Classical photography as we like it: platinum palladium prints of the photographs of Herbert Ponting, Frank Hurley, Captain Scott. These images have rarely been seen outside of the UK before. The stories they tell, of Scott, Shackleton and others, remain as compelling today as they did 100 years ago.
Georges Charlier of Salto Ulbeek Salto Ulbeek will present a series of haunting portraits of the crew of Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated South Pole expedition from the negatives of Herbert Ponting. Salto Ulbeek will also exhibit works from Captain Scott himself, negatives which were recently rediscovered and are being shown by Salto Ulbeek publicly for the first time. These offer an intimate glimpse into this legendary chapter of Antarctic exploration. Unseen Photo Fair will also be the final opportunity to view and acquire Ponting’s iconic image “Grotto in Berg”, perhaps Ponting’s most spectacular photograph. With the medium and large editions now fully sold out, only a single master print remains available.
“They stare out of photographic immortality, looking every inch the explorer-heroes of the Antarctic. Most of them were photographed as they returned to Cape Evans from helping Captain Scott’s ill-fated trek to the South Pole. The portraits record moments of glory within a great triumph; the shadow of the tragedy-to-come had not yet crossed anyone’s mind. The men are trail-worn, with hair and beards unkempt: their tans broken by the pale shadow of snow-goggles; their lips and faces in various stages of being blistered and peeling from sun, snow and the biting Antarctic wind. They haven’t washed for months.” – David M. Wilson
Salto Ulbeek has long term partnerships with the Royal Geographical Society and the Scott Polar Research Institute to print and publish archival photographs from the early 20th century Antarctic and Everest expeditions.
John Devos
johndevos.photo (a) gmail.com
