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About this book
Contents
Customer reviews
Biography
Related titles
About this book
Read our interview with Ursula here.
Featuring breathtaking photographs of the world's 18 species of penguin, Mission Penguin takes you to many of the remotest places on earth, from the Falkland and Galapagos Islands, to the Antipodes Islands and Tristan da Cunha.
Following the loss of her husband, Ursula Franklin embarked on a personal mission to see and photograph every species of penguin in their natural habitat. The result is a remarkable showcase of penguins – hundreds of striking photographs accompanied by engaging text that details the penguins' features and characteristics. Each chapter explores a new penguin species and details Ursula's spectacular journey to see and photograph these much-loved birds.
This astonishing and informative book explores the difficulties all penguins face and how humanity's actions have threatened their very existence. Ursula warns of the devastating effects of climate change and the conservation efforts needed to ensure future generations can continue to experience the healing presence of penguins. This is a story that will inspire, uplift and educate.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Meet the brush-tailed penguins
- Chinstrap Penguin
- Adélie Penguin
- Gentoo Penguin
Meet the banded penguins
- African Penguin
- Humboldt Penguin
- Galápagos Penguin
- Magellanic Penguin
Meet the crested penguins
- Macaroni Penguin
- Southern Rockhopper Penguin
- Moseley's (or Northern) Rockhopper Penguin
- Fiordland Penguin
- Snares Penguin
- Royal Penguin
- Erect-crested Penguin
Meet the shy and the nocturnal penguins
- Yellow-eyed Penguin
- Little Penguin
Meet the great penguins
- King Penguin
- Emperor Penguin
Afterword
Expedition summary
References and further reading
Acknowledgements
Photographer's notes
Index
Customer Reviews (1)
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The best penguin photo book
By
Keith
26 Jan 2026
Written for Hardback
If I was to be despatched to photograph all the members of one bird family, I think I’d also choose penguins. Firstly, there are only 18 of them, so the challenge would be achievable, and I could probably manage to do it within a year if pressed, and I’d have several brilliant trips along the way. Ursula Clare Franklin managed to do exactly this as an enthusiastic amateur photographer over several years.
Joining several pre-planned tours, Ursula set about achieving Mission Penguin after the loss of her husband in 2012. The task took her on eight journeys, of which five were towards the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic zones, plus others to Australia, South Africa and Peru.
Taking each of the penguins in turn, she describes their characteristics, plus breeding strategies, prey and predators and key threats. All the various plumages from chick to adult are shown, along with different types of behaviour. Between 10–20 pages are dedicated to most species, although the Humboldt and Galápagos penguins only get six pages each. For me, the chapter on Emperor Penguins was the most exciting, with Ursula landing by helicopter on the ice, but then wading through knee-deep snow to reach her quarry.
I have seen several similar books where people have managed to achieve their goal of seeing all the world’s penguins, but this one is the best in recent years, with great photography and a succinct text that tells you all you want to know.
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Biography
Ursula Franklin is a wildlife photographer living in Somerset. Originally from Yorkshire, she developed a keen interest in photography as a child and has enjoyed combining this with her love of nature ever since. Ursula's husband was a huge supporter of her photography, constantly encouraging her to "do something with them". Following his sudden death from a heart attack in 2012, she embarked on 'Mission Penguin', and her friends and family finally persuaded her to sell and exhibit her images.
