Mawson's Chef Jordan Smith reminds us of the vast array of colours that feature in our southern polar regions

Colour

Colour. Not a word usually associated with Antarctica. However, there exists some of the most amazing colours I have ever seen, down here at the bottom of the world.

The blues of the sea, ice and glaciers.

The oranges, pinks and purples of the morning and evening sky (that get even more stunning as we head ever closer into 24-hour darkness).

The greys of seals and dark moody skies before a blizzard.

The various shades of white and black on penguins and birds.

The browns of the hills and rocky outcrops.

The greens of the tussock grass at Macca (Macquarie Island).

The simply brilliant ‘rainbows’ of the aurora australis.

We are so lucky to be here at Mawson and I’m looking forward to experiencing a full year of the changing colours.

(I’ve been incredibly fortunate to now winter at all the AAD stations, so some of these photos are from my previous seasons).

Jordan Smith, Chef

picture of a large pure blue-ice feature above the ground, with cliffs and features shaped by a harsh environment
In the sky view of a large iceberg in clear-blue water, showing submerged ice below - with the feature surrounded by ice floes.
An iceberg of differing blue and white colours in calm water, with its reflection captured in the deep blue water.
An ice shelf over the water, with massive crevassing and deep slots carved into the wall
picture taken from a plane, looking over rocky outcrops and a body of bluish-green water with an island in the middle
picture of dark blue-clear ice floor with deep cracks visible
A full moon surrounded by pink and purple hues of colour, over the sea ice and water, with a rocky outcrop of an island in the distance
large, distant bergs under under a pink-purple hue sky with a rocky outcrop ans sea ice in foreground
Distant bergs surrounded by smooth sea ice, with a half-moon in the purple sky
A young seal partially hidden by tussock grass peers at the camera with big wide eyes
two elephant seals lying on top of a tussock grass mound, looking towards the camera
a young, cute seal pup lying next to its mother on the sea ice, looking at the camera
a number of penguins following each other, bobbing above the water while swimming in sea with rocky outcrop in background
A snow petrel at full wingspan in the air, with snow and rocky outcrop in background
Two large penguins with their backs to the camera - walking across ice
A group of large penguins in a group, with some shedding feathers on their chest
a small group of young penguin adolescents, with grey and white colouring, standing in the snow
a green aurora overhead with stars and clouds visible, with a building in the foreground
green aurora against a milky way, starry backdrop - taken near a station's ANARESAT building
an amazing green aurora dominating the sky over a station, with stars visible in the backdrop

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