Extreme conditions in the Vinson Massif

Emotions were running high, and it wasn't from the extreme cold or high winds as documentary filmmaker Juan Antonio Puyol and a small crew gathered at the base of Vinson Massif, Antarcticaís highest peak to shoot Epic Returns: Revisiting the Top of the Bottom of the World. 40 years ago, ten scientists and mountaineers, noted for their scientific contributions and geographic explorations, came from universities across the United States to make history. Now four of the original ascentionists have come back to reconnect with a place they first explored and their personal attachment to the location and each other. It was a unique moment in time, Puyol explains. It was one of the last times anyone would be able to look at an entire range of mountains on the certainty that no one had set foot on its slopes before.

An icy wind makes shooting difficult

Wind was probably the most challenging logistical obstacle that Puyol faced. Weather is the single-greatest contributor to mountaineering accidents, injuries and failed summit attempts on Vinson. When the wind kicks up it can flatten you, powder you and your gear with ice and snow, and make it nearly impossible to get even a steady locked off shot. Add to it that you are out in the open without shelter and your fingers are feeling numb and you've got lots to ponder.

Equipment Key to Success

The decision that go into choosing equipment for this type of environment and these shooting conditions require a great deal of balance between quality, durability, weight and an array of other demanding factors, he says. With that in mind, the process was difficult but remarkably the choices almost made

themselves. Sachtler being a natural. Sachtler gear was key to the success of the shoot. The equipment handled extremely well under what was certainly the coldest and some of the most severe conditions I have had to deal with. This says a lot about the equipment. Most of my pans and tilts had to be kept short, due to the fact that wind gusts were often strong enough to seriously impact operation, he explains. Even with the freezing temperatures and winds, the Speedlock sticks were fantastic. They were fast and efficient. This was essential, given our circumstances which required constant movement and little to no time for any set-ups. The tripod and Sachtler DV 6 head combination proved to be incredibly durable and handled extremely well, he adds. They were often mistreated and thrown out, quite literally, to the cold and wind and we never missed a shot.

ABOUT JUAN ANTONIO PUYOL

Owner of the Proud Line Pictures Company
Cameraman and Producer (DoP)
Puyol’s passion: to try to understand the world and the circumstances of life; in his documentations he often portrays the relationship between people and their environment
He has worked on numerous features and documentaries
He has achieved international recognition and received several awards

IMPRESSIONS:

“The equipment was extremely easy to handle under the coldest and hardest conditions I have ever experienced. This says a lot about the quality of the Sachtler equipment.”
Juan Antonio Puyol