Historic photographs of this ill-fated Antarctic expedition taken by ‘camera artist’ Herbert Ponting tell an unforgettable tale both epic and human in scale.

In 1910 Captain Robert Falcon Scott set out for the Antarctic, having reached the South Pole, he died on the return journey along with his colleagues just 17.5 km (11 miles) from the safety of a supply depot.

Ponting offers a poignant and revealing glimpse of expedition life: icescapes; crew relaxing on deck; surveying; an impromptu hair cut.

It captures intimate, everyday moments. An absorbing visual diary that completes the familiar and well documented story for the race to the South Pole

  Other details
Images have been selected from albums belonging to expedition member Captain Oates, later donated by his family. Text panels provide background information, quotes and commentary by contemporary Polar experts including Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Pen Hadow

  Education resources
Available via ‘Unlocking the Archives’ website re Geography Key Stage 4. Adaptable for informal education programmes

  Size of exhibits and space required
32 Lamda prints mounted onto 25mm plywood and coated with 3mm polycarb gel various sizes:18 large prints – largest size 120 x 90 cm. 14 small prints – smallest size 50 x 30 cm. 22 caption boards.Wall space of 80 – 100 m.