Client: Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Media Partner: PHOENIX / Editor Heinz Abel
Platforms: EIS-Zeit – Research in Antarctica (TV series), EIS-Blog, ARD/ZDF news magazines
Location: Ekström Ice Shelf, Antarctica
Period: February – March 2008
My Role
As the on-site editor, cameraman, and production lead, I accompanied the construction of the underground garage of the Neumayer III Station during the Antarctic summer of 2008. On behalf of the AWI, my IPTV channel realnature.tv was responsible for documenting this stage of the project on film. Together with PHOENIX and reporter Heinz Abel, we produced the daily broadcast series EIS-Zeit – Research in Antarctica. The format was expanded by the EIS-Blog, which allowed viewers to ask questions directly to the team on the ice – a groundbreaking form of real-time communication from one of the most remote places on Earth.
Challenges & Experiences
Working under these conditions was uniquely demanding:
- Extreme Environment: By February, temperatures were already dropping – some days below –20 °C – accompanied by intense winds. Cameras, batteries, tripods, and hands quickly reached their limits.
- Equipment Under Pressure: Every piece of gear had to be winterproof. Lenses froze, displays flickered, even tightening screws became a challenge during storms.
- Increasing Storms: As summer came to an end, storm systems became more frequent. Several shooting days had to be canceled to secure tents and equipment. Filming in katabatic winds reaching up to 120 km/h required full physical commitment – even for the tripod.
- Editorial Responsibility: Despite isolation and harsh conditions, we delivered daily broadcast-ready material, transmitted it to Germany, and saw it aired on PHOENIX. I coordinated the content, edited scripts, secured footage – often while still shooting.
Impact & Reach
The content gained wide attention:
- Daily broadcasts on PHOENIX, in collaboration with Heinz Abel
- Features in various ARD and ZDF programs
- The EIS-Blog as an interactive platform, allowing audience engagement and direct insights
My images and films not only document the progress of a highly complex construction project on the ice, but also the life, work, and perseverance required in such an extreme setting.
This expedition remains one of the most intense and formative experiences of my career in journalism.
It demonstrates how authentic reporting – despite isolation, cold, and storms – is possible when technology, teamwork, and editorial responsibility align.
