Chris McLennan

Camera: Nikon D5

Lens: 400mm f/2.8

Exposure: 1/3200 sec, f/7.1, ISO1600

By his own admission, Chris McLennan was spending too much time away from home. After all, during his 30-year professional career he’s delivered commercial projects and led intrepid photo tours in 60 countries. But when the pandemic hit, his busy schedule didn’t just let up, it stalled completely. With the global travel and tourism industry brought to its knees, the pro had no choice but to hunker down and diversify his photography business. Living in his native New Zealand’s stunning South Island helped and he was soon offering local photography tours and homestay weekends at his remote, picturesque residence.

Roughly two years later and overseas travel is back on the agenda. Commercial budgets are gradually loosening and photography globetrotters are champing at the bit for new adventures under Chris’s tutelage. We caught up with the Nikon Ambassador following his first work trip abroad since New Zealand reopened its borders to find out the origins of his incredible career, what it takes to plan an intrepid overseas workshop and his thoughts on his latest Nikon acquisition, the Z 9.

Camera: Nikon D850

Lens: 70-200mm f/2.8

Exposure: 1/250 sec, f/8, ISO160

You’re recently back from Alaska; what were you shooting?

I was running a photo expedition for a group of seven people. We started off photographing the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and from there we went to Talkeetna. After a few days getting around on snowmobiles, shooting landscapes and more dog sledding, we headed out to the Brooks Range to shoot the Northern Lights. I then stayed on for another 10 days shooting for Alaska tourism.

You operate in and around the Arctic Circle a fair bit, but the Antarctic’s much closer…

It’s hard to believe, but it’s more costeffective to go to the Arctic