Endurance 

Frank Hurley captured this image, titled Endurance, using photographic materials and processes. The photograph shows a ship surrounded by snow and ice. The tonal range is mostly cool blues and whites, with the starkness of the frozen landscape contrasting against the ship, the Endurance. The material qualities of photography - the way light interacts with the chemicals on the film, and the processes of developing and printing - have a big impact on the image's feel. The use of photography as a medium is significant, as it offers a specific, unvarnished view of the real world. It presents a modern approach to documentary. Hurley's photography is a testament to the amount of work and technical skill involved in documenting extreme conditions. By focusing on materiality, process and social context, we can understand how photography moved away from traditional art, to create documentary of historic and labor-intensive events.