Penguins in the Freezer: A Filmmaker's Extreme Adventure

Antarctica is a place of extremes, and filming there is no easy task. Helen Hobin, a wildlife cinematographer, spent nine months in Antarctica, capturing the lives of emperor penguins. This was no ordinary filming job. It involved living in one of the coldest places on Earth, dealing with temperatures as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit. Hobin was part of a small team that stayed in Antarctica from February to November. They were based at the Neumayer III station in Atka Bay. Once they arrived, they knew they were stuck there until November. No flights in or out during the winter months. The team had to be ready for anything. They spent months preparing their gear, testing it in extreme conditions, and learning survival skills. They even had to practice fighting fires, which might seem odd in a place covered in snow. But fire is a real risk in such isolated conditions. The team also had to deal with the challenges of filming in such a harsh environment. The weather dictated when and where they could film. Storms could last for weeks, making it impossible to get out and film. Even when the weather was clear, the cold was a constant challenge. Batteries would die quickly, and the cameras would often show multiple images of the same penguin due to the cold. Despite all these challenges, Hobin loved the experience. She found the extreme cold beautiful and wild. The team managed to capture some incredible footage of the penguins, including the hatching of eggs and the aurora Australis dancing in the night sky. The penguins themselves were also a challenge. They would often get in the way of the cameras, making it difficult to get the perfect shot. But the team found ways to work around this, using special rigs to get low to the ground and slide their cameras out of the way. The team used a variety of cameras and lenses, choosing reliability over the latest technology. They used RED V-Raptors for their ruggedness and dynamic range, and Canon CN20 lenses. For low-light conditions, they used Sony FX6 cameras. They even used these to film the aurora in real time, not just as a timelapse. The team also had to deal with curious penguins that would often get in the way of the shot. They used special rigs to get low to the ground and slide their cameras out of the way. The team's work paid off, and the footage they captured is now part of the three-part documentary "Secrets of the Penguins. " The show is available on Disney+ and Hulu. The team's work is a testament to their skill and dedication, as well as the incredible resilience of the emperor penguins.