Hi My name is Luke and for the next ten weeks I will have no social life. I just accepted a position for a counseling program at Southern Oregon University for the Fall! Right now all I have to do to achieve this lofty goal is graduate on time. Only problem is that I'm 19 credits shy to do so. So from now on, school will be my life. Who knows, maybe I'll get some friend time in there or something, but if I'm gonna pass, all energy needs to be school focused.

In other news, I just had the greatest spring break of all time with by best friends in the world. I love them alot.

the greatest

Brothers

This is love

Stayed with Rocket in Canada!

In other news, my photography website will hopefully be up and running pretty soon. yay! The I'll make millions of dollars taking pictures for people. ok not really but I'll be happy to be a starving photographer working my way through grad school I guess.

Endless Love,
Luke

big things are happening

Haven't written in a long time. I have been doing a lot of Photography work for different parts of OSU/Corvallis. It seems to be so long since Antarctica. For whatever reason, if you click on these words, it will take you to my final achievement form my trip. Enjoy1

PS Photo website coming soon! be excited.

Love,
Luke

best Christmas Ever

As We descended the gangway into the zodiacs, everybody was so excited. Our whole group was laughing, joking, and generally just being "Those crazy college kids" The excitement was heightened by being in the most beautiful place in the world. Once we all laid eyes upon the icebergs though, we just stopped talking. There are no words whatsoever to describe the beauty and power of nature we've experienced. here is what we saw...

"The Ice Ship"

This is my favorite iceberg photo. It shall soon be a poster on my wall.

"Heart of Ice"

I literally, could not have been happier this day. I was exactly where I wanted to be and with who I wanted to be with. This iexperience raised many questions about the future and where I was going. It made me absolutely positive that I want to be a proffessional photographer and a counselor at the same time. I think the best thing about icebergs is that most of them are underwater. This can be an ultar hipster metaphore for life. The best is not yet revealed to us yet. These photos represent my undying excitement for life and the future of my friends, family, and self. Life is wonderful and nature is powerful and everywhere. I urge all who read these words to not waste one moment doing something you don't want to do. Go live a hard life full of love and curiosity.

As you can guess, I took WAY too many photos of penguins or "Penguinos" as I liked to call them. This penguin photo will always be my favorite. It is exactly as I saw the penguines. Silly, curious, and happy. The penguins live a happy life doing what they wayt to do.


After our amazing, life-changing, zodiac ride, we came back to the ship and there was a huge party waiting for us! This is all still on Christmas Eve by the way. Santa came all the way from the North Pole to wish us a Merry Christmas. It was great.

This is our Antarctica group.

The sun started to go down and eveybody proceeded to go into the ship to the bar and start the celebration. There was drinks, dancing, and lots and lots of fun. The sunset was the most spectacular thing I'd ever seen so We kept running back outside for photos. All in all it was a great party/evening. The sun only dort of went down, then it came right back up to greet the Christmas day In Antarctica. The final day we were in Antarctica we went to Deception Island, whic is an active volcanoe. This is also the place we chose to go swimming in the zero degree celcius water......it was very very cold.

I was so cold that I thought I was naked becuase I couldnt feel my bathing suit against my skin.

documentation

It's a little bit difficult to write or talk, for that matter, about Antarctica. I want to share my experience with my friends and family, but to fully do the story justice I need at least 30-50 minutes minimum to sit down and talk all about it. I have begun this post with every intention of sharing my Antarctica adventure story. Please keep in mind though, that it is a hard story to tell, because of the magnitude of the trip and its implications it had on my life. here goes...

I'd first like to say that all of my Antarctica photo are available on my flickr website which can be found here at this address: http://flickr.com/photos/fromthewillowtree
This page will be added to in the coming days with more an more photos organized into sets on the side of the page. My trip started in Miami, FL where I stayed with a lovely girl who is dating one of my best friends whom Im met both at Camp Lindenmere two summers ago. Erica and her mom showed me a great time in Miami and let me be a tourist on the beach. The next day, I went to the airport and met up with all my travel buddies. We hit it off right away and became great friends. The next day and a half consisted of our group flying 8 or 9 hours to Buenos Aires, Argentina, then another plane to Ushuaia, which is the southernmost city in the world hanging on the edge of South America.

Sasha, Teal & Me in the Tierra del Fuego national park

the water was very blue.

