The last great wilderness: 21 stunning pictures of Antarctica

Ice sculptures in the rain

A humpback whale flukes in silvery, calm waters

Towering ice sculptures, formed by strong winds

A solo chinstrap penguin on a rocky outcrop in the rain

Ice worn into ridges, turned by waves and weather

Solo Gentoo, dwarfed by the majesty of the Antarctic Peninsula

The detailed ridges of an iceberg, seen up close

Evening light on the Antarctic Peninsula

Inquisitive Gentoo penguins run to greet visitors

Aerial view of Antarctica on a flight to Australia

Sailing through the calm waters of the Lemaire Channel

Dimpled and cracked, weather-worn blue ice

Rapidly changing weather alters the colour of ice floes

A chinstrap penguin basking in the sun

The sculptures take shape and reform, as we slowly pass

A moulting Gentoo chick, oblivious to the background passenger ship

Edge of a vast iceberg, with land mass behind

A Weddell seal makes eye contact

 Blue hued ice in clear weather

 Icebergs surround dark seas under brooding skies

 An imposing iceberg, broken away from a larger ice shelf