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17/04/2025

Filmmaker Michael Duff explains why preparation is key to documenting and preserving the stories of Antarctica.

Packing for journeys to some of the furthest corners of the world is a familiar process, but never before have I prepared for a journey to the furthest corner of the world. Preparing for my first expedition to Antarctica was full of exciting unknowns and invigorating learning curves. 

I had been asked to join an expedition to Blaiklock Island with the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust to document conservation work and build a digital record of Blaiklock Island Refuge – a small historic building on one of the most remote and difficult-to-access islands on the planet. And, as we later discovered, surrounded by towering, jagged summits and powerful glaciers slowly feeding the bay with an array of crystal blue icebergs, it’s also one of Earth’s most magnificent and untouched islands. 

Michael in Marguerite Bay (UKAHT/Michael Duff)

What I did know is that our team of four would be travelling and living on a small sailboat – the only reliable way to reach this Antarctic island, which for much of the year is locked in sea ice and inaccessible. Every day, we would commute from the sailing boat to Blaiklock Island in an even smaller, inflatable boat, more commonly known as a RIB or zodiac. I needed to pack light. I needed to pack small. And I needed to pack right – there would be no second chances or next-day delivery for forgotten items once we began our journey South. 

The team travelled to Blaiklock by sailboat (UKAHT/Michael Duff)

As I packed my camera gear – 4K high definition cameras, weather-sealed lenses, carbon fibre tripod, memory cards the size of postage stamps, batteries, microphones, and myriad cables and adapters – it got me thinking about those who had gone before me: the pioneers of film production in Antarctica such as Frank Hurley and Herbert Ponting. 

When Australian filmmaker Frank Hurley set out with Ernest Shackleton on the infamous 1914 Endurance expedition, his packing list included some of the most advanced camera technology available at the time. At the top of his list was the Prestwich Model 5 Cine camera – a hand-cranked 35mm film camera weighing in at almost 10kg when loaded with 400 feet of film, providing just five minutes of precious recording time. My bulging cases, filled with modern equipment, allow for a creative freedom that Hurley could only dream of.

Frank Hurley's Prestwich Model 5 Cine vs Michael's Sony (Kino Cameras, UKAHT/Michael Duff)

But filming in Antarctica isn’t just about having the right equipment—there are many considerations regarding how extreme and unpredictable weather will impact that equipment. Subzero temperatures wreak havoc on batteries, draining them faster than usual. Modern LCD screens become sluggish or unresponsive as the liquid crystals inside freeze. Condensation on lenses and inside the camera body can affect the image or cause permanent damage to sensitive electronics. Even the most advanced gear remains fragile against the harsh elements of Antarctica. 

Michael had to work in challenging conditions (UKAHT/Michael Duff)

And the equipment is just one side of the story – we also had to prepare ourselves for whatever Antarctica throws our way. A day that begins with clear blue skies and calm seas can quickly turn into a snowy whiteout, frozen fingertips, and vicious seas intent on drenching us with icy water. Extra layers are essential (for person and gear), but thick gloves and waterproofing turn otherwise simple tasks into a tactical challenge. 

Over the days and weeks that I was in Antarctica, I captured hours of video footage and thousands of photographs, along with time-lapse, aerial and 360 imagery. The story of our expedition – our journey, our team, the meticulous conservation of the refuge and its artefacts, the island, the wildlife, the expanse and the emptiness – will all be added to Antarctica’s recorded history.  

Keeping a smile on his face (UKAHT/Michael Duff)

Documenting and preserving our shared history in Antarctica, like the Blaiklock Refuge Hut, isn’t easy given the immense distances, logistical challenges and unpredictable environment. But it is more important now than ever. 

The stories these places hold are as vulnerable to the elements as the buildings themselves – if they are not captured and recorded, they will be lost in time. And it is precisely these challenges that make film production in Antarctica such an incredible, unparalleled and worthwhile experience.  

Michael Duff, Filmmaker