Shot of two people holding trophy and boxes with another person and more trophies in background

Images(2)

Shot of two people holding trophy and boxes with another person and more trophies in background

Photographer Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

Date1953-2000

Object numberANMS1459[006]

NamePhotographic slide

MediumColour transparency film

DimensionsOverall (inc carrier) 50 x 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

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. Early in her career Valerie Taylor worked with the New Zealand National Film Unit in Wellington as an illustrator. She was assigned to an animation studio, and completed drawings of animals and figures for educaional films. This photographic archive profiles a selection of the many illustrations of fish, figures and underwater creatures drawn by Valerie over the years, many of which saw publication in childrens books.