PHOTOGRAPHY
By CAPTAIN F. HURLEY
Late Official Photographer to the A.I.F.
23rd March 1914 Page 120 - Vol. 21 No. 3 The Australasian Photographic Review
EVENING AT THE ANCHORAGE, COMMONWEALTH BAY, ADELIE LAND
FRANK HURLEY
Official Photographer to the Mawson Antarctic Expedition
23rd March 1914 Page 127 - Vol. 21 No. 3 The Australasian Photographic Review
BLIZZARD HARASSED PENGUINS MAKING THE BEST OF A BAD TIME
FRANK HURLEY
Official Photographer to the Mawson Antarctic Expedition
23rd March 1914 Page 129 - Vol. 21 No. 3 The Australasian Photographic Review
FRANK HURLEY
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO THE MAWSON ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION
The story of an expedition to the Polar regions is one of thrilling adventures on the sea ice and in the blizzards, as well as marvelous escapes from instantaneous death through falling into some unfathomable abyss which is temporarily screened by a covering of drift snow and ice.
These and other risks do not seem to have deterred Frank Hurley from entering thoroughly into the spirit of the enterprise. This can readily be understood when it is known that Mr. Hurley has developed a habit of photographing a railway engine coming towards him at full speed, and incidentally having his camera smashed in the operation, also of perching himself on the branch of a tree in the East Indies while waiting for a huge sleeping snake, coiled round another branch, to wake up and attempt to attack him, in order to get a picture of the militant reptile. While risk and adventure are certainly to be met with in Antarctica, still there are no railway engines and reptiles there, and Mr. Hurley is probably well within the mark in making light of his experiences in the Polar regions. Mr. Hurley appears to have found many matters of interest in his official capacity in the south, and he has favored us with a short resume of some of the incidents of his work:
The 1913-14 cruise of the “Aurora” and the subsequent relief of Dr. Mawson and the other members of the expedition have been so freely discussed in the press that I shall confine myself to a brief resume of the cinema and photographic work of the expedition of which I had control.
THE SCOPE OF POLAR PHOTOGRAPHY
Endless scope is presented in Polar photography by the abundance of seal and bird life, the illimitable and exquisite beauty of formations of the great inland ice sheet itself, the barrier and icebergs, sea ice and the thousand and one details of the explorer’s own life. Then, again, original work is to be done on the Aurora Australis, color and micro-photography, and, in fact, practically every phase of an expedition’s work calls in the services of the photographer for its records.
Polar photography, under favorable conditions, I regard as nothing more nor less than a pleasant pastime — not calling for any extraordinary technical ability, but more for resource and originality.
THE GREAT, FORCE OF THE POLAR WINDS
Perception, action, enthusiasm, coupled with contempt for the elements, will see one through almost every difficulty that is likely to occur. In Adelie Land, where most of our work was done, conditions were extremely arduous. Terrific hurricanes and blizzards raged there incessantly, and most of our photography had to be done under the ordeal of working in winds blowing from 6o to over 80 miles an hour for a great part of the time.
It was a tall order, for occasionally the wind force on my camera case made it hard work to get about, and it would have convulsed any motion picture audience to have seen the two of us on the move securing film with the cinematograph gear. On one occasion the “zephyrs” playfully lifted me (and I’m no lightweight), case and all and dumped us together on some rocks a few paces distant, and it took some considerable time to repair the damage — to the camera. We had ten absolutely calm days scattered throughout the year 1912-13, and I remember on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd September “making hay” (or, rather, negatives) “while the sun shone”, for eighty-two (8 1/2 x 6 1/2) were added to the collection, as well as 2,000 ft. of film.
TEMPERATURE DIFFICULTIES
Great trouble was experienced with screens, which split apart owing to the great difference in temperature between the outside atmosphere and that of the comparatively warm hut. So Correll turned up for me some vulcanite holders, into which he fitted optical flats. The screens were filled with a non-freezing solution, made by dissolving tumeric in absolute alcohol and filtering a number of times. The color was approximately a shade darker than Wratten’s “K2”.
GRAFLEX CAMERAS
It is impossible for me to speak too highly of the four Graflex cameras I had with me on the expedition — they did not give a moment’s trouble. One in particular — a much traveled stereoscopic camera that originally belonged to Professor David, and was with him during the Shackleton expedition — proved particularly serviceable. It came into my hands, and after nearly eighteen months with Dr. Mawson’s expedition I took it through the East Indies and subsequently on the second cruise of the “Aurora” to Adelie Land. All the trouble I have ever had with it was that I had to occasionally wipe the lenses! As regards plates, I found very little in favor of using orthochromatic or panchromatic in preference to special rapid backed plates. The predominating colors are blues — all shadows have a large percentage of blue, which can be rendered in almost any gradation by a slight modification in the color of the tumeric screen.
