Frank Hurley in the Australasian Antarctic Expedition

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In much earlier years, the South Pole remains an unexplored territory. Many expeditions for both polar regions have been launched by different countries for the purpose of expanding science, and one of the most prominent figures here was a photographer named Frank Hurley, a man who spent four years in the Antarctic expeditions.

One of his famous journeys was the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, a voyage led by Australian geologist Douglas Mawson, between 1911 to 1914. They were bound for Macquarie Island then to the yet to be traveled location of Antarctica. This was the expedition that produced more geological, glaciological, terrestrial biological accomplishments and findings. The journey required coastal and inland sledging journeys that enabled them to cross unknown lands.

In this voyage, Hurley persuaded Mawson to give him the job as the official photographer, and once the geologist did, Sydney-sider Henri Mallard provided Hurley's photographic equipment as he was the manager of Harringtons, a local Kodak franchise.

What makes Hurley's photographs in this expedition so unique has he also documented the voyage itself, but also Antarctica's landscape and ecosystem. He photographed seals, penguins of several species, sled dogs, carcasses and more to introduce the whole world what sort of land awaits down south.


Images are from the public domain.

2018-06-07 #culture #frank-hurley #documentary-photography

3 Comments

  1. mrgamera
    mrgamera ·

    Wonderful article! Thank you very much!

  2. stouf
    stouf ·

    Nice! But let's not ignore the absolute king of polar expeditions: Amundsen.
    And his lantern slides. That would make a nice article here guys : )

  3. cielsan
    cielsan ·

    Great idea @stouf! :)

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