PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY of NEW SOUTH WALES
EXHIBITION OF AUSTRALIAN PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
14th to 27th NOVEMBER 1917
15th September 1917 Page 498 - Vol. 24 No.9 The Australasian Photo-Review
It is some considerable time since a representative exhibition of pictorial photography has been held in Sydney, and the question of holding one has been discussed in photographic circles for over a year. It has been felt that pictorial work in Australia has reached a fairly high standard, but that the number of photographers interested in pictorial — as apart from purely technical — photography is very limited. If this number could be augmented by causing ardent workers who had already acquired a fair amount of technical skill to become interested in the pictorial side of their hobby, then an advance in the standard could fairly be looked for in the future. With this end in view, reproductions of pictorial photographs by Australian workers have appeared in The Australasian Photo-Review, but half tone illustrations cannot possibly reproduce the quality and finish of the original pictures. Many photographers pass these re productions by after a casual glance, re marking, “I can’t see much in that”, and on the reproduction there may be some justification for their remarks. It is common knowledge that prints on rough surfaced papers, especially if toned, reproduce very badly. Pictorial workers have therefore been rather misjudged by a considerable section of the general public. Pictorial photography is held by many to be synonymous with “fuzzy” photography, and the pictorial worker is frequently deemed in capable of making a good clear print. Nothing could be further from the truth. The best pictorial photographers have always been fine technicians, and as a general rule a photographer cannot hope to advance far as a pictorialist, unless he has a considerable amount of skill as a technical photographer to back him up. If the finished pictures from which the reproductions were made could be seen, this fact would be recognized.
For these reasons the holding of an exhibition of pictorial photography has been discussed for some time, and when it was found that the collection of mounted prints intended for the "Amateur Photographer Colonial Competition" could not be sent, and these pictures were accordingly available, it was decided to hold an Australian Exhibition in rotation in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
The exhibition will be held first of all in Sydney. The Art Gallery in the new Department of Education building has been secured from 12th to 26th November, and the collection, which will include not only New South Wales work, but also a representative exhibit from Victoria and South Australia, will there be seen under favorable conditions. The actual opening date will be announced in next issue.
If you are interested in pictorial work, naturally you will not miss this exhibition; but if you are one of those who, in the past, have not been able to see anything in pictorial photography as represented by half tone reproductions, I appeal to you to come along and see the pictures in this exhibition. If the originals do not make any appeal to you, then as far as you are concerned the exhibition has been a failure; but if they do — if they arouse in you any desire to possess them, if they make you wish that you your self were the author of any one of them, or that you would like “to go and do likewise” — then the exhibition will have to some extent achieved its purpose. We want to interest photographers in pictorial work, and if possible to increase many times the number of pictorial workers in Australia. If this aim can be achieved, then who can say that this may not be the forerunner of an Australian Salon of Photography. At any rate, are you justified in condemning Australian pictorial photography till you have seen a representative collection of original examples of it — not half-tone reproductions? And please note that in this exhibition the best work from New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia will be shown, as the leading photographic bodies in those States are co-operating to make the exhibition a success. Therefore it is “up to you” to visit the exhibition at the Education Department Gallery in November. Photographers in Victoria and South Australia will have an opportunity of seeing the collection at a later date, due notice of which will be given.
If you are already a pictorial worker, then your ambition will naturally be to be re presented in this exhibition. The following extracts from the rules will therefore be of interest to you:
The exhibition shall be entirely non competitive.
Exhibitors need not be members of any photographic club or society.
All work submitted must be framed.
Each State shall make its own selection before sending its collection to Sydney, but the selection committee in the State in which the collection is being exhibited shall have the right to make their own final selection, from the whole of the work submitted, for exhibition in their own State.
Photographers shall have the option of putting a price on their work, 15 per cent, on all sales to go to the funds of the controlling body in the State in which the sale occurs. No original pictures sold shall be delivered to the purchaser until the collection has completed its tour.
The last date for receiving entries has not yet been fixed, but it must be some time before the opening date, to allow of selecting, hanging, cataloging, etc., in time; therefore get to work at once.
I shall be pleased to answer all inquiries on the subject. Do your best to be represented, or at least to come along and see the exhibition. You may not get a similar chance for some considerable time.
M. MACKINNON
Hon.Secretary Selection and Exhibition Committee.
