onto a landscape that had been wiped clean,” says Charlie Crisafulli of the U.S. Forest Service, who has worked on the mountain since shortly after its eruption.

On May 18, 1980, at 8:32—a Sunday morning—the volcano set off the largest landslide in recorded history. Rock slammed into Spirit Lake, sending water up the hillsides and scouring the slopes down to bedrock. Another hunk of mountain spilled 14 miles down the North Fork Toutle River, burying the valley under an average of 150 feet of sediment. A blast obliterated, toppled or singed old-growth trees as far as 20 miles away. A column of ash soared 15 miles high, falling across 22,000 square miles. Flows of gas and rock at 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit surged down the slopes, incinerating all life in a six-square-mile area now known as the pumice plain.

Read the entire article…

American Cruise Lines is currently the only small ship cruise company that makes a stop at Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. At the nearby observatory and interpretive center, you’ll be able to look right into the volcanic crater with its steaming dome, and witness first hand the destructive power and damage caused by this volcanic blast in 1980.

Read the entire article…

View this Columbia River cruise itinerary

As reported by International Expeditions, the work of the WWF and many other organizations in fighting for more than 40 years to preserve the rainforests seems to be paying off. Forest loss in Brazil fell to the lowest levels since the government began tracking it in 1988. MongaBay.com reports that only about 2,400 square miles of forests were cleared in 2011, which is down 10.9 percent from last year’s losses.

South America’s Amazon region is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, and Amazon river tours can give travelers a chance to see the natural beauty of the region first-hand. The entire region is considered to be endangered, primarily due to industrial companies clearing the land of forests to use it for profit, but the positive effects of preservation efforts are starting to be seen.

The Amazon plays a major role in global ecology, and its well-being directly correlates to the health of the planet. However, much of the Amazon, which encompasses about 40 percent of South America, has been cleared for farming and other industrialization in recent decades. The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) reports that deforestation can significantly reduce the amount of carbon found there, which helps to regulate the global and local climates.

Enjoy the awakening of springtime on the river with the Great American Steamboat Company. Gliding along at a stately pace, your mind has time to wander—back to a time when life was slower and more genteel, when mighty rivers served as America’s natural highways and an elegant paddlewheel steamboat was the epitome of travel.

You are invited to join Timothy Rubacky, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, for a briefing on several of our 2012 April and May voyages aboard the American Queen.

During this webinar, Tim will share details about:

• Five of the unique voyages that ply the waters between New Orleans and Cincinnati
• An in-depth view of the shore adventures in each city that will surprise and delight
• An update on the refurbishment of the American Queen

We hope that you will join us to hear how we’ve combined all the best attributes of the steamboat experience, and taken Steamboating to a totally new level of historical enrichment, cuisine, comfort and service.

Never attended a webinar? Joining is easy! Once you register, you will receive an email with instructions. All you need is a computer with speakers and access to the internet.

This webinar is on Thursday, January 5 at: 7 pm Eastern, 6 pm Central, 5 pm Mountain, 4 pm Pacific. Make sure to mention Sunstone Tours & Cruises when you register.

Recent years have seen birdwatching emerge as one of the most popular nature travel activities. Yet while some vacationers are eager to catch a glimpse of our feathered friends, simple mistakes can make a birding adventure an exercise in frustration.

Fortunately, there are a few things that amateur birdwatchers should keep in mind whenever they enter the brush in search of an elusive species.

The first thing that an aspiring birder should do is peruse their provided species checklist and familiarize themselves with the local bird life. The checklists will typically offer a lot of helpful information that should make identifying a species that much easier, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the native wildlife.

Likewise, investing in a solid pair of binoculars is a must. Bird sightings often happen at a distance, and there’s nothing more embarrassing than being the only one in the group who can’t tell a robin from a blue jay at 100 yards. Consumersearch.com notes that most experienced birdwatchers use full-size 40 mm to 42 mm binoculars, though amateurs might prefer to opt for similar strength mid-size lenses, which will be lighter and easier to carry.

