Aurora in McMurdo Sound Nearing Cape Evans 

Frank Hurley made this photograph of the Aurora ship somewhere in McMurdo Sound using photographic techniques common for his time, likely involving glass plate negatives, and hand-applied coloring. The image's power lies not just in the ship as the subject matter, but also the materiality of the photograph itself. Hurley's use of photography represents both the ambition of exploration and the industrial means of documenting it. The ship, a product of resource extraction and industrial labor, becomes an instrument of exploration, pushing against the very limits of the world. While it may appear to be a straightforward, documentary image, Hurley's careful composition, the subtle tones, and the very act of capturing the ship and environment underscore the complex interplay between industry, exploration, and the technology of photography. We are reminded of the amount of work, planning and labour that went into the exploration of the world. By considering these elements, we can see how Hurley's work challenges traditional boundaries between fine art, documentation, and the technologies that mediate our understanding of the world.