BEHIND THE SCENE

I captured this image of a Gentoo penguin colony in a snowstorm on Pléneau Island in the  Antarctic Peninsula in November, 2015.

I was feverish that morning with flu, and so didn't go out on the ship's first landing of the day. I chose instead to stay in bed instead and ride out the bug.

I couldn't get any real rest, though. I tossed and turned,  knowing I was missing out on a great storm.

Finally, I decided to go out in the afternoon, no matter what.

Once on dry land, I had barely made it up the hill when I began huffing and coughing. Reaching the top, I started working a couple of penguins, who were courting.

The wind picked up and a strong gust almost bowled me over. I realized at this point that it probably wasn't that wise to stay out there, in the wind and cold, considering my flu. I thought it wiser to return to the warmth of my cabin. I started to pack my gear. When I started to descend the hill, I gave one last quick glance — and this is what appeared before me. In the blink of an eye, I forgot about my fever, forgot about the cold, forgot about any discomfort.

It was one of my favourite captures of the expedition. I was the last one to leave the site and go back to the ship.

Perseverance always pays. That image made it into National Geographic’s February, 2017 issue, in the magazine’s “Visions of Earth” section.