Birders are also very serious about properly identifying the species, so first-timers will want to keep a sharp eye out for distinguishing physical characteristics. Facial markings, wing bars, leg color and tail shape can all be telltale signs of a particular species. Some birds may share certain characteristics, however, so keeping on top of the small details is a must.

Minding a bird’s behavioral patterns can be just as important in the identification process, as different species groom, hunt and nest in very particular manners that can help birders differentiate between similar species.

Small ship cruises have been busy this holiday season, exploring diverse areas of our world, from the southern reaches of Antarctica and the South Pacific, up to the unique Galapagos Islands and Central America, and further to Europe and America’s southern Atlantic coast.

Antarctica

Christmas and New Years falls in the middle of the Antarctica cruise season. Several small ship companies are exploring Antarctica and several islands off the mainland.

• Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Explorer had just left the Antartic mainland and was traversing the Drake Passage on Christmas Day. Expedition members led guests in rousing renditions of their favorite Christmas carols. The National Geographic Explorer is due to return for New Year’s, undoubtedly celebrating the New year with several varieties of penguins, amid floating iceberg sculptures.
• Quark Expeditions had several of its ships around Antarctica this holidays season. Onboard ship, passengers gathered in the lecture hall to sing Christmas Carols. A few passengers continued the caroling in the lounge area until the wee hours of the night. The Ocean Nova was exploring the Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands. Kapitan Khlebnikov, on its final passenger cruising season, was at sea for Christmas, and will be visiting St. Paul Island, a breeding site for Subantarctic Fur Seals, Southern Elephant Seals and Rockhopper Penguins, and one of the last islands before crossing the Drake Passage, for New years. And the Sea Spirit will be in port at Ushuaia, Argentina, preparing for it’s next sailing.
• Gap Adventures ship Expedition spent Christmas exploring the Antarctic Peninsula & the South Shetland Islands.
• Orion Expeditions Orion celebrated Christmas exploring the Antarctic Peninsula.
• Zegrahm Expeditons Clipper Adventurer will bring in the New Year cruising the South Scotia Sea, southeast of South America.
• Silversea Expeditions Silver Explorer spent Christmas exploring Saunders Island and Westpoint Island of the Falkland Islands. The Silver Explorer will return to the Antarctic Peninsula to bring in the New Year.

Atlantic Coastal

While much of America’s eastern coastline is considered too cold for comfortable sailing, the southern Atlantic coast is still ripe for exploring.

• American Cruise Lines had four of its ships sailing the southern waters of the Atlantic coast during Christmas. American Glory made a call at Palatka, FL, a charming river town with grand homes and restored plantation houses. American Star made a call at Amelia Island, Florida, with its miles of quartz beaches and rolling sand dunes, surrounded by calm waterways and the Nassau Sound. Both American Spirit and Independence made port stops at Beaufort, SC, where horse-drawn carriages bring visitors through the narrow streets of the historic district past eighteenth and nineteenth century homes famous for their unique Beaufort style architecture.

Costa Rica & Panama

While there is no snow in Costa Rica, there is plenty of wildlife to observe.

• Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Sea Lion arrived early Christmas morning at Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s smallest national parks, and a small jewel isolated by the Pacific Ocean. Beautiful scenery and plenty of wildlife. Guests saw not one by two sloths (a first), white-faced monkeys, black iguanas, and several species of birds.

European River Cruises

Europe is a perfect choice in destination for those looking to experience many of the Christmas traditions, such as Christmas Markets, caroling and unique gifts and crafts. River cruises afford the traveler a unique way to unpack once, then travel to many of most historic, popular cities in Europe.

• AMAWaterways had three ships cruising the Danube River (and lesser Main-Danube Canal) around Christmas. The holidays were experienced in style aboard these ships. European Christmas traditions were experienced, such as putting shoes out at night and St. Nicolas making his visit to leave everyone chocolates. On Christmas Day, AmaLyra was in port at Vienna, Austria. AmaLegro made a stop in Budapest, Hungry. And AmaDolce visited Prague in the Czech Republic.

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are an exceptional choice for destinations (and experiences) to celebrate the holidays, especially for families with children.

