The Business of Photography

The inaugural exhibition in the Chau Chak Wing Museum’s photography gallery examined 19th century photographic studios in NSW and the characters who ran them.

The way we visualise much of the 19th century is framed by the work of commercial photographic studios. The new technology of photography, invented in 1839, led to the rise of these new businesses which found commercial opportunities in sales of photographs, especially portraits. The Business of Photography turns the lens onto the commercial studio, exploring the stories behind particular New South Wales photographers. Original photographs drawn from the Macleay Collection of historic photography are featured.

Portait of a woman — [Portrait of a woman]
1888-1900
Photograph: GF Jenkinson, Broken Hill
Donated by Sandra Savides, 2014
Macleay Collections
HP2014.3.2327

Portraits of everyday people were the bread and butter business, although there was a bustling trade in landscape views and scenes. A range of formats is on view, reflecting how the photographic product changed from early daguerreotypes, captured on silvered copper plates, to photographic prints made from glass negatives.

Commercial photographic business ranged from the small-scale traveling photographer with a portable darkroom to grand city enterprises employing a hundred people by the end of the century. The exhibition explores their stories.

Due to the light sensitivity of some objects, changeovers will occur during the exhibition.

Good taste, a feeling for the fine arts (without any knowledge of drawing), cleanliness and neatness of manipulation, and a little perseverance, are the qualities requisite for a photographer.

Sydney Morning Herald, 10 May 1855

About the photography gallery

This custom designed space allows for the intimate examination of historic photography. New exhibitions will be presented every 6 - 9 months, drawing on the Macleay Collection of historic photography. The Chau Chak Wing Museum also has a dedicated historic photography store and processing space.

Featured in the exhibition

Black and white photograph of young boy in formal outift — [Portrait of John Dalzell Richardson known as ‘Jackie’], 1880–85, photograph: W Slade, Newcastle, Macleay Collections, HP83.11.63

Black and white photograph of harbour, ships and houses — ‘Sydney Harbour’, 1858-67, photograph: W Hetzer, Macleay Collections, HP80.51.19

Yellow imprint with black text and images of camera, tripod and paintbrush and palette — [William Freeman’s studio imprint after moving in 1872 to 360 George Street, the previous premises of Oswald Allen], Macleay Collections, HP86.3.47

Black and white photograph of beachgoers on the shore — ‘Sans Souci Beach’, 1880-1900, photograph: J Paine, Macleay Collections, HP82.39.260

Black and white photograph of two women with short hair wearing white dresses — [Portrait of two women], 1879–83, photograph: Boyd’s San Francisco Palace of Art, Sydney, Macleay Collections, HP82.29.53

Black and white photograph of two men riding horses, one carrying a big camera — [Charles Kerry on horseback, carrying a large camera], 1896, Snowy Mountains, NSW, photographer unknown, Macleay Collections, HP83.60.8540

Black and white photograph of photographic studio — [Interior of the Charleston studio, Newcastle], Australasian Photographic Review, June 1907

Pricelist of photographic studio — The leaflet, from the inside of one of Paine’s stock books, lists prices for his Pictorial Photographs of New South Wales, Macleay Collections, HP82.39.407

Featured image (top of page): [Interior of a photographic studio], late 19^th century, possibly England, Macleay Collections, HP83.30.93

Plan your visit

Everything you need to know

Photography Gallery, Level 1

News_

A sepia toned black and white photograph of Circular Quay, taken from a point of elevation.

19th century start-ups

A photographic exhibition at the new Chau Chak Wing Museum draws on the University's historic photography collection to delve into the heyday of commercial studio photography.

Getting here

The Chau Chak Wing Museum is opposite the University’s Quadrangle building

Free entry, open 7 days

Weekdays 10am – 5pm
Weekends 12pm – 4pm

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