Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04
M'K|NLEY RELATES
CAMERA PROBLEMS
BTd's Aerial Photographer
Describes Difficulties of
Antarctic Work.
Continued From First Page.)

q deep hole, which nlleo several VlInes
before It was completed, was dug in the
snow next to and in front of the mess
hall. In this hole two rooms were made
from old boxes and extra lumber. An
old wasf1tub was used as sink. and the
kitchen range boiler, with large blow
torch placed underneath, was utilized
as water heater.
Getting Water From Snow.
Water was a serious problem to us.
The only manner in which 1t could be
obtained was by melting snow, which
was frozen as hard as rock by the sub
zero temperature. The rooms were lined
with paper as the temperature OF 70
degrees above zero had to be maintained
here when the outside temperature was
as much as 10 degrees below. This flrst
seemed almost impossible, but Mother
Nature who, though very rough at times
in the Antarctic, is often helpful, took
a hand and covered the laboratory with
drift snow, so that from the outside 1t
was impossible to tell that the little
shack was hidden beneath the surface.
This snow served as an insulator,
and there was no difficulty in keep
ing our laboratory as warm as de-
sired-that is, from the waist UP. Often
the temperature would be 80 degrees
above and we could work without our
shirts, while our feet would freeze with
heavy socks and fur mukluks on. On
the whole, we had a great laboratory
The construction had Just been COM
pleted when the sun dipped below the
horizon for flve-month stay.
Busy During the Winter.
The Photographic department kept
busy during the long Winter night TAX
ing flashlights of our Winter home in
Little America, often to the discomfort
Of the remaining inhabitants, as our
fiashlight powder filled our houses with
smoke. But our world was happy one,
so no kicks were registered. Several
outside shots were made by the aid OF
flares.
The most interesting were among
the pressure ice, and they were both
beautiful and frightful, presenting
scenes such as one would picture in
Dante's. Inferno. Our helpers carried
the masses of broken ice. This photog-
raphy was not accomplished without
some hazard and discomfort, as 1t was
impossible in the dark to see the many
crevices, and the temperature was so
degrees below zero. There was just
enough breeze to send the cold through
every opening in ones clothes. When
the pictures were developed, however,
we felt fully repaid for our outing.
The Awakening in the Spring.
When the sun again appeared, Little
America became busy place. Drivers
were exercising their dogs: the aviation
crew was taking the planes out of their
snow hangers; fresh seal meat was be-
ing obtained as food for men and dogs.
Every department was preparing for
the Summer work. All this must be re-
corded by both moving and ground pic
lures. There were so many activities
at this time that it was impossible for
the aerial surveyor. to whom had been
given the extra duty of official photog-
raphef, to cover everything.
There were 35 cameras on the ex-
peuItIon, so everybody in Little America
contributed to our collection of ground
pictures. Capt. Parker and Dean
Smith were hardly, If ever, without a
camera. They were regular picture
fans. Their work was surely appre-
ciated' by the photographer Some of
the best pictures made in the Antarctic
were taken by Prof. L. M. Gould on
his 1,200-mile dog sled trip between
the base and the Queen Maud Range
Our collection would not be complete
without his contribution. Among his
pictures were many views Of trail light
and the many mountains in the Queen
Maud Range which had never before
been SEEM
Temperature Is Low.
Even though the light had returned,
the temperature remained between so
and 40 degrees below zero for the next
three months. This period of intense
cold caused the film to break cameras
m fTQcIIaI1flU VIZ
In and thaw ourselves out before TAX
ing a picture. When operating cam
era-whether it be motion picture,
ground or aerial-in the Antarctic one
must be prepared for many vexations.
Moving parts bend, due to contraction;
moisture condenses on the lenses, and
often fingers are burned until the tips
appear to have been repeatedly put
upon a hot stove. Our cameras were
left outdoors as much as possible to
prevent sweating Of the lenses, but 1t
was often very difficult to keep the
snow out when 1t was drifting. Drift
snow has way of getting into tight
camera case.
Widely differing light conditions and
q tricky sun are encountered in this
land of white. These varying light
conditions we're one of the great OBJ
stacles to good photography in the
Antarctic. To our eyes accustomed to
the dark, the light, especially when
the sun first came back, appeared much
brighter than it actually was. The
Photographic quality, of course, in
creased as the sun rose higher above
the horizon. Often, just as we would
be sure that we had hit the nail on the
head, some freak haze condition turned
our exposure calculations upside down.
1t was finally decided that test ex-
posures, which consume much time,
were the only safe method. Reflected
light was another source of trouble
Many trick shades were made by our
nlachinists in an effort to overcome
reflected light, but, fortunately, we
finally were successful.
Pictures on the Bay Ice.
The most interesting ground work
from our point of view, were pictures
taken on the bay ice during the Win
ter and Spring. The ice conditions
were changing daily. At times the
view looked like fairyland. The ice
was thrown about in confusion, in
every imaginable shape, some of it Sc
feet high. Later in the season the
bay ice was cracked in many places
small lakes were formed and icicles
were draped from the pressure ice. The
scene, reflected in the lake with the
Barrier as background supplied many
beautiful pictures. Also on the bay
we were able to make many good shots
Of seals, penguins and killer whales.
Our photographic trips to the bay ice
were made by dog teams, the sleds serv.
ing as carrier for camera and equip
ment, while we on skis were towed be-
hind with ropes. Often men, dogs, Of
both, would fall into cracks, some O.
which were open to the water. TOWNS
on skis behind dog team, especially
when the dogs have a light load, is &
great sport filled with many thrills, Be
ginners, as most of us were, would b.
DRAGGED on their backs as much as the!