• Lindblad Expeditions ships National Geographic Endeavour and National Geographic Islander celebrated Christmas in the Galapagos Española Island. The day was filled with snorkeling with a curious sea lion, followed by more sea lion encounters on the beach. Marine iguanas and the Galápagos hawks greeted guests during a hike. Other observations during the hike were sea lion pups interacting with iguanas, blue-footed boobies courting and some lava lizards displaying their aggressive behavior to impress females. All in all, an amazing, rich, unforgettable Christmas.

South Pacific

What better place to celebrate the holidays than in paradise!

• Paul Gauguin Cruises gives “White Christmas” a new meaning, bringing guests to the white-sand beaches of magical French Polynesia. Aboard the Paul Gauguin, guests visited Bora Bora, who Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Michener described as “the most beautiful island in the world,” on Christmas Day. Private beaches, a glass-bottom boat excursion and a tour this island paradise were enjoyed by guests. Paul Gauguin will also pay a visit to Bora Bora for New Years.

What about Holidays 2012?

Now is the absolute best time to plan and book your 2012 small ship holiday cruise, as the warmth of the holidays are still fresh in your mind. Baja Mexico and Mississippi River are just some of the destinations being added to the selection in addition to those listed above. Visit the small ship Holiday Theme cruise section of the Sunstone Tours & Cruises website at http://www.sunstonetours.com.

Galapagos Blue Footed Booby

Solo travelers looking for savings can take advantage of no single supplement ($1,200 savings) on eight Galapagos adventures offered by International Expeditions. The single supplement fees will be waived on International Expeditions’s February 3 and 17, March 16 and 30, May 11 and 25, and October 12 and 26, 2012 Galapagos Island cruises.

On the 10-day Galapagos Islands cruise, solo travelers join a group of like-minded guests aboard International Expeditions’ 32-passenger yacht M/V Evolution. This immersive expedition navigates to captivating islands, where the small group size allows for easy access to the wildlife and far more personal attention than guests find aboard larger cruise ships. Onboard, guests sail in comfort with spacious accommodations, fine cuisine and a host of amenities including an observation deck (perfect for whale watching) and canopied bar, plus complimentary snorkeling equipment, wetsuits and kayaks.

In addition to daily snorkeling and hiking through deserts, rainforests and volcanic terrain, other highlights include a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Center, famous for its tortoise breeding programs; and an exploration of Santiago Island, a haven for finches, doves and Galapagos hawks.

Highly trained Galapagos naturalist guides enhance travelers’ experiences by sharing their in-depth knowledge and bringing them within inches of giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, penguins and other animals.

Prices for the Galapagos Islands vacations start at $5,098 in 2012, and include accommodations, all excursions, most meals, transfers and tips to porters and waiters for included meals.

For more information on this small ship cruise itinerary or to reserve your cabin, contact Sunstone Tours & Cruises toll-free at 1-888-815-5428.

A Pisco Sour

Celebrating New Years and looking for a different cocktail to ring in the new year? Look no further than an authentic Pisco Sour, a claimed national drink of both Chile and Peru.

Pisco is a clear, fermented brandy that has been distilled from fresh musts of Muscat grapes in copper alembic stills since the Spanish conquest, and is considered part of Peru’s cultural heritage. This liqueur is also the national spirit of Chile, although each country has a distinct history and uses Pisco for different cocktails.

Here’s a Pisco Sour recipe from International Expedition’s Amazon River tour Expedition Leader, Jorge Salas. The frozen Pisco Sour is a happy hour staple on their Amazon River cruise aboard, La Amatista.

Frozen Pisco Sour 3-2-1 Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 parts of Pisco (Or Italian Grappa, Brandy, Vodka or Scotch. Alcohol must be 80-85 proof)
• 2 parts of bar sugar syrup (or regular white sugar)
• 1 part of fresh key lime juice.
• Egg white lightly beaten. (For one Pisco sour glass use one tablespoon of egg white)
• Ice (in the same volume as liquids)
• 2 drops of Angostura bitter (or a bit of powdered cinnamon)

Steps

1. Combine Pisco (or the alcohol you will be using), sugar syrup (or regular white sugar), key lime juice and egg white into a blender.
2. Once you have all the ingredients in the blender, add the ice. Use the same amount of ice as of liquids.
3. Blend until all the ice is thoroughly crushed. Serve and add a couple of Angostura bitter drops. (Or powder cinnamon in case you can’t get the bitter)

Tip 1: The previous recipe is for the Frozen Pisco Sour, the same type we serve on the Amazon River tour. If you want to try the original Pisco Sour (Great at winter time) follow the same recipe but instead of a blender use a bar shaker. Shake it all strongly until you are sure that all the ingredients have mix well. Serve and add the Angostura bitter drops.

