Face to Face is a lavish combination of pioneering polar photography and modern portraiture, and a unique collection of historic photographic equipment.
This stunning exhibition and publication will be shown for the first
time in Ireland at the Athy Heritage Centre & Museum, Co. Kildare, in
October, at the official opening of the 8th Shackleton Autumn School. Also enjoying its launch in Ireland is the unique book by Huw Lewis-Jones, ahead of its official release date in England.
From the small town of Athy it will go to London, New York, Scotland
and Los Angeles. It is a great honor for a small heritage centre &
museum in county kildare to host such a prestigious exhibition.
The exhibition opens on 24th October, and runs for four weeks before its
international tour.
Showcasing images from 1845 to the present day, Face to Face: Polar Portraits features historic images that include the very first polar photographs, the first portraits of explorers, some of the earliest photographs of the Inuit, and rare images never before published from many of the Heroic-Age Antarctic expeditions. These extraordinary portraits are contrasted with an intriguing mix of modern images by Martin Hartley, who has captured men and women of many nations, exploring, working, and living in the Polar Regions today, whether they be one of the world's greatest explorers, or a humble cook.
Almost all the historic imagery - daguerreotypes, magic lantern slides, glass plate negatives and images from private albums - that have been rediscovered during research for this project have never been before the public eye. In addition to 25 historic, and 25 modern polar portraits, the exhibition features a unique collection of historic photographic equipment, such as cameras owned by Captain Scott, Herbert Ponting, Sir Wally Herbert and Sir Ranulph Fiennes.