Self-possessed and incisive, Roald Amundsen exudes the confidence and fearlessness of a true polar hero. At over 180 centimetres tall with piercing blue eyes, he is the very embodiment of the Viking spirit.

The care of dogs provides a welcome diversion during the long and often monotonous sea voyage from Norway to the Bay of Whales. Here Captain Thorvald Nilsen feeds a puppy while its mother watches on.

Aboard the Fram. Top row from left: Sverre Hassel (1st), Olav Bjaaland (4th), Oscar Wisting (8th); Middle from left: Hjalmar Johansen, Kristian Prestrud, Roald Amundsen, Captain Nilsen, Lieutenant Gjertsen, Helmer Hansen; Front from left: Adolf Lindstrøm, Jørgen Stubberud.

Every man takes responsibility for fine-tuning his sledging outfit, headgear and goggles to suit his individual needs and preferences. The result is an impressive, if comical, array of improvements.

By autumn, Framheim has almost entirely disappeared under a deep layer of snow, which serves to insulate the hut from the severe Antarctic winter while providing the necessary conditions for an ambitious tunnelling operation.

Hauling heavily laden sledges over difficult terrain, the dogs sometimes need the encouragement of the whip. Keeping pace with the dogs, the skier steadies the load over uneven ground to lessen the possibility of capsizing.

Hjalmar Johansen warms his hands, taking a break from the packing of milk powder and other provisions into the newly honed sledging cases in the ice cave they’ve nicknamed the ‘Crystal Palace’.

Olav Bjaaland poses for a photo in his reindeer sledging outfit and fur kamiks. In his hand he holds one of the dog harnesses. Fur clothing, while exceedingly warm, is prone to developing bare patches that must be mended – a useful pastime for long winter nights.

Expedition chef and the first person ever to sail around the Americas, Adolf Lindstrøm is shown here holding a plate of his famous pancakes, which sustained the morale of Amundsen and his crew throughout the first navigation of the Northwest Passage and for a year in Antarctica.

Roald Amundsen, Helmer Hansen, Sverre Hassel and Oscar Wisting share a solemn moment at the South Pole ahead of the perilous return journey. Thirty-four days later the tent and a random assortment of clothing and equipment will be discovered by Captain Scott and his four companions, signalling their defeat.

Oscar Wisting poses with his dogs at the South Pole. The Norwegians spend three days at the pole, using a range of instruments to fix their position and ensure beyond a doubt that they have reached 90 degrees south. However, the race is not over until the news reaches the world.