Yesterday I returned to Reykjavik after leading a new expedition to the remote north-west of Iceland to photograph Arctic Fox in winter. I have been travelling to this remote nature reserve in the north of Iceland for the last four years to photograph Arctic Fox but this was the first time I have taken a group with me. We had some amazingly close encounters with several Blue Morph Arctic Fox during our time in the north and I will have a full trip report soon. As well as Arctic Fox we also took some time to photograph some of the dramatic landscape found this far north in Iceland. This particular photograph of snow being blown from one of the surrounding peaks at sunset from my 2016 expedition is my photograph of the month for March 2017.
Extraordinary Vision Magazine Features Choosing an Antarctic Expedition Part One
Antarctica, Landscape Photographs, Media, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Wildlife Photographs, Workshops and ExpeditionsExtraordinary Vision Magazine issue #52 has just published Part One of a recent series of Articles I penned on How to Choose an Expedition to Antarctica. Choosing the right expedition will make or break the photographic opportunities you will experience in Antarctica. If you are planning or considering a future photographic expedition to Antarctica I recommend you take a few moments out of your day and check it out. Part Two, Part Three and Part Four will be published in subsequent issues.
Extraordinary Vision magazine is available fortnightly with a kick start free trial. Best of all its only $1.99 to subscribe per month – less than a cup of coffee. Do yourself and your creativity a favour and check it out. Available exclusively though the iTunes App store or Google Play.
Wild Planet Photo Magazine Features Part Three – Curious Characters
Arctic, Media, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Wildlife PhotographsWild Planet Photo Magazine has just published the final part three of the three part series of articles on my Arctic Wildlife photography. The series includes Polar Bears (Bear Instincts) in the November 2016 edition and Arctic Foxes (Snow Survivors) in the January 2017 edition. The new February 2017 edition features a series of Walrus photographs from the Svalbard archipelago region. From the Wild Planet Photo Magazine website: We are showcasing a new feature series from the Global Arctic Photographer of the Year, Joshua Holko, who shares his fascinating experiences with Arctic species. The third instalment of our three-part Arctic Encounter series centres on Walrus. Nature photographer Joshua Holko tells the tale behind these curious characters.
About Wild Planet Photo Magazine: Published every month, WPPM and their accompanying websites have over 256,000 unique visitors in more than 190 countries, making them truly international photography magazines for the digital age. Packed with refreshing content, exciting features and stunning imagery from around the world – all provided by innovative professionals and enthusiasts who share one passion – that of landscape and wildlife photography. Wild Planet Photo Magazine is available via individual issue purchase or subscription.
Workshops and Expeditions Update and Availability 2017
Antarctica, Arctic, Iceland, Landscape Photographs, Lofoten, News and Updates, Travel Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife Photographs, Workshops and ExpeditionsI have been meaning to post a workshop and expedition update for some time now but other matters have taken priority and I now find myself near the end of February and about to embark on my annual Winter workshop in Iceland with Daniel Bergmann. So better late than never, here is a list of what is coming up, what is sold out, what is still available and some of what is planned for the future.
After Daniel and I finish up our Winter Iceland trip (2017 is the last year I will be running this trip for the immediate future) I am heading north with a small group of photographers for a new expedition to photograph Arctic Foxes in the extreme North-West of Iceland. This expedition has long been sold out; but I will be repeating this trip again in 2018. At this stage there are still three places available before it will be sold out. You can download a complete PDF of the expedition HERE.
After I finish in Iceland I am heading to Svalbard for a sold out winter expedition to photograph Polar Bears and the landscape of Svalbard in a winter setting. The 2017 expedition has also been long sold out, but I will be repeating this expedition again in 2018 and you can download a complete PDF itinerary of the expedition HERE. Places are already very limited.
In May this year Daniel and I still have a couple of places available on our Ultimate Puffins workshop. The workshop is dedicated to photography of the Atlantic Puffin and other birds of Iceland including Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Guillemots (Murres), Arctic Terns and Razorbills. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to photograph Puffins and other Arctic birds in their natural environment. We will visit a number of different locations during this workshop where we will have outstanding access to the Puffins living in burrows on the edge of sea cliffs. We have timed our 2017 workshop to ensure we are in the best locations at the best times to photograph these wonderful birds. We will have hours of golden light under the spectacular midnight sun – ideal conditions for photography of the Atlantic Puffin. We are also heading out to the remote northern Grimsey Island so this workshop promises to be unique and very special. We are now down to the last few places on this workshop before it will be sold out. If you are interested in photographing Arctic Birds this is not to be missed. You can download a complete PDF itinerary HERE.
