Image: Endurance in full sail, in the ice (side view). Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-1916 (Weddell Sea Party). Frank Hurley
The Society is home to a remarkable collection of original photographic glass and celluloid negatives captured by Frank Hurley, the official photographer of the 1914-1917 Endurance expedition. These delicate negatives made the perilous journey to Elephant Island with Shackleton, Hurley and the Weddell Sea Party following the destruction of the ship in 1915.
A century on, this iconic collection, which documents one of the greatest stories of human survival, has been digitally mastered direct from the negatives for the first time. Using today’s most advanced custom-made technology, Salto Ulbeek Publishers have created images that are of the highest quality achievable, capturing every detail contained in Hurley’s original negatives.
The Society has collaborated with the master printmakers Georges Charlier and his team—based at Salto Ulbeek’s studio in Belgium—to create the first ever limited-edition series of platinum prints from these images. Handmade on the finest cotton paper, the prints surpass those made by Hurley’s own hand one hundred years ago.
Salto Ulbeek creates museum-grade platinum prints to the highest possible production values. Through their skilled technical approach to the work of past photographers, they are able to preserve historic masterpieces for the enjoyment of collectors and future generations. Each of the newly created platinum prints is testament to the skill and quality of Frank Hurley’s photography – they will stand the test of time and are a fitting tribute to the spirit of the Endurance.
The platinum prints are available in three sizes with full supporting provenance documentation. In addition, the Society will be launching a new portfolio of prints from the expedition, in collaboration with the Scott Polar Research Institute and Salto-Ulbeek.
Visit our print store to find out more or email images@rgs.org.