Herbert George Ponting (1870-1935)
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, 1907. Carbon print, image/sheet size 395 x 555mm.

Herbert George Ponting (1870-1935) is best known for documenting Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition, where he acted as the expedition's photographer and cinematographer, creating some of the most famous and memorable images of Scott's ill-fated journey to the South Pole. Prior to taking on this landmark assignment, Ponting established his reputation as a successful documentary photographer in Asia, publishing landscape stereoviews and publishing images in English-language periodicals. From 1904-1907, he traveled throughout Japan, Myanmar, Korea, China and India. The present view was taken by Ponting in 1907, towards the end of his travels in Asia -- a sweeping view of the Great Wall from Nankou Pass, north of Beijing.