Rare images from Shackleton’s expeditions showcase the power of early Antarctic photography

More than a hundred years after Ernest Shackleton’s famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition, a new exhibition showcases some of the most iconic and rare images ever taken of the most southerly continent. “Shackleton’s legacy and the power of early Antarctic photography” at London’s Royal Geographic society includes photography from Shackleton’s doomed voyage on the Endurance.
Stuck in sea ice in the Weddell Sea, the crew aboard Endurance were ordered to abandon ship. Shackleton insisted that photographer Frank Hurley’s glass plates were salvaged despite the sailors' now perilous situation. Royal Geographical Society curator Alasdair Macleod, said “even if the men die, [for Shackleton] there is still the opportunity that someone will find these negatives and understand the story.”
Shackleton ensured his expeditions carried the latest photographic technology, from glass plate cameras through to the relatively new Autochrome process, used to take some of the earliest colour photographs of the region. As early as 1902 on the Discovery expedition with Captain Scott, Shackleton used a balloon to take the first aerial photograph of Antarctica. On later expeditions, he would send images to London newspapers to spread word of his trips, and use future photography exhibitions, lantern slide shows and film screenings, popular at the time, to recoup the expedition’s costs.
Shackleton died on board the Quest on 5 January 1922, yet his legacy lives on through these iconic images.
Autochrome images courtesy Chojecki-Rowett Family Collection
Additional footage from SOUTH (1919) / BFI National Archive is In cinemas now and on Blu-ray/DVD 28 February shop.bfi.org.u...

[@Guitarsthatkill]

And today they found The Endurance.

[@NewScientist]

They did indeed - our video on the discovery can be seen here www.newscientist.com/video/2311544-endurance-wreck-ernest-shackletons-lost-ship-found-in-antarctica/

[@TheWolfsnack]

The video is awesome...the ship completely intact and sitting upright.

[@nfaisnfgay]

@@NewScientist Boo its not on youtube.

[@hp.a.]

I'm not British yet I feel a deep, sincere and huge respect for Shackleton and his behavior as explorer and as responsible for his crew. Their capacity to suffer in silence and never loose the hope are my inspiration.

[@fishypaw]

What a brave and dedicated chap Mr Hurley was. The pic of him sitting on the upper mast, with an old plate camera, is awesome.

[@ShaneBaker]

Frank Hurley is one of the greats of Australian photography. His work in WWI was amazing.

[@graemeroberts2935]

Surely the greatest?

[@Lou.B]

Thank You for this film! Having studied Shackleton's voyages I delight in learning yet more, and especially in watching the World's excitement arise once again as a new generation discovers the tales of the explorers who were regarded as superhuman - only because they were. My sincere gratitude to the Royal Geographic Society and the Chojecki-Rowett Family. The World has never needed the reminder more than now: we stand on broad shoulders!

[@stevemuzak8526]

This is incredible! Frank Hurley had modern way of thinking.

[@tantawan6]

Frank Hurley also enhanced on some photos during WW1 what today we would call 'photo shopped' he got panned by Bean (official Australian War Correspondent) for his ingenuity and poetic license,he was a man ahead of his time. A great Australian,an artist.

[@grumpytrumpy8015]

A fabulous photographer who constantly worked to expand & improve his photography and its acceptance as a legitimate art form as well as a means to capture & document history. He was often criticised for his use of cutting edge photographic processing to enhance the ability of his images to tell the story! His dedication to photography and its continued development should not be overlooked!

[@massimonipote5899]

Ogni volta che vedo immagini riguardanti quell'impresa,provo un'ammirazione e una commozione difficili da spiegare sia a voce che per iscritto. Ho letto di tutti loro in un libro pochi anni fa...quell'impresa fu straordinaria nel vero senso della parola! Davvero, non ho parole.... Memorabile....

[@levyan4718]

Incredible images and also the wreck in almost perfect condition

[@ianmcdiarmid4563]

I have a copy of South, by Shackleton that's got loads of these photos in.(Century published, edited by Peter King) It's great!

[@SEPK09]

just wow

[@ttmallard]

Sad in ways Shackleton made Hurley break like 200 plates else the weight be too much, he was a master & persistent to see a good frame idea and carry it out. Great era of adventure close enough to wonder upon. 🍺

[@wpbshow]

Fascinating!

[@alrivas1477]

Magnificent.

[@Graygeezer]

Even way back then, photography was used to lie and document a scene that didn’t really happen by substituting one ship for another.

[@Gameboy-Unboxings]

0:51 why doesn't he say how this photo was taken??

[@veramae4098]

A wooden ship. Sails! To the Antarctic.

[@dizbang3073]

crazy - and only 100 years ago

[@saymyname218]

Very interesting.

[@nowheelspin]

Wonder what he'd say if he got to witness what's happening now.

[@dekuthetechpriestoflondon6791]

It's hard to say

[@hamfixer]

He have a bit of good news today as they just found the Endurance! Everything else would be a bummer though…

[@dekuthetechpriestoflondon6791]

@@hamfixer true.

[@stevemuzak8526]

Now? Now is nothing compared to the horrors ow WW2. Read about German Death Camps, Soviet gulags,

[@drzecelectric4302]

Omg

[@elizajayne2888]

So , how come the ship in old footage ... Has no star or words endurance on it ? This is liars world.

[@-JA-]

👍

[@javierramirez4722]

Chile explorers found a city overthere their president of those days informed to the ...PENTAGON....BIG MISTAKE now nobody can reach that area ONLY THEM

[@elijahmassey9290]

??????? ?

[@tomkirk6942]

Why keep showing the narrator’s face? Just show the fantastic photos. Poor choice in editing imo.

[@nfaisnfgay]

Its actually pretty decent. It gives you a natural transition between photos.

[@jamescox973]

Wipe your nose. Other than that, great video

[@Gameboy-Unboxings]

Wtf are you talking about?

[@beppemunz3173]

Amundsen history its more better.

[@fledgling5616]

The earth is flat.

[@femaleprosthetic]

Nah

[@fledgling5616]

@@femaleprosthetic Yah

[@darenyoung1872]

Lol where do you get that idea?

[@fledgling5616]

@@darenyoung1872 look at the UN flag

[@glennzechman3335]

Your brain is flat!

[@stuarttaylor6381]

Pity we can explore there now ,old city's pyramid s ,all hidden