Antarctica, 1911

Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd, based on an original Silver Gelatin print by Herbert George Ponting

Taken January 5th, 1911, Antarctica (National Library of New Zealand)

Falcon Scott's ill-fated expedition to the South Pole was preceded by initial success. After leaving southern New Zealand in late November, the Terra Nova arrived on Ross Island the day before this photograph by Herbert Ponting was taken. I was really taken with how alien the landscape is, even now. The saturation of colour is a marvel to behold and I used about twenty contemporary colour references from sources like National Geographic to get an authentic result. The geologist's coat is sourced from an example of the real thing from the expedition at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, England.

Original caption reads,

"Grotto in an ice berg, photographed 5th January 1911 by Herbert George Ponting during the British Antarctic ("Terra Nova") Expedition (1910-1913). Shows scientists T Griffith Taylor and Charles S Wright at the entrance, and the Terra Nova in the distance. Inscriptions: Inscribed - Album page - beneath image: 88. Grotto in a berg. Terra Nova in distance. Taylor and Wright (Interior). Jan. 5th 1911."