Images(2)

Sea Cucumber

Maker Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

Subject or historical figure Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

Date1953-2000

Object numberANMS1468[041]

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

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. Throughout their careers, the Taylor's made numerous trips to Papua New Guinea and surrounding pacific islands in order to film and dive. This archive features photographs taken by the Taylor's of PNG highland and Sepik river communities, the ASMAT community of West Papua, and images taken on the Trobrian and Solomon Islands. There are portrait photos of community members, images of Sepik dancers, and individuals in ceremonial dress. Many of the photos also document the canoes and watercraft used in each region.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.