Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 12/05/2008 - 09:20
Forums
Oden Antarctic Expedition 08

Hey Jeff!

 It's Kevin Kern, from the SUMB and Talooli Staff!!

 Some of the guys (we are currently sitting in my living room enjoying a nice, snowy day off!!) wanted to know about what kind of animal you are specifically looking forward to seeing on your trip.

My friend Alex ( a fellow journalism major) and I would also like to know what kind of video/audio/telecom equipment you guys are carying on that big rig! Any specific photographers or videographers? We were just curious because we know all too well about how the cold messes with Camera equipment, it was 19* in Syracuse today!

 And I need to know- for kicks- just how hot is that shower water? Hotter than the boys side of the Lake and CIT showerhouse? Lol

Wishing We Were There,

Kevin and The Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi

Sat, 12/06/2008 - 13:42

Jeff Peneston

Kevin!
I am sitting in the mess room on the Oden and I looking at the flag that you sent to represent the SU bands and Kappa Kappa Psi.  Everyone was so pleased with the flags that they asked me to hang the entire string of 139 around the mess room.
It is great to hear from you and it is fun to get questions from someone who knows me from camp.  Speaking of Camp Talooli, the showers on the Oden are perfect, which is more than I can guarantee about the ones at camp.  
Regarding animals, it is hard to beat seeing Adelie penguins, orcas and minke whales, but I am most interested in seeing the seals on the ice and I would love to photograph a school of krill beneath the ice.  The “dream animal” for me would probably by one of the small, rare Ross seals or to see a leopard seal.  They are both on the list of seals that the Swedish team hopes to capture and they have invited me to help.  
I am also concerned about using electronic gear on the sea ice.  We will have to try to keep the batteries warm by keeping the cameras in our coat pockets.  Oddly, while most people have cameras and many people have telephoto lenses, I seem to be the only person who is taking video.  I made my first 3.5 minute video yesterday and I hope it will be posted on today’s (12/6) journal.   Apparently I am the ship’s videographer!  
The ship has a camera mounted on the bridge that takes and stores a forward-looking photo every 10 minutes.  They also have an intranet computer system and we all have shipboard email.  The only way for us to communicate with the outside world is with satellite communication, which is handled by the ship’s logistics coordinator.
I have a hand-held consumer grade video camcorder with mini DV tape.  I also have a Flip video camcorder with a waterproof housing. When we are on the sea ice I will attempt to connect my Sea-Viewer underwater video camera to my camcorder to record krill beneath the sea ice.
Right now we are approaching 60?S and both the air and sea temp is 4?C.
Wishing you were here,
Jeff