PONTING HERBERT G (1870 1935) The Terra Nova Icebound in the

Sale 2124 - Lot 14

Unsold

Estimate: $ 15,000 - $ 20,000

PONTING, HERBERT G. (1870-1935)
"The 'Terra Nova' Icebound in the Pack." Green-toned carbon print, 29 3/4x21 3/4 inches (75.6x55.2 cm), flush-mounted with Ponting's debossed signature on recto and a label on mount verso containing the title, number, price and copyright notice. 1911; printed 1914

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Ken and Jenny Jacobson Photographs, Essex, UK; by agent to C. W. Sahlman.

The Tampa Museum of Art, "At Anchor and Underway: Images from a Tampa Collection," 1992.

Scott's Last Voyage: Through the Antarctic Camera of Herbert Ponting, cover and 45 (cropped).

The first two decades of the 20th century have been called the "heroic age" of Antarctic exploration. Photographer Herbert Ponting was inextricably linked with this era, visually recording both its challenges and successes. Ponting, a self-taught photographer, joined Captain Robert Falcon Scott during the British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition in 1910. He was the first professional photographer, or "camera artist" as he described himself, to be employed on an Antarctic expedition.

He assisted with the set up of the Terra Nova's winter camp in Camp Evans, Ross Island in McMurdo Sound, spending a long 14 months building a darkroom. In this small room he produced over 1000 photographs during his stay in the harsh environment. Working alongside a staff of 12 members, this journey was more about research than any prior polar expedition. Here Ponting often persuaded crew members to pose for his photographs giving rise to a new verb "to pont" describing this act and giving birth to his nickname, "ponko." A perfectionist, often to the point of danger, the crew got used to the sounds of breaking glass along the journey as he destroyed negatives he deemed unsuccessful. Often his fellow members would tease Ponting saying that his camera was an "evil eye," as a few mishaps occurred while he was photographing.

Ponting remained a part of the expedition until 1912. A year later, when Ponting and the world learned of the death of Scott and his fellow crew members during their return journey, the photographer dedicated the rest of his career to showing the grandeur of the landscape and the heroism of the men who explored it.

A period song captures his legend:

"I'll sing a little song, about one among our throng, whose skill in making pictures is not wanting. He takes pictures while you wait, 'prices strictly moderate'; I refer, of course, to our Professor Ponting.

[Chorus]

Then pont, Ponko, pont, and long may Ponko pont; with his finger on the trigger of his 'gadget'. For whenever he's around, we're sure to hear the sound of his high-speed cinematographic ratchet."