Antarctic Winter - Australian Antarctic Division

For 12 months during the 2017/18 season I was the station photographer at Casey Station, East Antarctica. The role was to support the communications department back in Australia with high quality photography and videography as well as provide imagery where needed for science operations.

During summer (Nov-March) the station housed up to 120 people and during winter (March to Nov) we went down to 26 people. We worked with air assets including Squirrel helicopters, Twin Otters, Baslers and larger intercontinental aircraft such as the C17 Globemaster. My work took me to every corner of the operating area and I was attached to scientific projects relating to climate change research such as glacier retreat, wildlife and sea ice monitoring, ocean acidification research, area reconnaissance, and any requirements the communications department had for public media campaigns. A highlight was photographing the penguin populations on several islands where I spent the day in a freezer suit hanging out of a helicopter with the doors taken off.

Significant training was required to be part of the core team of 26 which stayed on the continent for the full 12 months. Before departing Australia we had to undergo courses in Antarctic survival, SAR, Firefighting, Zodiac handling and advanced first aid. I was on the Search and Rescue team and took the role as BA2 (breathing apparatus 2) on the fire team. We drilled and trained constantly through the year as in the event of an emergency we were the only help.

Life on station was very structured and came with it’s own social and psychological challenges. During the summer the station was exceptionally busy and we lived with 24 hour daylight, while during the winter we endured long months of near to total darkness and isolation in a huge almost empty station.

We had full access to the operating area (65km) and regularly travelled by air, over land and across sea ice. We were all trained and proficient in driving Hagglunds which were used for long trips across rough terrain, while arguably our most preferred mode of transport was on quad bikes.

Being attached to projects with such significant meaning was very special and the experience of living and working in the most remote environment on Earth is something I will hold dear for the rest of my life.