In November 2015, I joined a photographic expedition to South Georgia and the Antarctica Peninsula on the Sergey Akademik Vavilov.

It's a century since Ernest Shackleton attempted his crossing of the south pole. We were to visit some of the places on his route, including South Georgia and Elephant Island. Even 100 years later, in the comfort of our ship, in the mist, the wind and the snow, we could imagine how tough it must have been and marvel at how the whole crew survived such a hostile environment.

It was also about the wildlife. Where else can you sit on a beach and watch penguins go about their daily business with no worries about the humans in their presence.