The departure form Ushuaia occured on deember 19th in the afternoon. We were all so excited to get out at sea! while were were on our ship, The Orlova many of us go seasick from the turmoltuous seas. Luckily, the ship's doctor providded us with seasickness medicine that the astronauts use in space. They made you feel very tired and drugged-up.

The departure

affects of drugs

On December 21st, we made our first zodiac landing and that was quite the experience. We walked down the gangway from the ship into the 10 person ruber zodiac. we went to shore and saw penguins, seals, and sea lions. we had to come back a bit early because the wind picked up and made the sea look liek this:

we were all so excited to be in Antarctica, that it was difficult to sleep for fear that were were missing something amazing. We all sort of became vampires in a way becuase of how little sleep we got. some more than others....

"the anguish of teal" or "The beautiful and the damned"

photo taken at 2:15 am Antarctcia time. needness to say, we were freaking out.


the next morning there were whales everywhere.

This is our group. I have gotten many questions about what I actually did in Antarctcia. Besides the amazing adventures to the sore to see the sights, my classmates and I all took an online class together over fall term. During this time, we had a midterm and a final. We all worked on presentations and research projects which we presented on the ship in the forward lounge. The projects had to do with our major. I gave my presentaion on the mental affects on a persons well-being while working at research stations in Antarctcia. More specifically, I focuses on cabin fever, seasonal affective disorder, and snow blindness. My classmates did a variety of topics ranging from history, biology, to politics. We are all basically Antarctic experts! We were also expected to complete Modules, or writing assignments in groups and individually. I did my mudule on ecotourism and a group project about invasive species in Antarctica where we interviewed crew and passengers about their knowledge about incvasive species proliferation and how much education had been given on the matter.

Now that the boring part is over, I can get back to the photos. Fron here on out, I will post my favorite photo from each day. Don't forget that all my Antarctica photos are available here: http://flickr.com/photos/fromthewillowtree

This was taken after leaving Devil island which had 100,000 breeding pars of penguins

I asked our expedition leader why there was a black line in that iceberg. he replied that ice acts much like rings in a tree, in that they preserve events like a time line. This piece of ice used to be a glacier that was near a volcano that blew its top. The black mark refers to the volcanic explosion where the area was covered in ash. neat huh?

View from the top!

The next day was Paulet island. That place had so many penguins that it actualy made me uncomfortable. I was all to reminded of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" way way too many penguins. Instead I shall share this photo of our captain planning the route through the islands.

I plan on writing extensively about icebergs later when I share the better photos, but for now All I must say is that ice, icebergs, and glaciers, are a photographers dream. The way tehy move and sound int he water is breathtaking and I could not help but to take literally hundreds of iceberg photos. They helped me practice composition. (The palce of objects in photos and their relation to the horizon or other objects) It was fantastic.

All this has been great, but I will do a seperate post for Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Those two days were literally the best days of my life and it needs its own story told by itself.

Endless Love,
Luke

You have no idea

Dear Friends and Family,

There are absolutely no words to describe this insane adventure I've been on. It has been the best days of my life and I am so happy here. Argentina is a beautiful country and I am so so so happy here. I am leaving for Antarctica in a matter of hours and just wanted to say hello. I know the best has yet to come. I would love to write more about my experience but for now I know you all understand that I am on my own path and should DEFINITELY not be on the internet while in the most beautiful place in the world.

I've never been much for words, so I'll let my photos do the talking.

Endless Love,
Luke

Rainbow Church

This is hands down, the most phenomenal sunset I've ever seen. This photo was taken around 11:30 at night. It does not get dark until past midnight and the sun rises at 4am. While I'm on the ship, we will experience the longest day of the year with almost no nighttime. All I can say is that it was magic.

He smiled as he passed by

entering Ushuaia from the plane from Buenos Aires

A beautiful tree outside the local BA airport

A silly pelican in Miami, FL


We were told not to touch the stray dogs because they are begging for food. I absolutely can't help but to fall in love with every dog here. They are all nice and looking for some love (and food) All I did was sit on the curb and eventually dogs come looking for attention. You can not walk down the street without seeing a pack of stray dogs. Oddly enough, it's been one of my favorite parts about Ushuaia, Argentina.


My friend Sasha and I climbed the hill behind the town. We cut through some fences and probably weren't supposed. This to me shows that life is about taking chances and hoping for the best. I am so happy to be here and I hope everyone at home is having adventures of their own. I will write profusely about my trip when I return but for now...


