Some curious emperor penguins have been candidly captured in Antarctica getting up close and personal with an expeditioner's camera.

An emperor penguin pair and large chick at the Auster Rookery in Antarctica. ( Frederique Olivier/Australian Antarctic Division )

The bird's-eye-view vision was shot at the Auster Rookery near Australia's Mawson research station, about 5,475 kilometres from Hobart.

Australian Antarctic expeditioner Eddie Gault left the camera on the ice when visiting the rookery — and it was not long before the naturally inquisitive birds began to seize the opportunity for a selfie.

One of the birds waddles up the camera, knocks it over and has a gander down the barrel with its companion joining moments after.

Emperor penguins are native to Antarctica and are the largest of the species.

They are the only creatures to breed during the harsh Antarctic winter, where the temperature can drop as low as 50 degrees Celsius below zero.