Exploring the Fjords of Patagonia
A New Fine Art Series by Cody Roberts
In May 2025, I journeyed to the far reaches of South America to create my first international fine art series. Living aboard a custom-built research vessel for more than two weeks, I embarked on a guided expedition to explore some of the most pristine wilderness remaining on Earth.
Sculpted over aeons by immense glacial forces and the persistent influence of a temperate rainforest, the fjords of Patagonia left me in awe. The valleys and waterways here are so remote that they have no permanent human presence, and it would take more than a lifetime to discover them. Expeditions require years of local knowledge, constant weather monitoring, satellite navigation, and self-sufficiency for days or even weeks at a time. In this vast solitude, the Earth felt both ancient and newly born.
The fjords sit near 50–55° South latitude, known as the “Roaring Fifties,” where violent winds and unpredictable storms make navigation and photography extremely challenging. My local guides of captains and porters have spent the last decade exploring many places that may have never been seen before by humans. Their expeditions are often led by discovering captivating mountain peaks in the distance from their ship, scouting the surrounding areas with drones, and using rudimentary topography maps to try to find new routes they can navigate when the weather allows. Each horizon unfolds into mystery, daring us to relinquish our attachment to the familiar.
from the new Vanishing Ice limited-edition print series
