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Life on Mars

ANTARCTICA | Thursday, 27 June 2013 | Views [2594] | View Larger Image

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.

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.

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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.

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