Fit to Print
In Fit to Print, photographer and media commentator Mike Bowers explores the Fairfax Photographic Archive held by the National Library of Australia. This collection comprises over 18,000 glass-plate negatives, photographs of which appeared in Fairfax publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun and Sydney Mail.
In creating photographs for mainstream publications, the early photojournalists familiarised Australians with a new visual language of the news.
Covering the period 1890–1948, the book includes photographs of rural and urban scenes, industry, politicians, celebrities, daily life, special events (such as the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), sporting and social events, and more.
In the collection
Fairfax Corporation, Women playing football, New South Wales, ca. 1930, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-161498300
Fairfax Corporation, Women playing football, New South Wales, ca. 1930, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-161498300
Herbert H. Fishwick & Fairfax Corporation, Line of photographers ready to photograph Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, at Government House, Sydney, 1920, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162931011
Herbert H. Fishwick & Fairfax Corporation, Line of photographers ready to photograph Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, at Government House, Sydney, 1920, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162931011
Fairfax Corporation, Two smartly dressed women conversing over a wooden bench at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, 1911, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162759607
Fairfax Corporation, Two smartly dressed women conversing over a wooden bench at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, 1911, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162759607
Fairfax Corporation, Miss M. Jenkins in her Bugatti race car, New South Wales, ca. 1930s, 1, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-163217922
Fairfax Corporation, Miss M. Jenkins in her Bugatti race car, New South Wales, ca. 1930s, 1, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-163217922
Fairfax Corporation, One of Miss Stange's pupils mid leap during a dance performance, New South Wales, 20 February 1933, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162055996
Fairfax Corporation, One of Miss Stange's pupils mid leap during a dance performance, New South Wales, 20 February 1933, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162055996
Fairfax Corporation, Cranes are prepared to join the middle of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, ca. 1920s, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162805663
Fairfax Corporation, Cranes are prepared to join the middle of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, ca. 1920s, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162805663
Fairfax Corporation, Two women being carried over the flooded track at the Gerringong Motor Races, New South Wales, 10 May 1930, 1, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-157983357
Fairfax Corporation, Two women being carried over the flooded track at the Gerringong Motor Races, New South Wales, 10 May 1930, 1, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-157983357
About the author
Mike Bowers is a photojournalist with over 37 years’ experience. He currently hosts the Talking Pictures segment on ABC TV’s Insiders. He has covered 13 federal election campaigns, and photographed conflicts in Cambodia, Kosovo, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and the Middle East.
Mike has worked for some of Australia’s most prestigious publications, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian (Australia), The Australian, The Canberra Times, The Age, The Bulletin, The Australian Financial Review, BRW, Time and The Daily Telegraph.
Delve deeper
John Immig, Olympus digital cameras ready for recycling, New South Wales, March 2008, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147954518
More to explore
Fairfax Corporation, Man sitting on an out of order escalator reading a newspaper, Sydney, ca. 1920s, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-163365935
Fairfax Corporation, Mr George Bell a photographer for the Sydney Morning Herald seated on a horse with a camera, New South Wales, 1910, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-163385448
Fairfax Corporation, Man sitting on an out of order escalator reading a newspaper, Sydney, ca. 1920s, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-163365935