Shackleton's Antarctic Visual Epic
On February 10, 2010, the heroic spirit of Sir E. Shackleton lives on through a new team of explorers: To follow his footsteps, not for the glory of being the first to cross the Antarctic or the first to climb the highest mountain but to produce a momentous documentation of one of the most beautiful places on Earth. This production will serve as a gift for future generations with an imaging epic that guarantees to inspire, invigorate and challenge for preservation of planet earth.
Elysium Epic research team will provide in-depth scientific/photographic survey of Antarctica and the impact of global warming on Earth’s last remote place. The 57-member team of explorers from 18 countries will meet in Ushuaia, Argentina – the world’s southernmost city – to embark on a benchmark expedition to Antarctica. Convened by an Australian project director Michael AW of the Ocean Geographic Society, the team is comprised of some of the world’s most celebrated image-makers, historians, and scientists. Their mission is to scout, record, and analyze this pristine land of ice and snow –and to create a visual library of the impact of climate change on this remote region.
Michael Aw said, “Elysium Epic is about extraordinary explorers using advanced imaging technologies to document the last wilderness on our planet. The aim of the project is to provide a visual library that documents the flora and fauna of Antarctica, and to produce a documentary feature and book to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the heroic legendary expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Trans Antarctic challenge in 1914. *”
Oceanographer Dr Cabell Davis from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Boston is the Chief scientist of expedition and along with Dr Steve Nicol and Dr Karen Richardson from Australia. Dr. Nicol, a senior scientist from the Australian Antarctic Division is an expert on all aspects of the biology and ecology of krill, Antarctic fisheries, and the dynamics of Southern Ocean ecosystems will serve as the deputy chief scientist of expedition and Dr Richardon will the project director assistant. Both are extremely excited for the opportunity to share in this historic expedition.
“It is extremely exciting to be able to participate in an expedition of such importance to the last pristine wilderness location on earth,” Dr. Nicol stated. “I look forward to working with this extraordinary group of experts, and am very glad to help make a lasting impact on research into global warming – a topic that is critical to anyone who lives in Australia.”
The 2010 Elysium Epic team will explore the route Shackleton and his crew travelled after they lost the Endurance – from the Weddell Sea and across the treacherous Drake Passage to South Georgia. The team aims to capture the splendour of the fauna, the terrain, the sights and sounds of this enchanting region in a manner that no one has ever done before.
The Antarctic Peninsula has increased in temperature by 3°C in the last 50 years; that is more than twice the world’s average and the greatest increase in temperature of any place on Earth. It makes the peninsula an important and poignant indicator for climate change. But what implications does this rise in temperature have for the organisms that call the Antarctic home? Elysium tam scientists and photographers will document the present state of global warming as it affects this vulnerable and volatile region. Visual records will be taken every step of the way: photographic testimony, video documentation, samples and population estimates.
The 21st century team is no ordinary group of explorers; they comprise some of the world’s best wildlife photographers, film makers and marine scientists. The principal members include: David Doubilet, photographer in residence of National Geographic; Titanic and deep-sea vent discoverer Emory Kristof - also a National Geographic Photographer in residence; BBC Wildlife photographer of the Year winners Michael AW, Goran Ehlme, and Amos Nachoum; eight-time World Underwater Pictures festival Winner Leandro Blanco; and the master of black and white underwater imagery, Ernest Brooks II, acclaimed as the Ansell Adams of the Sea; Nature’s Best Wildlife Winner Jenny Ross; chief scientist Cabell Davis, PhD from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; Steve Nichol, PhD of the Australian Antarctic Division and a specialist in the dynamics of Southern Ocean ecosystems; and fine-art artist Wyland, renowned as the Michelangelo of the Sea.
Jonathan Shackleton, cousin of his legendary Irish forebear is also part of the lead team and will be on site to tell the story of Ernest Shackleton – revealing how the hero managed heroic feats in one of the most inhospitable regions of the world. Other team members comprise medical doctors, geophysicists, oceanographers, marine biologists, professional film makers and technical diving practitioners. This is, by any visual or scientific standard, the ultimate dream team.
The production shoot will begin where Shackleton and his team fought to survive their unexpected situation. What will it be like 98 years later? Will there still be the expanse of ice shelf in this time of global ocean change? Will it be the same as when they first walked? Or has man’s destructive hand already irreversibly changed the landscape forever?
The expedition serves two purposes. The first is to connect to Shackleton. But the second is to provide an in-depth scientific survey of the area as a reference to time and generations to come. Surveys of organisms above and below the ice will yield many new visual wonders. Hopefully the team will discover some as yet unknown treasures. Photos and videos of penguins, seals and seabirds will be collated into a publicly accessible index.
Elysium Epic aims to be the world’s only expedition of its kind, and will be entirely carbon neutral. The project team is working with experts in climate change science to calculate the carbon footprint of the expedition and to offset by means of purchase of carbon credits or/and by investing in offset schemes that yield measurable results.
The team will attempt to land on Elephant Island, an enchanting but notoriously difficult landfall to approach due to its ice-covered mountainous terrain, dense fogs, icebergs and a lack of safe anchorage. Attempting to land on Elephant Island could prove to be too difficult for the team. Throughout history just a handful of people have successfully landed on Elephant Island. Provided they accomplish their rendezvous with Elephant Island, the team will then sail to South Georgia. After collecting, collating, experiencing, and embracing the wonders of the Antarctic region and Shackleton’s journey, the explorers will land at Grytviken , where Shackleton is buried. Elysium Epic is a tribute to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Shackleton’s Trans Antarctic Epic.
The expedition will produce a feature documentary, a limited edition high quality book and, most importantly, an index of images for a climate change documentation of the Antarctic Peninsula. From 8 February 2010, the explorers will update their progress daily at ElysiumEpic.org; the team welcomes questions the public, especially students, about the adventure, climate change and ecological science of the Antarctic region. The team will respond live whenever and will update the expedition blog several times daily from 10 February to 2 March.
Media contact: Nicole Lenoir Jourdan – FIVE STARS PR, nicole@fivestarpr.com.au
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