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Black and white underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor with large fish
Black and white underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor with large fish

Black and white underwater medium shot of Valerie Taylor with large fish

Photographer (1934 - 2012)
Date1953-2000
Object numberANMS1461[009]
NamePhotographic slide
MediumNegative, black and white
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. 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 chronicles the period of development for Ron and Valeries home in Seal Rocks, along with a variety of coastal fishing and diving shots, and documentation of friends and family that visited the Taylors at the small NSW beach town. It further profiles Valeries early modelling career and includes black and white photographs from the Ron Taylor family archive. Portait shots of Ron and Valerie in diving suits are also included.