Expedition Overview
At the southern tip of South America lies a vast, untamed land, scarcely touched by humankind. Everything in Tierra del Fuego speaks of immensity, strength, sublime beauty, and resilience. Here we can still find pristine landscapes and the increasingly rare gift of solitude. We will slow our pace and connect deeply with the surroundings, seeking out the native trees of Tierra del Fuego and the muted, subtle hush that settles once the winds strip them of their leaves. In winter these trees reveal their true character through their bare silhouettes, while the low sun bathes the land in soft light throughout the day.
From towering “lenga” beeches stretching toward the light beneath the deciduous canopy to wind-bent or snow-laden trees whose intricate forms hint at their history, this will be a fascinating journey of discovery—of light and of the trees we feel most kin to. We will photograph them alongside guanacos, foxes, wild horses, beavers, condors, and caracaras. We will find them on riverbanks, in beaver ponds, and along lake shores, adorned with South American hemiparasites, lichens, fungi, and mosses. Dawn and dusk glow, the low arc of the winter sun, and veils of mist will simplify the scene and enrich our images with atmosphere.
Our search will be guided by landscape and nature photographer Andel Paulmann, who has spent more than twelve years photographing trees and has already made nine journeys to Tierra del Fuego. She will give an introductory talk at the start of the trip and support you in choosing locations and subjects, shooting in the field, reviewing images each evening, and selecting the photographs that will form each participant’s body of work by the end. We will be on location during a full moon and will try to use its glow in our tree portraits. Accommodation is at Innata Lodge—the only lodge on the Chilean side of Tierra del Fuego that stays open through the winter—whose excellent location allows us to photograph trees in pristine austral forests, open pampas frequented by guanacos and wild horses, river valleys, and the shores of Lakes Blanco and Deseado.
Born in an Aymara family, Enrique calls the Arica and Parinacota region (the Chilean Altiplano) his home. He has over 27 years of experience in adventure tourism, working as a mountain and trekking guide with extensive knowledge of the Altiplano environment. He has completed training with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), the Patagonia Guide School, and the Peruvian Guide School, holds a WAFA (Wilderness Advanced First Aid) certification. Enrique is also a Chef graduated in International Gastronomy.
After years working as a designer, Andel decided to merge her greatest passions: nature, photography, and art. Since 2011, she has dedicated herself fully to nature photography, specializing in landscapes. She guides photographic expeditions and workshops, delivers lectures, serves as a juror in various photography competitions, and teaches photography courses. Between 2014 and 2019, Andel worked with Natphoto, and in the summer of 2015, she served as a photographer and guide in Antarctica. Her photographic work has been showcased in several individual exhibitions, and she has participated in numerous group exhibits. She founded the Facebook group “Bosques Nativos de Chile” (Native Forests of Chile) to raise awareness of the importance and beauty of Chilean native forests, and her photographs have contributed to books dedicated to nature and conservation. Andel represented Chile along with fellow photographers in the World Photographic Cup, participated in a photography Biennale in China, and won third place in photography at the International Art Biennale in Argentina.
María Jesús Toledo brings to Southern Light a unique blend of human sensitivity, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful experiences.