Norman C Deck (1882–1980), photographer and dentist, joined the Photographic Society of New South Wales at the age of about fourteen, becoming its youngest-ever member. He began exhibiting in his early twenties, and began lecturing at the Society around the same time; in 1905 he won a gold medal at its annual Salon. Having graduated in dentistry, Deck practised in Cowra and then Sydney before taking up missionary work on the Solomon Islands in 1914; he remained there until 1948, taking many photographs, prints of many of which were lost. Meanwhile, in 1921, he was made an honorary member of the Sydney Camera Circle. After he retired and returned to Sydney, he reprinted his negatives, but used different materials. Deck’s negatives are in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the National Gallery of Australia has forty-five of his prints, with titles including ‘Those Stupendous Heights’, ‘Burbling Brook’ and ‘Lad with Coconuts’. In Cazneaux’s portrait, Deck is poring over a special 1905 issue of Studio magazine entitled Art in Photography.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010
Accession number: 2010.96
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On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Harold Cazneaux's portraits of influential Sydneysiders included Margaret Preston and Ethel Turner, both important figures in the development of ideas about Australian identity and culture.
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