In July I will be heading back to Svalbard for my annual summer expedition to photograph Polar Bears and other wildlife of the Svalbard archipelago. You can download a complete PDF itinerary of the expedition HERE. There is now only one place remaining on this expedition before it will be sold out.
In September Daniel Bergmann and I are leading two back to back expeditions to the Scoresby-Sund fjord system on the remote north west coast of Greenland. Both expeditions are sold out but Daniel and I have just committed to repeat the expedition again in 2019. We will be announcing dates for the expeditions very soon but you can register your interest to be first on the list by dropping me an email. 
In November I will be leading a new expedition to Antarctica – Antarctica White Nature. This fully dedicated expedition is now almost sold out with only two places remaining. This expedition has been specially timed to be the first of the season to ensure the best possible ice conditions. Be sure to read my recent series of articles on how to choose an expedition to Antarctica. You can download a complete PDF itinerary of the expedition HERE.
As some of you are aware I also recently completed a new winter scouting trip to Kuusamo in the north of Finland (I hope to publish some images from this trip soon). This trip was a great success with some fantastic Golden Eagle and Hawk Owl activity in a wonderful winter setting. I hope to have details on a future January Winter workshop to Finland over the coming months. If you would like to be notified once details are finalised you can drop me an email to register your interest – there is no obligation at this point.
For those of you patiently waiting for confirmation of dates for the Emperor Penguin expedition in 2018 I am hoping to have this all finalised in a few weeks. If you are keen to get the jump on other upcoming workshops and expeditions for 2018 and beyond you can view a complete list on my website at www.jholko.com.
Finland Kuusamo Newspaper Cover Page and Feature Interview
Arctic, Finland, Media, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Wildlife PhotographsA few days ago I was interviewed by two journalists from the Kuusamo Newspaper whilst I was out photographing Dippers and Hooper Swans in the far north of Finland (less than 50km from the Russian border). The interview covered my polar photography, thoughts on climate change and global warming as well as what is involved to work full time as a professional Nature photographer. The interview made the front page of todays paper with a full page feature. Just click on the image below to Download the full PDF. Might be time to brush on your Finnish!
Luminous Landscape Website Reviews Melrakki Limited Edition Book
Arctic, Book, Media, News and Updates, Photographs, Wildlife PhotographsThe Luminous Landscape Website has just published a review of my new book on the Arctic Fox ‘Melrakki‘. Read the Review.
Melrakki is just such a project. The name is Icelandic for Arctic fox. The beauty in the name Melrakki shines through this beautiful book, illustrating the harsh life of the Arctic fox in the winter. There is no harsher place in the winter than Iceland, nor is there a place more beautiful in the winter than Iceland. This book project took Josh three years to complete. Over those three years, I got to peek at some of the images that he captured, as well as hear some of his stories about what it took to accomplish those images. Trust me, it takes a hearty soul to sit in a hole dug from the snow and wait in blinding blizzards to capture this elusive creature.
What I enjoyed most about Josh’s book is not only the fabulous photography but also the story that he weaves throughout the book about what it took to capture these images. At times, you feel like you are there next to him as he captures these images. A number of these images will send chills through you, not only because of the implied cold and harshness of the environment but because they are so well captured and technically perfect.
The culmination of three years of winter photography in the extreme north-west of Iceland, Melrakki is available now for pre-order exclusively as a Limited Edition hard bound fine-art book. Limited to just 100 copies, each edition is hand numbered and signed and includes an original 11″ x 09″ inch fine-art pigment on paper print.
With foreword by pre-eminent scientist and Arctic fox expert Dr. Ester Rut Unnsteinsdóttir, Melrakki includes over fifty photographs and field notes from the three years spent photographing this remarkable predator in the extreme north-west of Iceland.
Melrakki Limited Edition is printed using the highest possible quality Canon Dreamlabo inkjet printer system and is printed on beautiful 250gsm High Definition Lustre paper that fully captures all of the incredible colour and tones of the original photographs. The Canon Dreamlabo represents the current state of the art in book printing and was chosen for this project after extensive testing and proofing as it yielded the highest quality that most closely resembles the original fine-art pigment on paper prints. I am extremely proud to stand behind the print quality in this Limited Edition book.
The included fine-art pigment-on-paper print is printed on Moab Somerset Museum Rag 300gsm paper and is hand signed.
Melrakki Limited Edition is $245 AUD plus shipping and can be ordered online exclusively through my websiteHERE.
I hope that you enjoy the photographs, insights and field notes from this project into the frozen world of Melrakki – the Arctic fox.
