Antarctica Photomicrography Expedition — FAQ
The who/what/why/how of sailing south to reveal the invisible.
▶ What is this project in one sentence?
Sail to the Antarctic Peninsula, collect tiny, ethical samples, and create gallery-scale art from the invisible microscopic world using advanced photomicrography.
▶ How will you get there?
A ~45-foot expedition sailing yacht with a polar-experienced skipper. Likely departure: Ushuaia, Argentina (final port can shift based on vessel logistics and weather).
▶ What exactly is photomicrography?
High-magnification imaging through a microscope. I build focus-stacked mosaics (hundreds of images blended for sharpness and tiled into gigapixel art) that can be printed at large sizes without losing detail.
▶ What will you photograph?
Diatoms, plankton, micro-invertebrates, ice crystals, sediments, and other micro-ecosystem structures associated with sea-ice and near-shore waters.
▶ Are you doing science or art?
Primarily art with scientific fidelity. I log metadata (location, conditions, magnification) and follow ethical collection practices so the work is useful for education and outreach.
▶ How will samples be collected?
Minimal, non-destructive methods: deck nets, small vials from melt pools/shoreline, and gentle water sampling. No vertebrates, no protected species, and no habitat damage.
▶ Do you follow Antarctic rules?
Yes—fieldwork adheres to IAATO best practices and any vessel policies. On-shore activity is conservative and low-impact.
▶ Why a sailing yacht (not a cruise)?
A small vessel allows flexible, low-impact access and the ability to work with cold-proofed, battery-powered imaging gear in tight windows.
▶ What gear does funding support?
The last-mile essentials: dry suit & sailing layers, microscope camera, a couple of objectives, and a 12V Pelican-case power box for the imaging rig, plus media/backup supplies.
▶ What’s the funding gap?
About $5,000 to fully equip and power the field system. (The berth, core microscope body, computing, and labor are covered.)
▶ Why Indiegogo Flexible Funding?
Funds can be accessed during the campaign to purchase time-critical gear, and supporters still receive rewards even if the total goal isn’t met.
▶ What do backers receive?
- Digital micrograph + field updates
- Signed archival prints (various sizes)
- Name in film credits (select tiers)
- Limited print sets and behind-the-scenes video at higher tiers
- Sponsor recognition for in-kind/major support
▶ How big and what quality are the prints?
Museum-grade, archival papers/inks. Stacked mosaics support large prints with fine detail. Each print is signed; editioning noted where applicable.
▶ When will rewards ship?
Target is 10–14 weeks after fieldwork for prints (time for stacking, color work, and proofing). Digital rewards and updates begin sooner.
▶ What’s the project timeline?
- Pre-departure (funded): Gear purchase, system tests
- Field window: Austral summer; exact dates depend on weather/ice
- Post-field (6–10 weeks): Image processing & film edit
- Release (10–14 weeks): Print fulfillment, film link, talks
▶ Will you climb while in Antarctica?
Possibly limited glacier/moraine travel under skipper policy and conditions. It’s not the project’s core and will be approached conservatively.
▶ How will you power the microscope in the cold?
A rugged 12V DC system in a Pelican case with cold-tolerant batteries, backup packs, and redundant data storage.
▶ How often will you post updates?
Regular pre- and post-field updates. While at sea, connectivity is limited; I’ll post as soon as practical when safe and online.
▶ What if weather cancels or delays the voyage?
Polar work is weather-dependent. If timing shifts, funds already spent on gear are retained for the next viable window, and I’ll still deliver backer rewards with an updated schedule (and provide substitute content where needed until field pieces are ready).
▶ Is my contribution tax-deductible?
Not at this time (no fiscal sponsor). If that changes, I’ll announce it and provide the appropriate documentation.
▶ Do you accept in-kind sponsorships?
Yes—especially technical apparel, optics, power, and storage. Sponsors receive logo/name credit on the site, talks, and film credits per agreement.
▶ Can I license images for commercial use?
Yes—contact me for licensing. Backer digital rewards are for personal use; please credit when sharing.
▶ How do you minimize environmental impact?
Small-crew sailing, low-volume sampling, strict site hygiene, pack-in/pack-out, and adherence to IAATO/wildlife-distance rules. All chemicals are contained; no graywater from imaging.
▶ Who are you?
I’m Michael Grindstaff—sailor, explorer, and photomicrographer. I specialize in focus-stacked, large-format micro-mosaics and live aboard, building my own expedition systems.
▶ Where can clubs/schools see the work?
I offer talks and Q&A, a web gallery, and a short art-film. Yacht clubs and schools can pre-book a presentation.