I'm off to the icy waters of Antarctica

PS dear people in Portland: save some snow for me!

Day 2: 12/15

If you count the number of times a cricket chirps in 15 seconds, then add 37, you get a rough estimate of the temperature in Fahrenheit. I did that in Miami. I looked that up while listening to a cricket in Erica’s living room.
Woke up at around 10:30 at Erica’s house Miami time. We went to meet her friend Katie after getting some sweet subway sandwiches. After we did that, we drove to the beach and spent a few ours sunbathing in the 81 degree weather. I took some photos and swam in the ocean a bunch. I walked down the pier and saw some huge pelicans. After we left the beach, we went home and I re-packed. Diane and Erica took me to Miami Beach proper where all the movie stars live. It was very posh and fancy. Then I went to the airport and met up with the group from OSU and waited for the plane. I befriended a nice German man who helped me charge my iPod. We talked about traveling, good books, and global climate change. He suggested I read “Seven years in Tibet” and “The pillars of earth.” I think I’ll take him up on his suggestion.

Day 1: Miami, FL! (12/14)

I woke up this morning at 8am in my bed in Scappoose to my mom yelling at me to get up. Shortly thereafter, I got in the Tahoe with my dad and we began to drive to the airport. The temperature outside dropped to 16 degrees Fahrenheit and it started snowing! Needless to say we were a little worried about the weather. I got to the airport ok thanks to my dad and boarded my plane. Went to Seattle, and had to run to catch my connecting flight to Miami. I am currently in Miami at my Boyfriend's Girlfriend's house. Let me explain: One of my best friends from camp Lindenmere is named Craig Lebovic. his girlfriend lives in Miami and said I could stay with her. Craig was jealous of Erica because she was hanging out with me. ha ha we definitely have a "bromance" as I have been told. So Erica and her mom Diane picked me up from the airport and we began talking about camp and the drama that went with it. (oh the memories) It is so nice to be here in the warm climate. I am told that this is cold for Florida even though it is in the high 70's. Just a big change from this morning's blizzard! I'm barefoot, wearing shorts and a t-shirt and loving the warm rain outside.

Tomorrow I am seeing the sights of Florida with Erica and then in the evening, departing for Buenos Aires, Argentina, then to Ushuaia, then finally Antarctica! Let the adventure of a lifetime begin. I don't know the next time I'll update (because internet is scarce in Antarctica). I will write everyday though and post it later (including pictures) Have a Merry Christmas to all my friends and family!


All My Love,
Luke

The Adventure begins!

Tomorrow morning I leave Portland airport at 11:30. From there it's a short flight to Seattle. From Seattle, I got ot Miami, Florida and I'm staying the night with a friend! I'll get to see the beach. The next day (Monday) I leave from Florida around 3 and go all the way to Buesno Aires, Argentina. I get on a bus to another airport to board my final flight to Ushuaia. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world and at the Southern tip of South America. I'll be in Ushuaia for about three days seeing the sights, then I got onto a boat, to take my to the Antarctica Penninsula, crossing the Drake Passage, which has been called the most trecherous sea in the world. (Barf city here I come).

I wil write somethng everyday, but will not be able to post it because internet access is limited. Wish me luck and I hope eveybody has a merry Christmas!


Love,
Luke

Finals Week

Luke and Katie hate studying

I'm leaving for Antarctica in one week!

Antarctica

I leave for Antarctica in 11 days. Before that deadline comes rushing at me, have to write a research project and prepare a presentation on the Wandering Albatross and it's migration techniques, study for three finals, and write a 7-10 page paper about films I've watched all term about Indigenous People in the media. I am overwhelmed, excited, nervous, but most of all excited.
Anna got me a great book a bout photography in Antarctica and I'll put some pictures in here. I hope more than anything that I can come home with anything half as good as these images. I will not have internet in Antarctica, but I will in Argentina. I'll be sure to write an update before and after I make the woyage across the Drake passage to the largest continent on earth, the highest, dryest desert on the planet. A plce that holds most of the world's fresh water trapped in glaciers. A place with no indigenous people and the visiters are devoted to peaceful scientific study determening the affects of global climate change on our planet. I have never been more ready for this adventure.

All My Love,
Luke

Photos by Sebastian Copeland