It took a flight from Chile to the Falkland Islands, then a harrowing five-day ship ride across the turbulent and unforgiving Southern Ocean before Mary Bransfield (@captainmaji) finally set foot on the remote shores of South Georgia island.
Mary lives in Chicago, but feels at home on the road, her lifetime of travels taking her to more than 70 countries — from Scotland to Botswana to Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. “South Georgia first captured my interest through the early explorers’ stories, and more recently with conservation efforts,” she explains. “But it is the natural, pristine beauty that absolutely captivates me.” With nine other tourists and two biologists who study penguins, Mary spent 16 days exploring and documenting the island’s sizable king penguin and elephant seal populations. “The alpha male seals’ thunderous and throaty roars would go right through your bones,” says Mary. “My photos and videos don’t convey the decibel level of the sounds coming from the animals, nor, thankfully, their pungent smells.” Photo by @captainmaji