Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit with Whitetip Reef Shark biting her forearm
Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit with Whitetip Reef Shark biting her forearm

Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit with Whitetip Reef Shark biting her forearm

Photographer (1934 - 2012)
DateNovember 1980
Object numberANMS1454[326]
NamePhotographic slide
MediumColour slide transparency
DimensionsOverall (inc carrier) 50 x 50 mm
Copyright© Valerie Taylor
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor
DescriptionThis photographic collection represents the career of filmmakers and ocean conservationists Valerie Taylor AM (born 1935) and her late husband Ron Taylor AM (1934-2012). The couple pioneered skin-diving, scuba diving and underwater photography and cinematography in Australia. Valerie was national spear fishing champion for three years in the 1960s, Ron for four years, however the couple soon stopped fishing and shifted focus to shark research, photography and film. They made chain mail diving suits to film sharks and became strong advocates for shark preservation. This photographic archive holds images of the many species of sharks documented by Ron and Valerie throughout their career. It features many of their iconic shots of the great white, and documentation of grey nurse and Port jackson sharks near their coastal home at Seal Rocks. Hammerhead, blue, white tip reef, wobbegong, tiger, silver tip, grey reef, and bull sharks are also included. Valerie and Ron Taylor’s research into shark behaviour and their vocal defence of sharks and the marine environment resulted in the protection of grey nurse and great white sharks in Australian waters. Ron died in 2012, and Valerie continues to take a lead role in marine conservation issues in Australia and overseas.
Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit with Whitetip Reef Shark head by her wrist and second scubadiver holding camera equipment
Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit with Whitetip Reef Shark head by her wrist and second scubadiver holding camera equipment
Ron Taylor
January 1980
Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor scubadiving in full mesh suit with close up side view of Whitetip Reef Shark head
Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor scubadiving in full mesh suit with close up side view of Whitetip Reef Shark head
Ron Taylor
November 1980
Underwater shot at water surface of scuba diver Jerimiah in full mesh suit holding a mesh covered mackeral and other forearm in Blue Shark's mouth
Underwater shot at water surface of scuba diver Jerimiah in full mesh suit holding a mesh covered mackeral and other forearm in Blue Shark's mouth
Valerie Taylor
June 1981
Underwater shot above reef bed of Whitetip Reef Shark in foreground and scuba diver in full mesh suit with a Whitetip Reef Shark and large fish in background
Underwater shot above reef bed of Whitetip Reef Shark in foreground and scuba diver in full mesh suit with a Whitetip Reef Shark and large fish in background
Valerie Taylor
December 1989
Underwater shot above reef bed of two Whitetip Reef Sharks, milk carton crate and a scuba diver in full mesh suit with a second scuba diver in background
Underwater shot above reef bed of two Whitetip Reef Sharks, milk carton crate and a scuba diver in full mesh suit with a second scuba diver in background
Valerie Taylor
December 1988
Underwater shot above reef bed of two Whitetip Reef Sharks, milk carton crate and a scuba diver in full mesh suit with a second scuba diver in background
Underwater shot above reef bed of two Whitetip Reef Sharks, milk carton crate and a scuba diver in full mesh suit with a second scuba diver in background
Valerie Taylor
December 1988
Underwater shot of scubadiver in full mesh suit with close up front view of Whitetip Reef Shark
Underwater shot of scubadiver in full mesh suit with close up front view of Whitetip Reef Shark
Valerie Taylor
November 1980
Underater shot of scuba diver in full mesh suit holding a Whitetip Reef Shark with two scuba divers in background holding camera equipment
Underater shot of scuba diver in full mesh suit holding a Whitetip Reef Shark with two scuba divers in background holding camera equipment
Valerie Taylor
December 1988
Underwater shot of scuba diver in full mesh suit holding a Whitetip Reef Shark with a fish in it's mouth, two other scuba divers in background
Underwater shot of scuba diver in full mesh suit holding a Whitetip Reef Shark with a fish in it's mouth, two other scuba divers in background
Valerie Taylor
December 1988
Underwater shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit holding a fish with other arm out about to be bitten by Whitetip Reef shark
Underwater shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit holding a fish with other arm out about to be bitten by Whitetip Reef shark
Ron Taylor
November 1980
Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit with Greynurse Shark
Underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor in full mesh suit with Greynurse Shark
Ron Taylor
November 1980
One person restraining shark while second person wearing mesh upper body suit has forearm in shark's mouth, on board boat
One person restraining shark while second person wearing mesh upper body suit has forearm in shark's mouth, on board boat
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000