The moment we’ve all been eagerly awaiting has finally arrived and choosing a winner was no easy feat, each of the 515 applicants was nothing short of awe-inspiring! I want to sincerely extend my deepest gratitude to all of you who participated.  

 It was truly humbling to witness the immense talent and passion displayed by all the applicants for the Antarctica trip. Each submission was a testament to the incredible dedication and creativity within our community. The decision-making process for the judges was undoubtedly challenging, as every applicant brought something unique and valuable to the table. 

Drum roll please…. I am thrilled to announce that the winner of the Vital Impacts trip to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia with me and Polar Latitudes is Madison McKay!   

Madison is a marine biologist and science communicator, currently researching Bull Kelp restoration in Northern California as part of her master’s degree at Moss Landing Marine Labs. Known for her captivating work on Instagram as @its_mad_science instagram account and on TikTok as @nudibranch_nerd, she has enchanted millions with the marvels of tide pools and enlightened us about the enigmatic nudibranchs.   

Madison was surprised and said, “I was completely surprised and thrilled to hear I won this once in a lifetime opportunity! I am honestly still in shock! Visiting Antarctica is every marine biologist’s dream and I can’t believe it is going to become a reality.  I hope that by educating others on the importance and beauty of these ecosystems I can encourage others to get into this field and be good stewards of the environment. I can’t wait to learn more tools for communicating science and creating meaningful connections between our communities and nature.” 

And I too am honored and grateful to Polar Latitudes for allowing me to share this experience. Going to Antarctica is a rare privilege and one that I do not take lightly. I hope that we will do more than just showcase the beauty of this remote landscape but instead, nurture the next generation of advocates for our planet. By providing mentorship and firsthand experience in such a critical environment, I hope to empower our winners to create impactful narratives that resonate globally. The goal is to spark meaningful conversations, inspire action, and ultimately drive positive change for the future of our planet. 

If anyone is interested, we do have a handful of spaces left on this Polar Latitudes expedition to Falkland Islands/Malvinas, South Georgia and Antarctica! I am leading an immersive photography program onboard and you will not only make amazing photos but also come back with important visual storytelling skills. 10% Early Bird pricing is available if you book now! Learn more here.  

Finally, I am incredibly grateful to my generous sponsors Nikon who will be awarding a brand new Z8 camera, to Luminar Neo who will be awarding a one year license for Luminar Neo photo editing software, to ThinkTank Photo who will be awarding their Mirrorless Mover bag and Secure PPR card wallet and finally, we at Vital Impacts will be awarding 8×12 inch prints from our current initiative “The Nature of Hope: 90 Prints in Honor of Jane Goodall”  

Thank you again to everyone who shared their powerful work. It was an honor to spend time with your photography. I invite you all to apply for our 2024 Grant and Mentorship Program. Details on the program are available here.