“Explorer and geologist Stump went on his first research mission to Antarctica in 1970 and returned many times over the following decades. The new book Otherworldly Antarctica offers a selection of the photographs he took on these trips, capturing the ‘innumerable forms’ that ice can take. Icebergs that could have been carved by the sculptor Henry Moore glide through still waters; a meltwater pond refreezes, releasing a shimmer of dissolved gases; a crevasse seems to include every shade of blue. . . . Now in his seventies, he writes that if he ‘had one hour more to savor Antarctica,’ he’d be standing in a field of wind-carved snow ‘as far as the eye could see.’”

Peter Saenger | Wall Street Journal

“Over forty years, geologist Stump has climbed, photographed and studied much of the 3,500-kilometre length of Antarctica’s Transantarctic Mountains—‘my stomping ground’—including its highest summit. His book of photographs is his ‘homage to Antarctica, the continent of ice,’ captioned by himself with playful illustrations by Marlene Hill Donnelly. Mountains, ice, snow and sea dominate, with remarkably few signs of life apart from distant fellow explorers, and steam belching from Mount Erebus’s noxious crater.”

Nature

"Fifty years ago, geologist Stump began a love affair with the beautiful but also brutal world of Antarctica. Luckily for us, he’s also a great photographer and he snapped gorgeous pictures of the continent while doing scientific research there. Major bonus points that he accomplished this in an age before drones. . . . I found myself spending more time studying photos, inhaling this truly “otherworldly” place. Some photos made the landscape appear to be an intimate fifty or so feet across only to have the author reveal a scale of miles instead. Other images are up close and have a span of [a] mere twelve inches."

Dear Author

"I knew I would like Stump’s energy when he states in the preface how 'psyched' he was to visit Antarctica. His writing is minimal for the most part and while there are some great stories such as climbing with his brother, the stars of the book are of course the photos. . . . Get this book and put it on the coffee table so people know how cool you are."

History Nerds United

"A highly unique book from a highly unique world only few people will ever have a chance to visit. But luckily we have the chance to see and read [about] it through Stump's camera and words. A rare and highly recommendable book that should not be missed in any polar library!"

Christoph Höbenreich | bergbuch.info

"Stump writes of an overwhelming desire to be alone in the natural world. Although he was rarely alone while traveling across the Transantarctic Mountains, mapping and studying their geology, his moments of solitude were sometimes graced by strange visitations. On one occasion, his shadow, cast from a ridgeline, was haloed by a rainbowed Brocken spectre (an optical effect you may have seen from an airplane window, as the craft’s rainbow-circled shadow passes over clouds). On other occasions, the particular rhythm of light and shadow across snow dunes created arresting abstract compositions reminiscent of Alfred Stieglitz’s starkly geometric cityscapes. Perhaps it was Stump’s training as a geologist that directed his attention away from the obvious shots—glossy, sweeping vistas or charismatic mountains—to the patterning in rock, snow, and ice, the effects of wind and light."

Marissa Grunes | Gone Incognita

"In captivating words, photographs, and illustrations, geologist Stump’s book Otherworldly Antarctica covers the 'stark and utterly pristine' continent where winter never leaves. . . . Stump is meditative, even spiritual, in his descriptions of his favorite place. . . . His memorable photographs of crevasses contain stunning hues from the palest powder blue to midnight black; icebergs and glacier tongues form exquisite sculptures as they blend into the sea. And there’s a thrilling peek along the rim of Mt. Erebus, the world’s southernmost active volcano. . . . Otherworldly Antarctica is a fascinating armchair travel book, approaching the remotest place on Earth with a knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and artistic guide. It will be a standout in collections about polar exploration or landscape photography."

Foreword Reviews (starred review)

"Because I can't resist a book on Antarctica, here is an illustrated account of the author's forty years living and working in this pristine and forbidding landscape, with photographs and complementary sketches and paintings. Stump is a geologist, with more experience of the Transantarctic Mountains than anyone else on Earth."

The Bookseller

“An exquisite photographic and personal journey into the natural wonders of Antarctica’s interior. Stump is a consummate scientist and explorer, and this book is his love letter to the extraordinary continent to which he has devoted his career. Do not miss this opportunity to join him on the expedition.”

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Guinness World Records’ Greatest Living Explorer and author of "Climb Your Mountain" and "Shackleton"

“Otherworldly Antarctica is a mesmerizing snapshot of the isolated and extreme world of the seventh continent told through stunning imagery and firsthand insight.”

Sian Proctor, geoscientist, artist, and astronaut, mission pilot for SpaceX Inspiration4 and author of "Space2inspire: The Art of Inspiration"

“Much has been written about Antarctica, and beautiful images of the icebound continent abound, but no book that I know of has so powerfully evoked the mystique and mystery of this, the last truly wild terrestrial frontier on the planet. Otherworldly Antarctica is a triumph.”

Wade Davis, former Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society and author of "Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest"

“Like the work of Leonardo da Vinci, this book is both art and science, inspiration and education. Primarily a scientist, but no less an artist, Stump has captured the awe and alien majesty of the most remote mountain range on Earth. His photos have inspired and profoundly altered the course of my life.”

Leo Houlding, mountaineer, adventurer, and author of "Closer to the Edge: Climbing to the Ends of the Earth"

“Otherworldly Antarctica is a reflective journey through a life’s work of exploring and photographing a world beyond imagination. Both poetic and spiritual, Stump shares his Antarctic experiences through the eye of his camera. I could feel the cold and desolation emanating from the pages. A true Antarctic explorer and an expert photographer, Stump is the real deal.”

Bruce Luyendyk, geologist and author of "Mighty Bad Land: A Perilous Expedition to Antarctica Reveals Clues to an Eighth Continent"

“When viewed through the prism of human experience, Antarctica seems a timeless place. Stump shows us, from an earth sciences perspective, how fluid and changing the continent is. A very unforgiving environment, yet in the face of climate change, a delicate one. Built on visual excellence, expertise, and passion, Otherworldly Antarctica is a fascinating book that will deepen your appreciation of the continent’s ice, rock, and wind, and the people who have studied its ranges.”

Conrad Anker, mountaineer, activist, and coauthor of "The Lost Explorer: Finding Mallory on Mount Everest"

“In a world on fire, the frozen beauty of Stump’s photography is an inspiration as well as a comfort.”

Russ Feingold, former US Senator