Seabourn Image Masters

Seabourn Image Masters will allow Seabourn guests who are looking to take their photography to the next level to become part of an exclusive photography group during their expedition. It will allow those guests the opportunity to access an exclusive, in-depth learning program during their expedition to learn more about expedition photography and create an impressive and impactful portfolio of photographs. 

The program will take place over four days during your Expedition voyage. You’ll meet with the Photo Coach once you arrive on board to get more details on structure and which days the program will take place.

Seabourn Image Masters includes: 

• Photographer-led Zodiac tours and walks

• Exclusive lectures/workshops 

• Individual mentoring and coaching sessions with the Photo Coach  

• Participant-only lab hours with computer and editing software access 

• Photographer-hosted dinner

Anyone who wants to enhance their photography skills and techniques is welcome. You do not need any previous knowledge or advanced training, the only thing you do need is a camera and a desire to learn about photography. 

• Workshop content will span essentials like exposure triangle, to more advanced topics like visual storytelling.  

• Image Masters is designed for anyone with a passion for photography who wants to make the most out of their expedition. Exclusive access to a Photo Coach, The Studio, workshops, lectures, and critiques will lift your photography to new heights.  

As a participant of the program, you will be part of a small group of photographers with access to special photography-focused activities, like Photo Walks during shore landings and exclusive photo Zodiac tours. These will all be hosted and led by your Photo Coach, who will show you how to get the best shots when out in the field. Your Photo Coach will also lead a series of workshops exclusively for the photo participants on board the ship to enrich your experience and enhance your knowledge and technical skills. You will also have access to individual sessions with your Photo Coach to discuss and work together on your portfolio of images. Being part of Image Masters also gives you a wide range of unique benefits when on board. You will have 24-hour access to The Studio, on board Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, a dedicated space for photography on board the ship.

This exclusive package is available to purchase pre-voyage.  Availability is not guaranteed if you wait to sign up on the ship.

The Seabourn Image Masters package costs approximately $375 per day for a total of $1500.

A maximum of 10 people.  

Everyone is welcome on the program, no matter what camera you have. You could participate in the program with an iPhone or Android, but you may get more from the experience with a good quality DSLR or mirrorless camera and multiple lenses.

See Equipment section below. 

No, there is no photography equipment for sale or rent on board the ship. You must bring your own equipment and all necessary accessories with you (please see equipment list below for more information).

Time to get excited! Make sure to review this FAQ and the packing list below. Once you arrive on board you will receive more information and meet your Photo Coach.

There will be daily meet ups and activities arranged as part of this program. You will also have individual access to your Photo Coach for coaching and customized support sessions.  The program also offers special Photo Zodiac cruises and Photo Walks during the expedition, so expect to spend a few hours a day with your Photo Coach and fellow Image Masters. 

All content in the Image Masters program is exclusive for the participants of the program. If you’d like your travel companion to join you, they’ll also need to sign up for the program.

The photographer-led Zodiac tour/walk will take place at the same time as the general Zodiac tours/walks. You will be able to skip the photographer-led experience for the day if you’d like to go with your travel companion, but we cannot guarantee you’ll be able to go on both in the same day.

Seabourn has access to many Photo Coaches from all over the world with extensive knowledge of photography and the location you will be visiting. You will meet your assigned Photo Coach on the first day of your expedition.

You should pack your standard expedition clothing and items according to the region you will be visiting.  For the Image Masters program, you will want to bring your own camera equipment and accessories. Please see the Equipment section below for a detailed list.

Do I need any specific clothes for the Image Masters program?

In addition to the regional expedition packing list provided for your expedition, we recommend you keep these ideas in mind and plan/dress accordingly for the photo-centric excursions of the expedition:

• Bring a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes on bright days. 

• Remember your contact lenses, glasses, and prescription sunglasses so you can spot wildlife in the distance and be prepared for the shot.  

• We suggest clothes with pockets in them; while not essential, cargo pants and photographers’ vests can be useful for having equipment and accessories close-at-hand.   

• Photography in polar regions often benefits from having an additional pair of fingerless gloves or mittens which can be easily removed when out on deck or in Zodiacs to operate your cameras.

We recommend bringing your camera equipment in your carry-on luggage, as this is the safest way to transport electronics and fragile accessories like lenses. Your carry-on will need to fit within Seabourn standard luggage allowance. Most airlines require that you travel with your rechargeable batteries in your carry-on for safety purposes.

