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Side view shot of Rodney Fox' face, torso and left hand showing large scars from Great White Shark bite injury
Side view shot of Rodney Fox' face, torso and left hand showing large scars from Great White Shark bite injury

Side view shot of Rodney Fox' face, torso and left hand showing large scars from Great White Shark bite injury

Photographer (born 1935)
Date1953-2000
Object numberANMS1454[142]
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.
Side view shot of Rodney Fox' face, torso and left hand showing large scars from Great Whiite Shark bite injury
Side view shot of Rodney Fox' face, torso and left hand showing large scars from Great Whiite Shark bite injury
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Image Not Available for Rodney Fox's torso with open bleeding shark bite wounds circulating from upper right arm to waist and large open stomach gash, organs visible
Rodney Fox's torso with open bleeding shark bite wounds circulating from upper right arm to waist and large open stomach gash, organs visible
Ron Taylor
1953-2000
Valerie Taylor inspecting shark bite injury on Ron Taylor's left leg
Valerie Taylor inspecting shark bite injury on Ron Taylor's left leg
1953-2000
Image Not Available for Valerie Taylor laying in hospital bed next to Ron, another two people and two doctors assisting her shark bite injury on lower calf
Valerie Taylor laying in hospital bed next to Ron, another two people and two doctors assisting her shark bite injury on lower calf
July 1980
Shot of a caught Great White Shark hooked by the mouth laying at the water surface with a severe head injury at the edge of a boat
Shot of a caught Great White Shark hooked by the mouth laying at the water surface with a severe head injury at the edge of a boat
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Shot of three people handling a caught Great White Shark with severe head injury laying on top another caught shark on deck of a ship at sea
Shot of three people handling a caught Great White Shark with severe head injury laying on top another caught shark on deck of a ship at sea
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Ron Taylor's left leg with shark bite scarring on upper shin
Ron Taylor's left leg with shark bite scarring on upper shin
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Shot of caught shark with severe head injuries hanging from ropes with three people nearby with sea in background
Shot of caught shark with severe head injuries hanging from ropes with three people nearby with sea in background
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Sea lion laying on white metal grating above sea water with large open wound above right flipper from shark bite
Sea lion laying on white metal grating above sea water with large open wound above right flipper from shark bite
Valerie Taylor
March 1996
Underwater shot at reef bed in shallow water with scuba diver in mesh suit faced towards Potato Grouper and Blue Striped Snapper in left hand foreground corner
Underwater shot at reef bed in shallow water with scuba diver in mesh suit faced towards Potato Grouper and Blue Striped Snapper in left hand foreground corner
Valerie Taylor
August 1983
Underwater shot of large battered Great White Shark with a scuba diver beneath, holding it under a pectoral fin
Underwater shot of large battered Great White Shark with a scuba diver beneath, holding it under a pectoral fin
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Behind the scenes image from the television feature, Operation Shark Bite, that documented Ron and Valerie Taylor testing the efficacy of the chainmail suit (mesh suit) against shark bites.
Behind the scenes image from the television feature, Operation Shark Bite, that documented Ron and Valerie Taylor testing the efficacy of the chainmail suit (mesh suit) against shark bites.
Valerie Taylor
August 1983