These 100 Year Old Images Were Found in Antarctica

Last Updated on 12/30/2013 by Chris Gampat

Images courtesy of the New Zealand Arctic Heritage Trust.

Imaging Resource recently published an incredible story on a stash of 22 images that were frozen in a box recently being discovered in Antarctica. According to a press release from the New Zealand Arctic Heritage Trust, “The Trust’s conservation specialists discovered the clumped together cellulose nitrate negatives in a small box as part of the Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project which has seen more than 10,000 objects conserved at Scott’s Cape Evans hut. The negatives were removed from Antarctica by the Trust earlier this year. Detailed conservation treatment back in New Zealand separating the negatives has revealed twenty-two images. The photographs are from Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-1917 Ross Sea Party, which spent time living in Scott’s hut after being stranded on Ross Island when their ship blew out to sea.”

The images were shot by Arnold Patrick Spencer-Smith–who was the party’s photographer. Upon looking at their website, one might think that the images might have been glass slides, but instead they’re actually large pieces of cellulose nitrate.

We encourage you to check out the full story over at Imaging Resource.