NATURE STUDY IN ANTARCTICA
By far the most interesting work is the Natural History of Antarctica. Those quaint old Penguins and Seals help to pass away much weary time, and many pleasant hours we spent in the rookeries studying their human-like antics. Again, there is the Snow Petrel, the most beautiful of the feathered flocks of the ice-bound South. It hardly takes any notice of man, in fact, this can be said of almost all the bird life. Our expedition was the first to discover the nesting places of the Antarctic Petrels and Silver Grey Petrels, and we secured many fine photographs of them. The bird life and its freedom from any fear of human beings I regard as the greatest charm of Antarctica. For the photographic work Cooke lenses were selected, principally as having uncemented lenses there was less risk of their splitting apart, owing to the extreme differences of temperature met with, ranging from 32 degrees in the hut down to 70 degrees below freezing point outside. The cameras, too, have frequent overturning on the sledges, and the Cooke’s stood the jarring best. Then optical qualities, of course, left nothing to be desired.
GIVING THE FIRST WASH
Frank Hurley economizing fresh water
by rinsing cinematograph films in the sea.
MANY CURIOUS EXPERIENCES
Yes, one has many curious experiences. Once I fell into the sea — as usual, cameras and all — when out on the thin ice, and had a nasty cold time, regaining the hut in frozen stiff clothes. It did not hurt the camera — it was a “Graflex”. We nearly “passed in our checks” on the magnetic pole trip through missing our depot. But all these trivialities add some zest to Polar Photography and make it worth while.
THE LACK OF SUNSHINE
Sunshine, of course, is the essential factor for successful work, and without sunlight all is horribly gray and sombre. In the polar regions we have no texture or shadows, and the glory of the sparkling ice is lost. On our last cruise we had six weeks dull weather at a stretch, and as many magnificent subjects passed us I rather fervently cursed my wretched luck.
RORQUALS AND ICEBERGS
While cruising along the margin of the pack ice we saw numerous Rorquals or Blue Whales and secured numerous negatives. This species is the largest of the mammals, often attaining a length of over 100 feet. We were also fortunate in witnessing the rare, phenomenon of a huge iceberg breaking away from the barrier. One notices the freedom from crowds of small boys when a camera is erected, and I think even this alone would make everybody long to go to the South and photograph.
IN FINE — A TRIBUTE
It is meet for me to pass a tribute of esteem to Dr. Mawson, Captain Davis, and my other comrades on the expedition, who are the finest lot of fellows with whom it has been my good fortune to come into contact. By their unswerving attention to duty and unanimity of purpose they have made the Australian Antarctic Expedition the most successful that has yet sailed to the Southern Seas.
It is just possible that Mr. Hurley may take up further photographic work in Antarctica, and if he does we wish him every success and a safe return. On other pages we reproduce some magnificent prints from some of his negatives, and if any of our readers have an opportunity of seeing any exhibition of the films made by him they should not be missed. Those showing the effects of blizzards alone are worth going miles to view, while there are thousands of feet devoted to other subjects equally interesting.
PART OF THE COASTAL DOWNFALL WHERE THE GREAT ANTARCTIC BARRIER DESCENDS TO THE SEA, ADELIE LAND
By Frank Hurley, Official Photographer to the Mawson Antarctic Expedition
A McCORMICK SKUA GULL BY THE SIDE OF ITS NEST, ADELIE LAND
By Frank Hurley, Official Photographer to the Mawson Antarctic Expedition
15th March 1920 Page 137 - Vol. 27 No. 3 The Australasian Photographic Review
LOOKING BACK FROM “THE VICKERS-VIMY” JUST AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE GATEWAY OF SYDNEY HARBOUR
Captain Frank Hurley
15th March 1920 Page 143 - Vol. 27 No. 3 The Australasian Photographic Review
SYDNEY HARBOUR FROM OVER POTT’S POINT
Captain Frank Hurley
15th March 1920 Page 149 - Vol. 27 No. 3 The Australasian Photographic Review
BONDI AND BRONTE, SEASIDE SUBURBS OF SYDNEY
Captain Frank Hurley
15th March 1920 Page 155 - Vol. 27 No. 3 The Australasian Photographic Review
SYDNEY, NORTH-WEST FROM HYDE PARK
Captain Frank Hurley
15th April 1923 Page 184 - Vol. 30 No. 4 The Australasian Photographic Review
UNDER WATER PHOTOGRAPH IN A CORAL POOL EDDY
Captain Frank Hurley
15th April 1923 Page 189 - Vol. 30 No. 4 The Australasian Photographic Review
KAIVA KU KU CEREMONY
at the Village of Drama
The ceremony has “Masonic” significance and takes place once every seven years
Captain Frank Hurley
FLASHLIGHT INTERIOR OF THE GREAT KAU RAVI. KAIMARI
This immense structure is only frequented by the initiated males
and is the equivalent of a Club, Cathedral and Parliament House
Captain Frank Hurley