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 640 - The Australasian Photographic Review
WIND
James E. Paton
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 641 - The Australasian Photo-Review
The Photographic Society of New South Wales is to be congratulated first, on its courage in attempting to hold an exhibition of Australian pictorial photography in these troublous times; and second, in carrying the exhibition through to a definite success. This has been done in spite of many obstacles, whilst in addition, a feature that will be important in the eyes of the general public, it has been decided to devote the whole of the net profits to the War Chest Fund, an extremely deserving cause which has for its object the ameliorating of the hard times our boys have inevitably to suffer on the various fronts where they are fighting.
Another item worthy of particular commendation was the ambition of some of the committee to issue a catalog of a quality befitting the occasion. The bulk of the work of securing advertisements for this fell on strong shoulders, and the committee was able, with the freely accorded help of kindly advertisers and a sympathetic printer, to produce a very handsome publication, illustrated by half-tone reproductions of no less than twelve of the pictures exhibited, these being tipped-in on a suitable thin mounting paper. Copies of this fine publication, by the way, are still obtainable from the Society, and we would suggest that all our readers who are interested in Pictorial Photography should send one shilling and threepence in stamps to the Secretaries for a copy to be mailed them, or any Kodak Branch will procure one on request. Secure your copy now it will show just what other workers are doing to help along pictorial photography in Australia.
We commissioned Sydney Ure Smith, a well-known artist with some knowledge of the limitations of photography. to fully review the pictures, and his criticisms will doubtless be read with interest, though, of course, unfortunately, the whole of the exhibits cannot be before the reader at the time the criticism is being studied. We, therefore, will leave this entirely to his facile pen, contenting ourselves with some notes on matters affecting exhibitions in general, and this one in particular.
The arrangement of the exhibits called for special commendation, particularly considering the appalling color of the walls upon which they had to be hung. This difficulty was surmounted by stretching hessian, previously stained to a neutral tint that did not in any way clash with the exhibits over that portion of the wall which supported the pictures. Seating accommodation was provided, and the use of palms helped to improve the general effect. The success of these items may be judged by our photographs of the exhibition.
Ladies connected with various battalions provided luncheons and after noon teas in aid of their respective funds, and this arrangement afforded a pleasant break in the inspection, and made a rendezvous of which many visitors were glad to take advantage.
Of the exhibition itself one can say little that is not of praise, yet we believe that purely Pictorial Photography in Australia at the present time is not sufficiently interesting or advanced to enable regular exhibitions, confined entirely to such work, to be held. In order to round out the present exhibition a great many “hardy perennials” had to be gathered in pictures which, though interesting when first exhibited, had had their day, and now lacked novelty. In addition, some pictures had to be accepted to complete the necessary number which at another time would probably not have found a place on the walls.
The variety of the work was perhaps limited, for landscapes were predominant, and many of these showed somewhat of a sameness both in subject and treatment. There was a comparative absence of good architectural work and of portraiture. Genre subjects, considering their all-round appeal, were little in evidence, and while the majority of the exhibits were based on good technical work, an absolute necessity if a photographer is to progress in the art, there was, of course, a conspicuous absence of subjects relying on purely technical excellence.
We are of opinion that future exhibitions would achieve greater success if run more on the lines of that of The Royal Photographic Society, by including special departments for technical work, inclusive of lantern slides, transparencies, photography in direct color, scientific subjects of various kinds, and so on. When we say that the exhibits were based on good technique, we admit that technical work is not everything, neither is a certain class of so-called “Pictorial” photography. Photography fails when it is merely imitative of some other process in art by which the same effect can be got, possibly quicker and better.
The great majority of the exhibits were on bromide papers, though there were a few bromoils, a type sometimes effective, which owes its base only to photography.
In order to increase the attendances at night, there should be short talks, illustrated by lantern slides, not to occupy more than an hour on any one evening, and, possibly, some good music. If it were known that such lectures would be an acceptable item members would probably prepare for them, and an attractive program could be arranged. Such a program would help to persuade people to attend more frequently, and certainly encourage the rank and file of members to render greater aid to such a society, aid that we understand is, in most cases, conspicuous by its absence. Why do members join a society and then not give it proper support? Why should the hard "graft" of such an exhibition fall on the shoulders of a few men and the bulk of the members well, a large proportion—stand back and not even assist by selling tickets? It is remarkable that such should be the case, but it is a fact, nevertheless.
