Antarctica 2

Simon Foster

Role

Creative Director & Audio-Visual Lead

Experience

I have more than 20 years of global photographic experience. I held the position as Audio Visual Manager in my role at Massey Ferguson/AGCO, organising photoshoot locations, products and shooting material for literature, advertising and film. The past 10 years have been working as a commercial photographer, gaining a wealth of experience outside of a corporation.

WHAT 3 THINGS CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT ON THE TRIP?

Photographs of my family, coffee, and chocolate coated peanuts.

WHAT WILL YOU MISS FROM HOME?

I will miss my family of course, I love them so much especially my wife Louise, my son Matthew and stepdaughter Laura. Christmas with the family and the luxury of a bed!

BIO

I have worked as a photographer and cameraman for 22 years, with my first 12 years employed by Massey Ferguson/AGCO as an Audio Visual Specialist and Manager travelling on location throughout Europe, Africa and South America on product shoots for literature, advertising campaigns and film.
I have continued to have Massey Ferguson/AGCO as a client whilst running Simon Foster Photography Ltd, a commercial photographic business.
Within the business I undertake commissions from artists, commercial and residential architectural clients and also produce work for the medical and industrial sectors as part of my varied portfolio.

WHY ANTARCTICA2?

I have travelled extensively throughout my career to all parts of Europe, Africa and South America, but I have never been to anywhere as extreme as Antarctica. The expedition brings a whole new experience and a way of working that you never deal with in temperate and hot climates. Travelling with the team and the tractor is going to be an experience of a lifetime.

Simon during Iceland training

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE EXPEDITION?

The toughest part of the expedition will be coping with the extreme cold, not only for me but also for the camera equipment. The cameras need to be in tiptop condition throughout the duration of the expedition and with temperatures dipping to below -40degreesC all sorts of problems occur with the working mechanisms in the cameras. LCD screens do not function, tripods freeze, condensation forms when moving between outdoors to inside of vehicles so there are measures you have to take to stop any of this happening.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR TOUGHEST CHALLENGE SO FAR

The toughest challenge to overcome has been during the Arctic training held up in Baffin Island, by Matty McNair and Sarah McNair-Landry. We were skiing with pulks (sleds) and trying to cover the best distance we could in temperatures down to -36degreesC. You sweat a lot doing this, which is not good because if you get wet you have little time to dry clothing.

In the words of Matty McNair – “If you sweat you die!”

GALLERY

SEE ALL THE LATEST PHOTOS AND VIDEO DIARY ENTRIES

24^th Jun

MF 5610 reached the South Pole on 9th December 2014.

24^th Jun

Manon is proud to receive her Guinness Book of World Records Certificate.

22^nd Jun

Nancie Clanachan from Maryholm Farm, Scotland collects her prize.

22^nd Jun

The MF 5610 which conquered the South Pole.

22^nd Jun

The MF 5610 Antarctica2 Special Edition tractor.

16^th Mar

The Abbey Park Team welcome Manon Ossevoort and Simon Foster back to Abbey

16^th Mar

Declan Hayden, Vice President, Global Sales & Operations Planning congr

16^th Mar

Simon Foster, Creative Director and Audio Visual Lead & Manon Ossevoort

22^nd Feb

The MF 5610 tractor at the South Pole on 9^th December 2014.

22^nd Feb

The MF 5610 helped fulfil a lifelong dream to drive a tractor to the ‘end o

17^th Feb

Employees at Massey Ferguson in Beauvais, France gather to welcome home the

17^th Feb

Manon Ossevoort hands back the keys of the MF 5610 to Richard Markwell, Vic

17^th Feb

A police escort accompanied the MF 5610 Antarctica2 tractor on its return t

17^th Feb

Antarctica2 MF 5610 at the Beauvais 2 Training Centre with Simon, Manon and

17^th Feb

The MF 5610 Antarctica2 tractor was welcomed home to Beauvais by the MF wor

17^th Feb

The Antarctica2 tractor stands proudly outside the Town Hall (La Mairie) in

12^th Feb

Manon, The World's Dreams and a Snowman.

12^th Feb

Manon Building Her Snowman.

12^th Feb

The MF 5610 Details in The Snow.

20^th Dec

Manon Ossevoort gave a grateful hug to the MF 5610 tractor.

20^th Dec

Emotional celebrations for the Antarctica2 team.

20^th Dec

The MF 5610 helped Manon fulfil a 12-year dream.

19^th Dec

Cameraman Simon Foster as the Antarctica2 tractor expedition gets closer.

19^th Dec

#BelieveInIt is helping to drive the team towards their final goal.

