Photographing wildlife is not the easiest task for a photographer. Generally, it requires specific photographic skills, a lot of patience and extensive knowledge of animal behaviour to get the right shot at the right time.
Antarctic wildlife is often easier to approach than animals living within the vicinity of closely populated areas (like in Europe), and since the days of butchering seals and whales are now (almost) over, Antarctic wildlife tend to be less frightened, allowing the photographers to go closer.
So, it's all up to the photographer to behave correctly, when close to the amazing wildlife.