The stunning wildlife of the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is the subject of a new photographic exhibition in Dundee’s Verdant Works.
Polar Ark features work by wildlife photographer and polar biologist Katherine Snell, a former pupil of Dundee High School.
Katherine said she had been “amazed and humbled” by the spectacular scenery and abundance of wildlife and hoped to depict the island”s beauty in her photographs.
She said, “When we first arrived it was incredible, because I didn”t really know what to expect, even though I”d travelled in Antarctica and worked for the British Antarctic Survey.
“As the boat pushed through the snow, there were cracks appearing and there was phosphorescence in the water. That, coupled with the ghostly white mountains, was really quite remarkable.
“St Andrews Bay has the highest non-human biomass anywhere in the world and you”re surrounded by penguins and breeding seals. It”s amazing just animals as far as the eye can see.”
The striking images were the result of many patient hours waiting to get the perfect photograph.
Katherine said, “With any wildlife photography, you obviously can”t ask the animals to move this way or that.Thousands of photos
“We spent three days trying to capture a king penguin porpoising through the water.
“We took thousands of photographs just to get one shot.”
The exhibition is a joint venture between Katherine and the South Georgia Heritage Trust.
The trust aims to conserve and protect those species of indigenous fauna and flora that breed and grow on South Georgia or in the surrounding seas and to raise awareness of threatened species.
The trust”s chief executive Alison Neil thanked Dundee Heritage Trust for its help in staging the exhibition.
She said, “Our offices are based in Verdant Works, so we were keen to work with Dundee Heritage Trust to use it as a venue for the exhibition.
“We wanted to bring a feel of the island back to Dundee and highlight the plight of some of the birds there.
“Dundee Heritage Trust has done us proud by giving us this space free of charge.”