18^th Dec

So near yet so far - the Antarctica2 team is on the home-straight.

15^th Dec

The Antarctica2 tractor expedition is a constant challenge.

15^th Dec

The Antarctica2 team has completed 850 km of its return journey.

15^th Dec

The weather closed in on the Antarctica2 tractor expedition.

9^th Dec

Antarctica2 Day 9: Manon Ossevoort and team have reached the South Pole.

9^th Dec

Matty McNair, Antarctica2 Expedition Lead Guide.

9^th Dec

Sir Edmund Hillary's telegram from 1958 after reaching the South Pole.

9^th Dec

Taking the ultimate selfie at the South Pole.

8^th Dec

Antarctica2 Day 7: The team are almost halfway.

4^th Dec

Conditions are still tough for the Antarctica2 expedition team.

3^rd Dec

The Antarctica2 tractor has had to overcome a range of surface conditions.

3^rd Dec

The MF 5610 has been up against temperatures as low as minus 56 C.

3^rd Dec

The Antarctica2 tractor has had to overcome a range of surface conditions.

3^rd Dec

The MF 5610 tractor on Day 6 of the trip.

1^st Dec

Daily update from Nicolas Bachelet, Antarctica2 Lead Mechanic

1^st Dec

'Tractor Girl', Manon Ossevoort at the wheel of the MF 5610.

1^st Dec

The expedition tractor's tyre pressure was reduced to 5 psi.

30^th Nov

Day 9 of Antarctica2: Daily update from Nicolas Bachelet

29^th Nov

MF 5610 tractor battling across the brutal icescape in the Anatrctica2 expe

29^th Nov

The MF 5610 expedition tractor making its way through the mountains.

29^th Nov

Lead Driver, Manon Ossevoort

28^th Nov

Antarctica2: How to set up the tractor tent

27^th Nov

The Antarctica2 team were treated to stunning views across the icescape.

27^th Nov

The MF 5610 tractor's forward speed on the ice has ranged from as high 22 k

26^th Nov

Antarctica 2 Team At Their First Camp, Day 3.

25^th Nov

The The MF 5610 tractor is coping well with the challenges posted by the An

25^th Nov

The Antarctica2 expedition team had amazing views of the Nunatak peaks thru

25^th Nov

Manon Ossevoort, Lead Driver of the MF 5610 tractor looks out across the br

25^th Nov

Daily update from Matty.

25^th Nov

Daily update from Manon.

25^th Nov

Day 3 of Antarctica2: Climbing a Mountain.

24^th Nov

The Antarctica2 crew depart Novo Runway.

24^th Nov

The multi-national team departed on the 22/11/2014.

24^th Nov

The exciting tractor expedition begins .

24^th Nov

Manon Ossevoort at the wheel of the Massey Ferguson.

23^rd Nov

Antarctica2: How to set up a tent.

22^nd Nov

Antarctica2 crew at Novo Runway.

22^nd Nov

Antarctica2 tractor arrives in Antarctica.

21^st Nov

Dutch-born Manon Ossevoort is the Expedition Ambassador.

19^th Nov

Happy Birthday to Massey Ferguson from the Antarctica2 Crew

19^th Nov

The MF 5610 tractor gets its first taste of the Antarctic.

18^th Nov

Manon Osservort, Expedition Ambassador and Lead Driver

18^th Nov

Matty McNair, Expedition Lead Guide

18^th Nov

Simon Foster, Creative Director and Audio-Visual Lead

18^th Nov

Sarah McNair-Landry, Expedition Guide and Audio-Visual Support

18^th Nov

Nicolas Bachelet, Lead Mechanic

18^th Nov

Arnór Ingólfsson, Expedition Leader and Arctic Truck Driver 1

18^th Nov

Jóhannes Guðmundsson, Arctic Truck Driver 2

18^th Nov

The tractor is on its way

4^th Sep

The MF 5610 in front of the erupting Bardarbunga.

4^th Sep

The team setting up their tent in Iceland.

4^th Sep

Setting up camp in Iceland

3^rd Sep

Testing the the MF 5610 in Iceland

1^st Sep

The MF 5610 being put through its paces in Iceland.

1^st Sep

The team preparing for the tough Antarctic terrain

3^rd Sep

The MF 5610 undergoes more testing in the cold chamber.

3^rd Sep

The MF 5610 will face temperatures as low as minus 40 C.

12^th Sep

The MF 5610 and Toyota Hilux AT44 trucks

3^rd Sep

The ultimate polar tractor undergoing testing.

12^th Aug

The MF 5610 being tested in the cold chamber.

12^th Aug

The MF 5610 during cold chamber testing