You should bring at least one camera and a range of lenses.  We recommend you ensure your camera is of a high standard, this means the sensor has a resolution of more than 10 megapixels and allows you to shoot images in JPEG and RAW. Having a camera with a good quality sensor means your images with be clearer and being able to shoot in RAW will allow you use more advanced editing techniques. We have provided a checklist which gives you an extensive guide to what you should bring. Do not worry if you do not have all the equipment on the list, it is an exhaustive list, and you should bring what you have and feel comfortable travelling with and using.

• Lens Suggestions: You’ll find having a lens(es) with a wide focal range will be a great advantage for this program.  A ready-for-every moment set would include a wide-angle lens (14-35mm) for landscape photography, a telephoto (200-600+mm) for wildlife photography, and a few in between lenses such as a 50mm or 70-200mm lens.  Please ensure your lenses fit and work with your camera. Your local camera store will be able to advise you on which lenses best suit your camera.

   

We recommend renting any desired camera equipment you don’t currently own for your expedition.   

• What do you suggest renting?  At minimum, we recommend renting a camera body, plus a telephoto and wide-angle lens. A suggested example kit: Sony Alpha a1, Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 GM Lens, Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens.

No. Bring whichever brand of camera you enjoy using and feel most comfortable with. All our Photo Coaches have a vast knowledge of the various types of cameras and equipment, and all the presentations and workshops will be suited to all camera brands.

You should bring at least one camera body with you but bring a second if you want to have two cameras on you at one time. You will be going for Photo Walks so make sure you will be comfortable carrying your gear for a few hours. 

Yes, and it’s important you have everything you want before you arrive. There are not any camera shops in these remote locations and the onboard boutique does not currently sell any professional camera equipment.
 

The suggested full Equipment Checklist is:

• Camera(s)

• Lenses - wide angle and telephoto

• Bags - A camera bag for travelling with your equipment is essential. If your travel bag is large, also consider a smaller wearable camera bag for carrying your equipment ashore during excursions. 

• Memory Cards - Make sure you have spare memory cards (at least 128 GB per week if not backing up to hard drive), and they are compatible with your camera. The ship does not sell any photographic equipment or accessories and often we sail to extremely remote locations with no towns, cities or shops available.  

• Batteries & Charger(s) - Bring plenty of spare batteries and your battery charger(s). Make sure your charger has a plug (or an adapter) to fit either a type A (standard North America), type C (standard EU), or USB plug.

• Tripods - You may also want to bring a tripod or monopod, though these can be cumbersome while walking on land and in snow, and the bright light in the Arctic and Antarctic minimizes the need for one.

• Laptop & Charger - While we have a few computers for use on board during office hours with your Photo Coach, we recommend bringing your own laptop with editing software pre-installed. There will be large monitors you can plug your laptop into, allowing you to edit with a larger screen.

• Hard Drive - Having an external hard drive to securely store and back up your images will give you peace of mind, as well as allow you to reuse memory cards. This is required if you plan to use the onboard iMac computers for editing. 

• Card Readers - A card reader and direct connector, like a USB/USB-C cable, will allow you to transfer your images from your camera to the desktops in the Studio or your own laptop and hard drive.

• Filters - UV and ND filters for your lenses are also useful items in your kit bag. ND filters offer creative control over light, while UV filters provide everyday protection. Filters will come in different sizes for different lenses. Test your filters on your lenses before you pack them. 

• Rain Cover/Dry Bag - A rain cover or protector for your camera when the weather is poor is essential. This will also protect your equipment from sea air during a choppy Zodiac ride. 

• Other - To protect your equipment from adverse weather, bring a few microfiber towels to wipe down your equipment if it gets wet. 

Yes. There will be four iMacs available in the photo studio (see The Studio Section below) that will be accessible during editing time with your Photo Coach. You may need to share these with other Image Masters if there are more than four people who require access to these computers. We recommend bringing a laptop with editing software pre-installed (Lightroom is recommended) if you’d like to edit outside of reserved hours.

Yes. You will be welcome to join Image Masters with your iPhone or Android or any camera or smart phone. However, most content is catered to DSLR or mirrorless cameras, so we recommend bringing a professional-level camera to get the most out of the program.

No equipment will be available to purchase on the ship. Please bring everything you will need and remember to pack spare batteries, memory cards, and all cords and adapters.