04. Why Legacy Matters

Among many of the early polar expeditions were photographers and filmmakers. These individuals played an integral role during the expeditions, and also after. Their work garnered legitimacy to the endeavors, alongside worldwide intrigue. The work developed by the likes of Frank Hurley, Herbert Ponting, Dora Keen, Olav Bjaaland, and many more still inspire to this day.

These individuals had to brave the conditions while managing bulky materials and cameras. For instance, Frank Hurley lugged around forty pounds of gear throughout the entirety of the Endurance expedition with Shackleton. The photographs were so important that, as the Endurance was being crushed and sinking beneath the ice, Hurley repeatedly dove into the wreck to retrieve the exposed media in his storage room. Before departing the wreck, Hurley and Shackleton sorted through the images, knowing that they could not keep them all. To this day, Hurley’s saved photographs from the expedition are some of the most influential and striking images of early polar exploration.

Why does this matter in the 21^st century when everyone has a camera in their pocket? I would argue that intentional storytelling is more important now than ever. The saturation of media can easily drown out inferior media, but it allows for truly good work to float on the surface. This is why we believe in Earned Stories here at Fram Studio Co. To push past the friction of mundane and to truly experience storytelling in its realist and most authentic form. Just like the storytellers did before us.