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Exhibition focuses on Nat Geo’s best shots
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NATIONAL Geographic, the official magazine of the National Geographic Society, has been known as one of the world’s top purveyors of quality photojournalism for more than a century.
At an ongoing exhibition, titled “A New Age of Exploration since 1888,” at Star Avenue in Hangzhou’s Binjiang District, visitors can glimpse some of most dramatic pictures from the magazine’s history.
The exhibition begins with a section called “A Photographic History,” which focuses on pioneering photo work from the periodical’s early days in the late 19th century.
In 1890, the magazine published its first outdoor photograph, taken of Russia’s Herald Island, located in the Arctic Ocean. It was with this black-and-white image, taken from the deck of a ship, that the magazine’s founders started to pursue their aim of “stimulating geographic investigation” and “providing an acceptable medium for the publication of results.”
Starting from 1900, National Geographic began to publish hand colored photographs. A picture taken in Japan by Eliza Scidmore was the magazine’s first colored image. It was also during that same year that photographer George Shiras snapped the first photo of wildlife at night.
Just over a quarter-century later, marine biologist William Longley and photographer Charles Martin used a brass-bound waterproof camera and a raft rigged with half a kilogram of explosive flash-powder to capture the world’s first underwater picture in the Florida Keys — though Longley was several burnt in the process of setting this milestone in photo history.
The second part of the exhibition, “Wild Lives of Wildlife,” is dedicated to animal photography. One highlight of this section is Paul Nicklen’s image “Antarctic Peninsula,” which depicts a 454-kilogram female leopard seal attempting to feed the cameraman a live penguin chick. Another picture, titled “Nunavut, Canada,” shows a submerged polar bear as it glides beneath its reflection in the water surface above.
Nicklen has specialized in photographing the world’s polar regions since 1995 in an attempt to show the effects of global warming with his intriguing images.
In addition to capturing dramatic wildlife photos, some of the magazine’s photographers are also dedicated to seeking out rare animals and endangered species.
In a photo titled “Pakistan,” a snow leopard in the Hindu Kush stares down photographer George Schaller as he captures one of the world’s first ever images of the legendary “ghost cat.”
The third section of the exhibition, “Into the Unknown,” explores expeditions to the ends of the Earth in pursuit of never-before-published images.
Showcasing the greatness of the world has always been the mission of National Geographic. It has sponsored countless expeditions to explore every corner of the Earth, from glaciers and mountain peaks to cavernous caves and the bottom of sea, all of which increase humanity’s understanding of the planet.
Explorer Hiram Bingham was the first person to show Machu Picchu to a world audience. The place became a tourist attraction after he published the photo “Peru” in 1912. Locals used machetes to clear away the covered vegetation for the cameraman, since they had known of the site’s whereabouts for centuries.
Another explorer, Robert Ballard, discovered the final resting place of the doomed Titanic in 1985. Using a Russian submersible, he photographed the shipwreck and announced its discovery in a National Geographic exclusive.
Images from such expeditions have not only spread spectacular views to readers around the world, but also helped preserve the natural environment.
Michael Nichols’s picture “Gabon” shows ecologist Michael Fay huddling on a mountaintop. Starting in 1999, Fay spent 455 days traveling through Republic of the Congo and Gabon. Images of his trip were said to have inspired Gabon’s president, Omar Bongo, to establish 13 national parks in the country along Fay’s route.
Of course, the National Geographic is also dedicated to sharing stories of human culture and drama as well.
One of the magazine’s most famous cover photos is a portrait of a green-eyed Afghan girl. Taken at a refugee camp by Steve McCurry, the girl’s penetrating gaze hinted at the plight of countless ordinary Afghans amid the chaos wrought by their country’s invasion by Soviet forces. Initially, the portrait was dumped, only to be rescued later by the magazine’s president, Bill Garnett, in a pile of rejected photos.
Throughout the magazine’s history, photographers have also been drawn to China and captured many important images in the country. Photographer Michael Yamashita’s picture “Echoing-Sand Mountain, Dunhuang,” for instance, was taken in 2001 nearby a famous sand dune in Gansu Province as he traced Marco Polo’s supposed route through China.
The exhibition’s next section is “Simply Beauty,” which highlights classic National Geographic images that combine stunning light, compositional excellence and “the moment.” To bring these three elements together, photographers sometimes have to plan for several years, carry thousands of kilograms of equipment, traverse mountains and wade rivers — only to wait for photo opportunities that many never arise.
Famed photographer Frans Lanting used telephoto lenses to capture the surreal landscape in Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia. The warm light of the morning sun illuminated a huge red sand dune dotted with white grass, while the desert floor was still in shade. Then the best moment came when the sun reached all the way down to the bottom of sand dune.
The last section, “Year of Hangzhou,” contains precious historic images captured in the city from 1916 to 2010.
Maynard Owen Williams took a series of pictures in Hangzhou from 1919 to 1921. Those pictures showcase the city’s original appearance, with images of Lingyin Temple and West Lake as well as roadside vendors and local residents.
Date: Through June 26, 10am-9pm
Address: Star Avenue, Binjiang District
Admission: 60 yuan (US$9.23) in workdays, 80 yuan in weekends
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