Imperial Transantarctic Expedition 1914-1916
Shackleton set out in October 1914 on the Endurance with the intention of making the first crossing of the Antarctic continent via the South Pole. While he and his men planned to reach Antarctica through the Weddell Sea, another party aboard the Aurora sailed to the other side of the continent to lay food depots for the expected party.
The intention was that only six men would complete the crossing; the photographer Frank Hurley was to be one of the team. Hurley had been to the Antarctic before, as part of the Australasian Expedition of 1911–14. He was intrepid in his search for dramatic images. The role of photographer was important not just to document the achievements of the expedition, but also to create a source of income. The rights to publish the images would be sold for a great deal of money after the return to Britain.
The expedition ran into difficulties almost immediately. By mid-January 1915, Endurance became trapped in ice and had to become a floating scientific station. The men waited out the harsh Antarctic winter in the hope that their situation would improve.
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Hurley and Sir Ernest Shackleton at Patience Camp
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Entering the pack ice. Weddell Sea, lat. 57° 59' S. long. 22° 39' W
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Dawn of 1915
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Typical pack ice, Weddell Sea, lat. 62° 50' S. long. 17° 21' W
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
HMS Endurance laying to awaiting the opening up of the pack
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Self-portrait with cinematograph next to the Endurance
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
A pinnacled glacier berg observed in lat.62° 41'S. long. 17° 32' W
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Looking south over the frozen sea
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
The Bastion Berg
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Bummer
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Samson at the entrance of his dogloo
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Deck of the Endurance on the way south
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Saint, 1915
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
The ramparts of Mount Paget, South Georgia
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Glacier Moraine Fjord, South Georgia
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Head of Moraine Fjord, South Georgia
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Sea elephant pups, South Georgia
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Young King penguin in first year plumage, South Georgia
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Gentoo penguin with egg, South Georgia
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Young Emperor penguins
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922)
Aurora Australis, 1908-09
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922)
Shackleton's telegram to King Edward VII
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
The departing sun
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
The effect of a blizzard on the flow
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Taking the dogs out for exercise
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
The nightwatchman spins a yarn
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
In the 'Ritz', the work room of the Ship
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Frank Hurley and Leonard Hussey on night watch
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
The Endurance in the garb of winter
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
During midwinter
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
'Bob' Clark (1882-1950), in the biological laboratory.
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
The bi-weekly ablutions of the 'Ritz'
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Hussey and James, in the 'Rookery'.
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Taking occultations
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Dawn after winter
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Ice flowers
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
The return of the sun after 92 days
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)
Hurley with his team
Frank Hurley (1885-1962)