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White Silence, the first book in a series of three to be released over the next three years by Penguin Group New Zealand, showcases Grahame’s breathtaking collection of images captured during two visits to the Antarctica wilderness.
The 70 selected shots, all photographed on Canon EOS 350D and EOS 400D cameras, are Grahame’s attempt to find images which would be as typical of himself as his paintings would have been, says the artist renowned for his magnificent landscapes of Central Otago.
It was at Scott Base as a guest painter of Antarctica New Zealand in 2003 and 2006 that Grahame substituted his pencils and paints for the camera, realising he wouldn’t be sitting studying for hours there in the cold like he does for his paintings.
“I hope readers will find the photographs as ‘Sydney-esque’ as my other work - my ‘signature’ style in film as obvious as my more usual painterly manner,” he says.
In the introduction for White Silence Grahame tells the story not of his experiences on the ice – the photographs do that – but of his growing fascination with Antarctica over the years preceding his visits there, and the three major Antarctic artists whose work he believe towers over all others: Edward Wilson, Herbert Ponting, and Frank Hurley.
“By telling their stories, and looking into the social settings of their individual efforts, I try to place in context the work of artists like myself - mere minnows in comparison, but facing utterly different challenges and circumstances.”
Rochelle Mora, Canon New Zealand’s photographic product manager, is thrilled to have someone like Grahame Sydney showcase the abilities of Canon’s cameras.
“I know people will be blown away by Grahame’s ability to capture the incredible beauty of this unique country on camera as well as he would have on canvas.

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