Mike Bowers: Fit To Print

At its very best, photojournalism can define a moment, a movement, an era or a whole generation. It can bring down a careless politician or elevate them to a winning status; it can lift a weary spirit and sometimes it can move opinions and the way we view the world. 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 rural and urban scenes, industry, politicians, celebrities, photographs of daily life and special events (such as the opening of the Sydney Harbour bridge), sporting and social events and more. Mike Bowers developed his love of photography while still at school. After working in the darkrooms of the Australian National University and the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, he embarked on a career in photojournalism. Mike spent 37 years in the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery working for a number of publications including The Australian, The Age, BRW, Time, The Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald. He covered five federal election campaigns and has accompanied three prime ministers on assignments both around Australia and overseas. He has published three books; Gallipoli Untold Stories, The Big Picture: 175 Years of The Sydney Morning Herald and A Century of Pictures: 100 years of Herald Photography. Mike is now a freelance photographer and host of Talking Pictures on Insiders. 6pm for 6.30pm