So far as we know, with two exceptions, the whole of the exhibitors are amateurs; that is, except Messrs. Cazneaux and Appleby, they do not make their living by photography. There may be others, but if so, their names are not familiar to us.
In conclusion, we again congratulate the Photographic Society of New South Wales on the success of its show, and hope that the exhibitions to follow at Melbourne and Adelaide will be equally successful.
15th December 1917 Page 642 - The Australasian Photographic Review
Two views of the main gallery of the exhibition of the
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES.
These give a good idea of the arrangement of the rooms and what is more important, the display of the pictures.
The lighter portion of the walls, immediately behind the frames, was covered by hessian,
stained a neutral tint, so as to furnish an effective background.
15th December 1917 Page 643 - The Australasian Photographic Review
SUN-SPLASHED SAND
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 645 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE SPHINX
C.W. Bostock
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 646 - The Australasian Photographic Review
MELODY OF MORN
W.S. White
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 647 - The Australasian Photographic Review
MORNING CALM
Arthur Ford
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
Awarded Fifth Prize in the A.P-R. Competition for August 1915
15th December 1917 Page 646 - The Australasian Photographic Review
SISTER MINE
Harold Cazneaux
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 649 - The Australasian Photographic Review
LOQUATS
E.N. Poole
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 651 - The Australasian Photographic Review
WOODLAND MISTS
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 652 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE OGRE'S WOOD
James E. Paton
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 653 - The Australasian Photographic Review
ON GUARD
Arthur Ford
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
Awarded First Prize in the A.P-R. Competition for October 1915
15th December 1917 Page 654 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE END OF THE VOYAGE
C.E. Wakeford
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
Awarded First Prize in the A.P-R. “Shipping Subjects” Competition for January 1916
15th December 1917 Page 655 - The Australasian Photographic Review
GLENELG FROM THE SANDHILLS
P.H. Williams
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 657 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE VALLEY FARM
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 658 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE EDGE OF THE LAKE
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 659 - The Australasian Photographic Review
SET IN SILVER
N.C. Deck
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 659 - The Australasian Photographic Review
AN AUSTRALIAN HOMESTEAD
J.E. Paton
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 661 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE QUEST
Harold Cazneaux
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 663 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE STOCK ROUTE
J.S. Stening
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 664 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE RAZZLE DAZZLE
Harold Cazneaux
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 665 - The Australasian Photographic Review
A GREY MORNING
C.E. Wakeford
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
Awarded First Prize in the A.P-R. Competition for September 1916
15th December 1917 Page 666 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE JAPANESE BLIND
Harold Cazneaux
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 667 - The Australasian Photographic Review
EARLY MORNING
W. Howieson
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 670 - The Australasian Photographic Review
A MOUNTAIN SAWMILL
W.S. White
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 673 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE CLOUD
James E. Paton
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 675 - The Australasian Photographic Review
IN SOFTENED MOOD
W.S. White
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th December 1917 Page 679 - The Australasian Photographic Review
PARRAMATTA PARK
C.E. Wakeford
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th January 1918 Page 21 - The Australasian Photographic Review
MORNING AMONGST THE BLUE GUMS
J. Temple Stephens
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th January 1918 Page 27 - The Australasian Photographic Review
HARVESTING
Reproduction of a Bromoil by T. Rollason
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th January 1918 Page 45 - The Australasian Photographic Review
LANDSCAPE VICTORIA
Reproduction of a Bromoil by C.F. Wood
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th February 1918 Page 87 - The Australasian Photographic Review
KEN
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th February 1918 Page 91 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE SENTINEL
J.C. Elliott
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
A picture that probably provoked greater discussion than any other in the Exhibition.
15th February 1918 Page 100 - The Australasian Photographic Review
IN CALM WATERS
Arthur Ford
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th March 1918 Page 136 - The Australasian Photographic Review
STUDY JAPANESQUE
James E. Paton
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th March 1918 Page 142 - The Australasian Photographic Review
A SILHOUETTE IN GREY
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th April 1918 Page 197 - The Australasian Photographic Review
THE LAKE SIDE
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th May 1918 Page 268 - The Australasian Photographic Review
TOILERS THREE
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales
15th May 1918 Page 269 - The Australasian Photographic Review
DEWY MORN
Malcolm Mackinnon
From the Exhibition of Australian Pictorial Photography by the
Photographic Society of New South Wales