Adventure and photography have always been inseparable for Andrew Miller, whose career has taken him from family trips in Nepal to guiding expeditions across the poles. With nearly two decades of professional photography behind him, Andrew has mastered everything from portraits to landscapes, but it’s the wild, frozen edges of the earth that continue to capture his imagination. Here, he talks about what fuels his passion, how guests react to their first polar encounters, and why no two voyages are ever the same…
“You can’t get bored when there’s something new to see through your lens every day.”
Hi Andrew! What first sparked your love for adventure travel – and how did that passion evolve into a career behind the lens?
Andrew: For me it was the other way around. Growing up, the family camera in the Miller house was considered mine for as long as I can remember. My first published photo was for a local newspaper – a bear that wandered into a local suburb! So photographing wildlife seems to have always been meant my path. My family love to travel – I even climbed a mountain in Nepal with my parents and sister! I’m lucky that the value of adventure was instilled in me right at home.
You’ve spent nearly two decades as a professional photographer and lecturer. What keeps the work fresh and exciting?
Andrew: There is always something new to capture with the lens. Over my career I’ve done it all, from product and architecture, to portraits, landscape and wildlife. You can’t get bored when there’s something new to see through your lens every day.
Can you describe the feeling of being in a Zodiac, camera in hand, with the polar world unfolding around you?
Andrew: It’s the most connected I feel to nature. Being out there with the saltwater spraying in my face, navigating the Zodiac with the camera on my belt, just waiting for the right moment to take a snap. It’s pure freedom. If that’s what I’m doing, there will be the widest grin on my face.
What’s the magic moment you’re always chasing when photographing in remote places like the Arctic or Antarctic?
Andrew: The truth is, there is no one magical moment. My favourite aspect of these voyages is that no single one is the same. Whether it’s a drone photo of the largest iceberg in the world as it moves through the Weddell Sea, or a herd of musk ox on a green hill in northern Canada – even the rare sightings of a narwal or an orca pod hunting. There is never a voyage, or day that doesn’t have a magical and unique moment.
Life on the water
You’ve gathered an impressive list of certifications – from polar guiding to kayaking and beyond. How do these enhance the experiences you offer to guests?
Andrew: I believe there is always more to learn, and my goal is to work on at least one new certification per year. Working on an expedition team, you never know what might be needed. Being able to fill a role on a given day makes it possible for our team to go for that unique operation, giving our guests more opportunities for those magical moments.
Zodiac driving has become a favourite skill of yours – what is it about being on the water that connects so deeply with your photography?
Andrew: I feel the ocean on such a visceral level, and that connection makes it possible for me to connect to my environment. That being said, taking a great photo of a penguin porpoising out of the water can be a challenge with some of those waves!
When you’re standing on deck watching the polar landscape drift by, what’s the first thing you look for through your lens?
Andrew: I look at the ice. The ice in itself is stunning, but you can often spot a penguin, polar bear, seal or whale because of the ice.
Sharing the craft
You’ve taught large audiences and led one-on-one sessions. What’s your approach to making photography accessible and exciting for everyone?
Andrew: The wonderful thing about photography is that it’s spontaneous – it takes a lot of skill to be a consistently incredible photographer, but anyone can get just a couple tidbits to capture an accidentally genius photo. Most of us have a quality camera on our phones – which means photography can truly be for everyone. So, I like to help people use what they have to capture that small slice of the magic that polar exploration can be to show their friends and family.
How do guests react the first time they see the polar regions up close through their own lens?
Andrew: The polar regions are so picturesque – most times I review the guests’ photography with them, and they are shocked at how incredible their work can be.
Have you explored regions beyond the poles, like Africa? How do those landscapes and photographic challenges compare?
Andrew: I spent some time this spring travelling through Morocco. It is such a beautiful country, with the coast, mountains and the Sahara Desert. The sand in the desert was a challenge, as it gets into every nook and cranny – trying to keep my lenses clean was a mission. I’ve travelled to other North African countries as well, plus some in the south like Namibia, South Africa and Angola. It is a beautiful continent full of so much diversity of landscape, flora and fauna.
Moments with wildlife
What’s the most unexpected wildlife encounter you’ve had while out with your camera – the kind you still think about?
Andrew: I had a moment when guests and I were waiting to see a minke whale that had been spotted nearby. We all had our telephoto lens on, for that far away shot. Suddenly a juvenile male minke popped up right by our boat. Our telephoto lens couldn’t work at that level of closeness so we all just enjoyed the moment of connection with the friendly giant. Luckily there was another Zodiac not too far away and the other photographer was able to grab the shot of all of us staring at the whale.
If we looked through your favourite images from Swan Hellenic voyages, what kind of stories would we see emerge?
Andrew: I hope looking at my polar work, someone would see the connection we have as humans to this planet and the creatures we share it with. Whether it’s a penguin dropping a pebble at the feet of his mate, or a caribou helping her fawn find the best food – even a whale curious about the people that just entered his harbour. It’s hard to capture that feeling, to take Frank Hurly – the great Antarctic and War photographer – out of context, only those that have experienced it can understand.