Taken by E.O. Wheeler, this image is part of a panorama showing Mount Everest and its north-east ridge, Mount Everest Expedition, 1921.
Held in our Pavilion, the stunning prints are the first to be created in this medium from silver nitrate negatives held in the Society’s Collections.
The photographs, taken by George Mallory and other members of the expedition team, are among the first to document the dramatic landscapes and local people of Everest and the Himalayas. Originally intended to complement the expedition’s purpose, to carry out detailed survey work of the region, the images include some of the finest panoramic photographs of any high mountain region ever taken.
The Society has worked with the Salto Ulbeek Studio in Belgium to carry out the digitisation work to create the prints, which have an expanded tonal range and painterly quality compared to silver prints.
Head of Enterprise and Resources at the Society, Alasdair MacLeod said: “The digitisation work has opened up these exceptional photographs, providing greater clarity and breath-taking detail. We are excited to be showing these remarkable new prints at the Society this autumn.”
Everest – a reconnaissance runs at the Society from 29 October to 27 November, is free to enter and open to all. Plan your visit.