A general view of the work undertaken to release Discovery (1901), a research/exploration ship, from the ice in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. This was the second relief expedition, and the photograph records a number of aspects of the work to get the ship free. There are two large loaded man-hauled sledges, one flying its sledge flag in the background. A smaller sledge is in the foreground next to an open barrel and discarded equipment. Most of the men are standing by their sledges, with one tying rope(?). The barrels may relate to the explosives that were used to fracture the ice to release the Discovery. Equipment and records were transferred by sledge across from Discovery to the relief ships Terra Nova (1884) and Morning (1871) in case the ship could not be freed.

The high coastline of Antarctica can be seen faintly in the background.