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Matthew Messina

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EXPEDITIONS STORE

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Matthew Messina

EXPEDITION GUIDING • LECTURING • FINE ART • PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPEDITIONS STORE

Not your typical photo from the Antarctic, but a great story. This minuscule bird is a South Georgia Pipit, and it’s the southernmost songbird in the world. Confined to a tiny collection of islands over 800 miles away from the nearest land, the

A couple of Adelie penguins drift by on an iceberg in Marguerite Bay, Antarctica. This was further south than I’d ever been in the Antarctic (67°S, just beneath the polar circle), and the sense of isolation here is extraordinary. A few mome

There’s just something so awesome about king penguins, especially against the backdrop of the ever-ominous South Georgian skyline. I’m always amazed by the resilience and fearlessness of some of these birds, and spending some time with th

Steady at the helm! This is a real southern ocean storm, the stuff of legends and nightmares. In these photos, Captain Patrick Marchesseau (right) and helmsman Paul Batuigas (left) navigate the most intense weather that ‘Lyrial’ has ever

A Commerson’s Dolphin takes a quick breath before darting after prey in the Falkland Islands. The oceans surrounding this remote archipelago are rich in plankton and nutrients, sustaining an immense abundance of sea life. Along the coast, an un

This scene really touched me. In all the devastation going on around us today, here’s a small story of hope from an unlikely place. Not long ago, these propellers drove factory whaling ships across oceans, enabling one of the darkest periods of

Nothing is safe when these guys are around... Meet the snowy sheathbill, one of the Antarctic’s lesser-known residents but maybe one of the most entertaining birds to watch! Sheathbills are always on the move, ready to eat anything (and I mean

Fur seals talk a big game, but they’re all bark and no bite (well, most of the time...)! Under a feisty exterior is a curious and gentle little fuzzball. This little guy probably isn’t more than a month old, but already spends more time o

These seals look how I feel. It’s been an action-packed month in the Antarctic, and I’m only now getting the chance to go through some photos! Expect more updates soon... Now the peak of the austral summer, southern elephant seals gather

Back in the Antarctic for another two months of nonstop adventure! As always, I’m so excited to spend some quality time with the locals. I’m always so impressed with the fearlessness of the wildlife in these parts; this skua took a few go

The last night of our trip, I spent a couple hours attempting some astro-photography in the incredible Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The nighttime silence of this remote wilderness is a bit unnerving, especially considering the close proximity

Spent the final few days of our trip among the towering saguaros of the Sonoran Desert. 🌵Grateful that we live in a country where these wilderness areas are preserved, and that (historically...) we’ve had leadership that cares about protecting

Still some beautiful color in the Smoky Mountains! .
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#greatsmokymountains #optoutside #findyourpark #oranypark

@haysaxey and I are on our way across the country, stopping at national parks and public lands whenever we can! We had this awesome morning in Shenandoah National Park, watching the sun rise among herds of rutting white-tail deer. So far I love shoot

Nothing says ‘fall’s here’ like getting lost in a corn maze for 8-year-olds.
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#seriouslytho #weusedamap #fall #maine #corn

This bear spent a long time pretending it didn’t notice us (the 450’ ship...), but its ears are a giveaway. Shot through the hausepipe in the Beaufort Sea.
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#arctic #wildlife #expedition #polarbear #bear #animals #travel #wildlifepho

Sea ice and fog in the Beaufort Sea, Arctic Canada.
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#nature #ice #polar #travels #abercrombiekent @aktravel_usa

Brown bear scratch marks at an abandoned trappers’ camp in the Northwest Territories, Canada. With @aktravel_usa .
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#arctic #abstract #expedition #canada #explore #architecture

This adventure through the Northwest Passage has been sublime. I’m usually drawn to wildlife (shocking, I know...), but the vastness of the landscapes and the people I’ve met along the way have been hugely inspirational. This is a vignett

The Classic arctic

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8603297766 matt@matturalist.com

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