Everest Photographer

david700

david700

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I was looking through my local paper today and saw this obituary about Alf Gregory,who accompanied the 1953 Everest expedition and ended up as the photographer for the trip. John Hunt,the expedition leader chose him because he knew a bit about photography.

What I do find interesting in the Daily Telegraph article ,in this modern age of transferring imagery by computer/phone link ,in an instant,is that he sent his undeveloped films back to Kathmandu......... a seven day journey !.

I wasnt aware of his Lancashire connections, ie born in Blackburn and moved to Blackpool.
Until I read the article,I must confess I had never heard of him, but endeavour to find out more.
It would be good to think that a local memorial could be instigated to someone who photographed what was a moment in history of the world.

For interest here are the links to the two articles

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/7207734/Alf-Gregory.html

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.u...grapher_on_first_Everest_climb_dies__aged_96/
 
Having read just about every climbing book written especially everest it's amazing anyone in those days managed to come down the mountain alive, it's hard enough climbing it with poor equipment and frozen ropes but having to take pics too must have bean a major feat, I've big respect for these guys it's a place I'd love to visit but sadly I'll never get to climb it
 
reminds me of reading "everest the hard way" years ago - story of the 1974 South West Face ascent. There's one Iconic shot of (iirc) Dougal Haston on the Hillary step which nearly didn't happen. Apparently, it was so cold, that the film kept snapping when Doug Scott wound the film on! I think they ended up sealing up the camera and shipping it to Kodak with the fragments of film inside, and the technicians put things together the best they could!

They made a pretty good job of it though!

1975-Dougal-Haston-on-Hillary-Step-.jpg
 
Be interesting to know how long it takes for a pic to get from Everest to the Picture desk nowadays - any guesses ???
 
satellite data phone at top camp - so as long as it takes to get back to the tent I guess?
 
TheBigYin said:
reminds me of reading "everest the hard way" years ago - story of the 1974 South West Face ascent. There's one Iconic shot of (iirc) Dougal Haston on the Hillary step which nearly didn't happen. Apparently, it was so cold, that the film kept snapping when Doug Scott wound the film on! I think they ended up sealing up the camera and shipping it to Kodak with the fragments of film inside, and the technicians put things together the best they could!

They made a pretty good job of it though!

1975-Dougal-Haston-on-Hillary-Step-.jpg
Click to expand...

Is that his rope or a split in the film ?


:lol:
great pic.
 
The earth was once a very big place - Makes you wonder whether expeditions and adventure still hold the thrill and excitement,nowadays,as it did for those, say in 1953 ?
 
Considering it was taken at 28,840 feet, and probably -20c, late in the afternoon it's pretty damned amazing!

and it's definitely the rope :lol:
 
It's a very brave thing to do (if you can get past the altitude sickness) especially as you pass frozen bodies of people who didn't make it to the top, only you and yourself on your own can get back down.
 
david700 said:
The earth was once a very big place - Makes you wonder whether expeditions and adventure still hold the thrill and excitement,nowadays,as it did for those, say in 1953 ?
Click to expand...

The numbers that reach the summit now are incredible - about 200 per year.
Around 1 in 20 die trying.
I used to be a mountaineer, but no mountain is worth anyone's life.
 
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