Cold snaps hit

By Tania Martin
FOR Clare McClelland a trip to Antarctica, one of the world’s most natural and beautiful places, has been a life changing experience.
Since first embarking on a trip to this remote yet stunning destination Ms McClelland has been back once and is hoping to return later this year.
The Mt Evelyn photographer is now getting ready to share her experiences of the Antarctic with hills people.
She will officially open her exhibition titled Naked Elements of Antarctica Exposed on Friday at Morrison on the Park café in Mt Evelyn.
The exhibition includes some breathtaking shots of the Antarctic in all its glory.
Ms McClelland’s journey to becoming a photographer all started when she was given her first camera when she was 17 years old.
She said it was her father, a pilot, who inspired her to take photographs and travel the globe.
After finishing high school and armed with her camera, Ms McClelland set off on a journey to the United Kingdom to visit family, which is where she took the first of many photographs.
She continued taking pictures but it wasn’t until her late 20s that Ms McClelland started taking photography seriously.
“One of my friends told me I took good pictures and it just went from there,” she said.
After accepting her first job to photograph a friend’s wedding, Ms McClelland decided to undertake some training and enrolled in a course in black and white developing.
Soon after that she went on to study at the Australian Centre of Photography in Sydney.
Ms McClelland said she now travels with her camera slung over her shoulder in order to capture many aspects of life.
Her view through the lens is a panorama of images from friends to landscapes and animals – whatever inspires her in the moment.
But it wasn’t until 2002 when Ms McClelland first visited Antarctica that she realised how far her work could take her.
She said by coincidence she was invited on a trip to the end of the earth to photograph what she believes is the most beautiful place in the world.
“Antarctica is very unique and untouched and the play of light on the landscape is absolutely fascinating,” she said. “Nothing prepared me for the experience of Antarctica – you have to breathe her air and feel her power. She stripped me down to size.”
Ms McClelland said when she witnessed the beauty of the Antarctic she almost gave up because she didn’t believe she could do it justice.
A month on the icy capped desert wasn’t enough for Ms McClelland as she relished the opportunity to return to the Antarctic in 2006.
The exhibition runs from 1- 28 March but will be officially opened on 7 March.
Ms McClelland is also hoping to return to Antarctica, the place where she is most inspired, later this year as part if an Artist in Residence program.