Documenting the Endurance
The Endurance was miraculously documented by Frank Hurley, the official photographer for the journey. His haunting images and film bring humanity to the near-mythical tale. Hurley made use of Endurance‘s dark room, developing his photographs and film in the cramped space (at least while it still sat safely above water). He even captured motion pictures of the mast collapse and life on the ice using a heavy “cinematograph machine.”
Hurley had to dump most of his equipment when the Shackleton gave the order to limit personal items to two pounds. But with Shackleton’s permission, he managed to save one camera, some glass plate negatives, and some film in a soldered tin can. Using the salvaged camera, he documented the rest of the expedition in 38 stills. These images have captivated audiences since Hurley compiled them for a documentary, South (1919), available through the British Film Institute.
