
Antarctica Adventures: Wildlife and Landscapes with Jeanne Wiebenga
Like Roger Tory Peterson, Dr. Jeanne Wiebenga has travelled the world, photographing birds and the landscapes in which they live. On Saturday, February 15, Jeanne will present a program at RTPI on her most recent trip to Antarctica.
The Antarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic island of South Georgia are near the top of Jeanne’s list of favorite places. In her mind, nothing in the world compares to the vast, pristine Antarctic landscapes. Her photographs capture snowy terrain and glaciers painted in the most glaring whites and soft, cerulean blues. They teem with abundant wildlife, including king penguins, elephant seals and albatrosses.
Jeanne’s program is a perfect complement to Walking in Antarctica, RTPI’s current exhibition of photographs and sculptures by artist Helen Glazer. Also on exhibit is a selection of Roger’s original artworks, featured in his 1979 book, Penguins.
Jeanne was born and raised in The Netherlands where she attended medical school. She moved to Ghana as a young physician to work for three years in a mission hospital. After completing a residency in Buffalo, NY to become an obstetrician, she returned to Africa to work in a government hospital in Malawi. During this time, safaris in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe inspired her to become a wildlife photographer. In the early 1990s, Jeanne returned to the U.S. and worked in private practice in Jamestown. She currently lives in Chautauqua, working part-time and planning new adventures. She serves on the Board of Directors for both the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy.