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    Photos from Antarctica

    There are [95] photos from Antarctica

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    I took this photo about 1km from our station during the Antarctic winter. It exemplifies one of the true elements of photography - 'chance'. First, the Aurora Australis are rare in central Antarctica- we only had three nights in the entire Antarctic winter. Myself and the station leader had walked out to set up a time-lapse around 1km from the base. It just so happened that it was one of the clearest night skies and then the Aurora came. We were in the right place at the right time. Looking back at our base, I remember feeling so utterly small and insignificant within the grander picture of the universe above. I called this photo 'A Teardrop from Heaven'. It was to me, as if Heaven had for a short time left its window open and a small teardrop had fallen down above us. When I forwarded the photo to the European Space Agency, the photo went 'viral' and became its second most popular photo in its history. Views[361] This photo was taken outside at -80 degrees Celsius in 10 metres per second winds. Before I went to Antarctica, I spent my last doctors paycheck on a Canon 5D Mark II body. Sigma then supported me by means of the loan of various lens. I read the operating manual for my Canon which advised not to use the camera so far below zero. I am interested and used to working at extremes and testing technology to discover its limitations to help find ways to improve function in all conditions. As it turns out, my Canon body and Sigma lens continued to operate and perform through all year round use outside in temperatures from -25C down to -80C (with -110 Celsius windchill). The other main consideration with working in such low temperatures is protecting your own safety. If you take your thick cumbersome down glove off in -80C, your flesh will start to freeze within minutes. But, in order to change your camera's settings, you have to take your glove(s) off. So you adapt. Also digital photography now allows you to quickly learn what settings you need to use. Preparation is prevention. And prevention means you get to keep all your fingers! I look at this photo and it reminds me that I am grateful to be able to type this for you. Views[969] The Antarctic night opens up one of the world's clearest night skies. I took this photo of the night sky above the station, with my Canon 5D mark II on a tripod using a 30 second exposure. It shows the milky way galaxy and is one of the incredible wonders of the Antarctic night sky, as you stare off up into the universe, hanging overhead. Views[2574] From May to August, the sun will set below the horizon leaving you in 3 months of complete darkness. Your mind starts to fold inwards as the temperature plummets. If you are not careful in the perpetual darkness your hormone regulated sleep cycle will spiral out of control and you will 'freewheel' around the world's timezones, waking up in Fiji and going to bed in Bulgaria. The loss in circadian rhythm is an important element to study in relation to understanding the effects of long distance class space missions on human psychology and physiology, where you would experience the effects of altered day-night cycle, having to endure long periods of darkness. This photo was taken at the height of midwinter. It shows the world's coldest and most remote Diamond Jubilee tea Party. The entire crew enjoyed freshly brewed tea and baked scones on the rooftop in -75C in the darkness. The scones soon turned to concrete and the porcelain tea cups froze to our lips. But it is important to share in any activities which all count towards keeping people's minds and the team entertained and sane during winter. Views[528] At the beginning of February, the last plane left Concordia Station, one of only three manned inland Antarctic stations. I took this with Frank Hurley's shot he took 100 years ago of Sir Ernest Shackleton rowing off Elephant Island to try to reach South Georgia, to raise the alarm and to rescue his men. Here at Concordia, you soon left after a blast of ice to the face from the DC3 plane engines, to contemplate your fate. We were left standing as a team of 13 people, to begin a stretch of 9 months of complete isolation, where the temperature drops so low (-80C) that no plane fly in to rescue you. You are about to experience the best and worst the Antarctic winter has to offer. The 9 month period of complete isolation is important as it is used to mimic the conditions for long distance class spaceflight missions, for example where it would take 8-9 months to reach Mars (one way) with currently technology. It also allows scientists to study how teams can operate as they would isolated on the surface of Mars. Welcome to one of the world's greatest and most peculiar journeys. Views[346]
     
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