Photo Finale Compilation From Parker Levinson and the 2023 Antarctica Field Team:

As a way to recap and commemorate the 2023 field season, we each chose one of our favorite photos to share with you. Interestingly, one of the first questions I was asked when I returned to the States was "What does it feel like to be surrounded by scenery that few people ever get to see?" A lot of the photos selected this year do a good job answering that question, showcasing the stunning and unique landscapes that we work around every day.

Rebecca Ballard: "I like the one of Mount Erebus a lot because occasionally, mostly if it was really socked in, I feel like I would get hyper focused on the work I was doing and forget to look around and appreciate where I was. I took this on a day like that but while I was working the clouds parted and the sun came out, so when I looked up I was looking at this straight shot down this break in the glacier and up at Mount Erebus and it had a really good plume that day. Even though I'd been in Antarctica for over a month already, everything was just shockingly beautiful." 

Abram Brown:" This year on station we helped out with the first ever Fat Pup Week tournament at McMurdo Station. The tournament was a hit, and it was always uplifting to hear people talking about their favorite pups. Our main contribution was taking photos of the biggest pups we could find in Erebus Bay. This is the first photo I took for the competition of 4010D 'Big Hunk'."

(Note by Parker: Fat Pup Week ended up being a huge success. We had over 1700 votes cast for pups at McMurdo Station, and the competition was also run at the other two American research bases on the continent.)

Kelsey Cronin: "In this photo, you can see the other half of our team flying with the colony of seals below them. I love it because there's so much action in one frame–the seals, the landscape, and the awesome perspective of seeing their helicopter flying below ours." Photo taken by Nate Jourdonnais.

Prof. Jay Rotella: "I chose a photo by Parker Levinson of the record-breaking mom that we recorded this year. At 33 years old, she reminds me of how amazing Weddell seals are, how long it takes to learn about them and their lives, and just how fortunate we are to get to work on them and to build on all the work that was done before we got involved in the project 22 years ago."

Nate Jourdannais: "This is my favorite photo, because I think it illustrates the vastness of what is Antarctica. It's endless white, blue, and shades of gray scenery that goes on for miles is hard to comprehend. The enormity of glaciers, mountains and the continent as a whole is very imposing in my mind. I like the abruptness of the open ocean meeting a glacier wall and the contours it creates."

Parker Levinson: "I chose this photo to showcase both the Antarctic scenery and the seals that we work around every day. This mom – one of the 33-year old seals from the season – gave birth a bit outside the colonies and away from other seals. I sat watching her and her newborn pup for a few minutes and was able to capture a very tender moment between them juxtaposed by the stark, white landscape of Antarctica." 

Dr. Elizabeth Flesch: "I enjoyed seeing this male Weddell seal in his element!  We spent most of our time observing the seals lounging on the sea ice, but it was an amazing experience to watch this male calmly take breaths at a dive hole in the ice and gracefully swim away.  I also like that if you look really closely, you can spot the seal's flipper tag in the photo!"

Bonus photo from Rebecca Ballard:  "I also like this one of younger seal pup that was born a bit later, towards the latter half of the season. Its mom was swimming and I like how this photo shows how calm and curious this one was, even as I was quite close. I feel like it captures how it was really fascinating to work every day with completely wild animals that don't have an innate fear of humans, and even sometimes are interested in us!"

– Favorite Photo Finale Compiled By 2023 Field Team Leader and MSU Masters Student Parker Levinson (she/her) with photos and text contributed by the entire 2023 Antarctica Field Team. Thank you to all!