Vikingfjord

Piet van den Bemd is an expert photographer known for his adventurous spirit, keen eye for detail, and deeply personal approach to his work and guests. What sets him apart is his ability to blend technical expertise with a strong sense of curiosity, encouraging clients to embrace the unknown and explore new perspectives while having fun.

Impact
Piet’s footage and photos have been used in various nature documentaries, newspapers, and scientific articles. He particularly enjoys giving public talks on his photography, nature conservation, and the polar regions have become second nature for Piet. His goal as a photographer is to share stories, create awareness, and inspire people to make a change.

Style
Piet’s openness and enthusiasm for adventure make his approach to both teaching and photography deeply engaging and transformative. His photography is as much about the experience as it is about the final image – it’s about being present, embracing unpredictability, and connecting deeply with the world around him. He believes that the best photography often comes from moments of spontaneity and personal connection, rather than rigidly following rules or conventions.

Dean will be onboard to coach photography on a selected number of photo tours. He is a professional nature and wildlife photographer with a career spanning over 20 years. His travels have taken him across all seven continents and from the High Arctic to south of the Antarctic Circle, giving him diverse experience in all environmental conditions.

Impact
Dean is currently finishing his first book, entitled Modern Day Explorer: A Photographic Journey Through the Lens of Dean J. Tatooles. Divided into seven chapters, it showcases each continent and will share stories of his journeys alongside his images. In addition to photography, Dean was a blogger for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and remains today an avid wildlife and environmental conservationist.

Style
Dean prides himself on making the technique of photography less daunting and more user-friendly and fun. In addition to easy-to-follow lectures, his approach is hands-on and he most enjoys working with guests in the field. Dean makes it a goal to get anyone who will listen off the automatic settings and outside their comfort zone. But, most of all, having fun doing it.

Languages:
English
Spanish

With over 30 years of experience in wildlife travel and photography, Paul Goldstein has dedicated his career to exploring the world’s most remote and captivating regions — from the plains of Africa to the icy frontiers of the Arctic and Antarctica.

Having led more than 25 polar expeditions, he is renowned for his deep respect for nature, ethical approach to wildlife observation, and passion for small-ship exploration that allows for truly immersive experiences.

A storyteller at heart, Paul Goldstein continues to inspire travelers and photographers alike through his commitment to authentic adventure, conservation, and the thrill of discovery that comes with every encounter in the wild.

• Expertise: With 40 years of experience across all seven continents, Paul is a legend of wildlife photography. In particular, predators. And even more in particular, polar bears.
• Impact: Paul’s a firebrand conservationist, raising money and lecturing all over the world for projects supporting endangered animals and local communities.
• Style: Getting you out of your comfort zone!

Virgil Reglioni is an expedition leader and professional photographer specialising in the polar regions. His deep knowledge of remote environments, combined with his ability to connect with guests through personalised guidance, make him exceptional at delivering unforgettable experiences. With years of hands-on exploration and a passion for teaching photography, Virgil excels at capturing and sharing the beauty of the pristine landscapes he explores.

Impact
Virgil Reglioni has received several accolades for his photography, including at the 2023 Nature’s Best Photography awards, where he won first place in the Outdoor Adventure category. He was also selected in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Best Northern Lights Photographer of the Year collections. His Unique Aurora Shot of the Year project, born in 2021, is dedicated to capturing one-of-a-kind aurora borealis photographs in extreme and challenging locations, pushing the boundaries of creativity to present the northern lights from unprecedented perspectives.

Style
Virgil Reglioni’s teaching, guiding, and photography style is defined by his meticulous planning, adventurous approach, and deep respect for polar environments. He has a unique way of using wildlife as a sense of scale in his compositions, blending animals seamlessly into vast landscapes to highlight the grandeur of nature. Focusing on environmental storytelling rather than close-up portraits, Virgil captures images that convey the interconnectedness of wildlife and their habitats, creating visually compelling and educational works that resonate with viewers.

Languages:
English
FrenchF

An accomplished and published photographer with more than 30 years of leading photography adventure trips, Randy readily shares his craft and substantial knowledge with photographers of all types and skill levels. He provides guidance in composition as well as the technical aspects of photography to help clients improve and enhance their skills. Randy has a knack for translating even the most complex technical aspects of photography, as well as the intricate components of cameras, into simple concepts that are easy to understand.

Impact
Randy’s photography skills have earned him multiple awards, most recently two Honourable Mentions in the 2024 International Monochrome competition. He was a semi-finalist for the BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year; his photographs have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Africa Geographic, and Northwest Magazine; and his images grace the covers of numerous books, including Understanding Elephants and The Braided River.

Style
Randy uses his engineering background, coupled with an artistic eye and years of teaching, to help both experienced and novice photographers improve their ability to take eye-catching and memorable photographs. He focuses on drawing the viewer into the image – sharing the feeling of the moment – to capture the excitement of being on location and taking the photograph.