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Sea Cucumber

Maker Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

Subject or historical figure Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

DateMarch 1998

Object numberANMS1463[932]

NamePhotographic slide

MediumColour transparency film

DimensionsOverall (inc carrier): 50 × 50 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor

Terms

Photographic - acetate negatives and slides

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. Shark Hunter, their first underwater documentary ﬁlm, made with Ron's business partner Ben Cropp, was sold internationally in 1963. In 1964 Slaughter at Saumarez followed and in 1966 the documentary Revenge of a shark victim. The couple made the Barrier Reef TV series, and filmed the underwater and sharks scenes in Hollywood films including Jaws, in 1974, Age of Consent, 1969, Blue Water, White Death 1971, and Blue Lagoon, 1980. This photographic archive charts sections of Ron and Valeries film career. It follows their early period documenting the actions of notorious shark hunter Alf Dean, and notably focuses upon their involvement in the filming of scenes for blockbuster film Jaws. The baiting, luring, and handling of great white sharks is shown from varied and unique perspectives. The dive cages and dummies used in film are also shown in development. The archive further profiles behind the scenes imagery from their breakthrough shark film Blue Water White Death, and interactions between Ron and Valerie and actors on set for Blue Lagoon 1 & 2 and Dr Moreau. SignificanceThe simplest definition of macro photography is taking a picture of something so that it appears larger than it is in real life. This technique reveals the tiny hidden wonders of our world. In the early 1970s, Ron made Valerie the first known macrophotography set up for an underwater camera, with extension tubes and framers. Her stunning close-up shots of Great Barrier Reef corals were the cover story for the June 1973 issue of National Geographic. With this setup, Valerie was able to take some of the first high quality macro photographs of very small creatures, like the echinoderms seen in this archive.