Tip 2: If you find that the result of the preparation is too sweet for you, change the recipe a bit and make a 3-1-1 Pisco Sour: 3 parts of Pisco, one part of sugar and one part of key lime. The other ingredients are the same. This is what my wife and I make at home. Cheers!

Visit the North Pole summer of 2012 with Quark Expeditions

Just can’t get enough of the North Pole this holiday season? Be one of only 250 people to stand at the top of the world in 2012 by visiting the North Pole with Quark Expeditions aboard their latest nuclear icebreaker, 50 Years of Victory.

This one-of-a-kind, 14-day itinerary travels roundtrip from Helsinki, Finland (via mandatory chartered flight from/to Murmansk, Russia (additional)) to the actual North Pole. You’ll travel in style, sailing onboard 50 Years of Victory, one of the world’s most powerful icebreakers. You’ll transit the Arctic Ocean, crushing multi-year ice pack in the processes. A complimentary helicopter ride affords an aerial view of the progress being made.

This is a real expedition. Unlike many cruises, with set schedules, on this voyage, everything is determined by conditions. The voyage from Murmansk, Russia to the North Pole can take anywhere from 5 to 8 days. Most ship guests simply enjoy the heightened sense of adventure that comes with this unpredictability. In 2008, 50 Years of Victory made the fastest recorded crossing between these two points: 4.5 days! During this time, you’ll spend time looking out for arctic birds and the highlight for most, spotting a polar bear, possibly with cubs.

Once arriving at 90 North (the North Pole), guests celebrate in their own ways, from holding special signs or their national flags to standing on this mystical spot, holding a talisman brought thousands of miles for this one purpose. After the initial sense of wonderment, you’ll celebrate as a group with a champagne toast, followed by a BBQ on the ice.

On the return trip, you’ll make a multi-day stop at Franz Josef Land, where you’ll explore Cape Flora, and discover historic remains from three ill-fated Arctic expeditions. If conditions permit, Zodiac trips beneath towering cliffs will explore remote seabird rookeries. Onboard helicopters again will provide aerial sightseeing, and transfer you to otherwise inaccessible landing sites.

If you travel this far, you might consider extending your trip by exploring St. Petersburg, Russia via a luxurious high speed train adventure post cruise.

Rates start at $22,790 per person for this once-in-a-lifetime experience that so few have the opportunity to partake in. For questions or to book your North Pole Expedition, contact Sunstone Tours & Cruises toll-free at 1-888-815-5428.

Great News! After reporting that the American Safari Cruises ship Safari Explorer was running into protests on Hawaiian sailings, we’re happy to report that resolution has finally been made with the protesters and concerned residents.

“After working with state and federal authorities and local groups, an amicable agreement has been reached to allow the yacht unimpeded visits to the island on its seven-day adventure cruises,” the company said in a statement. “The yacht will return to its regularly scheduled two-day visits Jan. 21 to 22. This agreement is a result of many long hours of spirited discussions about tourism and development on the island with all participants sharing the underlying desire to preserve Molokai’s unique character, history and traditions.”

“We are grateful to the wonderful people of Molokai for their true Aloha spirit. We hold tremendous respect for their unwavering desire to preserve their traditional lifestyle for future generations,” said American Safari CEO Dan Blanchard.

American Safari operates seven-night active cruises from October through May to Lanai, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island. Itineraries sail between Maui/Lanai and the Big Island; a scenic ferry ride connects guests between Maui and the yacht on Lanai. For more information about these luxury Hawaiian yacht cruises, contact Sunstone Tours & Cruises at 1-888-815-5428.