Photographs and Text by Joshua Holko
Approximate Dimensions: 22cm x 30 cm
96 pages (over 50 photographs + field notes)
The photo book & the print are together in a protective cloth sleeve
ISBN: 978-0-646-95781-4
Outdoor Photography Magazine Interview March 2017
Landscape Photographs, Media, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Wildlife PhotographsThe latest March 2017 issue of Outdoor Photography magazine features a new interview and article on my passion for Polar Photography. You can download the full interview by single issue purchase or subscription.
Kingdom of the Ice Bear Wins First Place Commercial / Illustrative Film
Arctic, Media, News and Updates, Travel Photography, Workshops and ExpeditionsIn some very exciting news I just learned that my short film by Untitled Film Works ‘Kingdom of the Ice Bear‘ has just won first place at the 2017 WPPI Awards for film making in the Commercial / Illustrative short film category. Congratulations to Abraham Joffe and Untitled Film Works – Well Done. 
I am very much looking forward to working with Untitled Film Works on a new short film project in a few weeks time in Svalbard in the Arctic Winter.
How to Get the Best Shot on Your Next Shoot
eBook, News and Updates, Travel Photography, UncategorizedRecently I finished reading Paul Nicklen’s new e-book Photographing Wild (well worth the $15 price tag) in which he discusses something he calls the 20/60/20 rule. The 20/60/20 rule is something I have long adopted and practised in my own photography; although I never thought to describe it or write about it. In fact, I have been doing it so long now that it has become instinctive for me and I find myself moving subconsciously through this principle as I photograph my subjects.
The principe of the 20/60/20 rule is that you should spend roughly the first 20% of your time on a shoot getting the safe shots. Compose the image as best you can, make it sharp, in focus and get the shot. Thats the first 20% of your time on the shoot invested. The next 60% is where you push yourself creatively and where you are likely to make your best images. Go beyond the safe shot you already have in the can and push yourself both creatively and technically to go beyond the obvious. This is when you can make truly great photographs that really stand out. Its a time to zoom with your feet, to change composition, try different angles, move higher or lower and to take a different approach to vary your captures. The last 20% of your time is about experimentation and doing things you might not normally do (such as a multi-second hand held exposures, or an in camera composite or such like). This last 20% is a time to experiment and to go a bit crazy to see what you can produce when the standard limitations and rules are removed. Images from this last 20% often don’t work, but occasionally they do, and something truly unique and powerful can be produced. The important aspect to this last 20% is that its free time to experiment and to learn from the results. Its a great way to ensure you continue to grow as a photographer.
Paul describes the process in some detail in his book as he implements it in his workflow (a short excerpt of which is included below).
When I’m working, I want to give my editor something that National Geographic will be guaranteed to publish. So if I see a bear coming out of the forest, I make sure it’s sharp and in focus, and do the best job I can on the composition, light, and mood. That’s the first 20%. If it’s sharp and in focus, it’s still a good image, but I don’t want good: I want great. And then I go to the 60%. This biggest chunk of time is where I sit and push my own artistic ability and technical skills as a photographer; this is how I force myself to come back with something that’s truly special. Once I’ve got that and I’m satiated, satisfied, and really happy with what I’m creating, then I’ll say, “Let’s try something different; let’s do a multi-second exposure just to see what happens.” This is the last 20% of the 20-60-20 rule, and it’s there for my growth as a photographer.
I think this is excellent advice that many photographers would do very well to take note of and try and implement in their photography. I often see photographers standing around on workshops wondering what to do next after they have captured the obvious photograph (the first 20%). If you take Paul’s (and my) advice and move into the next 60% and final 20% you will never be standing around wondering what to do next. Your photography will improve and you will learn more about what works and what does not work when composing your photographs. Perhaps best of all implementing this advice in your workflow costs you absolutely nothing.
I do highly recommend you invest $15 in Paul’s e-book ‘Photographing Wild‘. As well as containing some fantastic advice, and wonderful photographs its also inspirational material for your next photography shoot.
Photo of the Month February 2017 – Emperors
Antarctica, Media, News and Updates, Photographs, Travel Photography, Wildlife PhotographsThe photograph of the month for 2017 comes from my recent expedition to the Emperor Penguins on the sea ice at Gould Bay in Antarctica (Read the Trip Report). This particular image is very evocative for me of the life the Emperor Penguins lead out on the sea ice. The blowing snow that surrounds the huddled penguins really bring this photograph to life.
I know some of you are eagerly awaiting the final details for my 2018 expedition to the Emperor Penguins and I hope to have these finalised in the next few weeks. If you have already registered your interest I will be in touch soon.
Holko's Test 