Photographs present us with reality, or do they?
Our initial reaction to photographic images often leans towards belief or trust that the picture tells a true, unbiased story.
However photography’s veracity has less to do with essential qualities of the medium than with what people think and say about it.
The insistence on photographic objectivity derives from the early twentieth-century emergence of photojournalism and social documentary.
The images in Behind the Truth, a travelling display from the State Library of NSW, question the role of truth in photography in different ways.
They caution against the use of photographs as truthful historical resources without understanding the story behind the image.
But if you are not sure you agree with this theory, you can make up your own mind when Behind the Truth rolls into Campbelltown soon.
Behind the Truth will be on exhibition at the HJ Daley Library from Saturday, August 22 to September 3.
The exhibition features 10 iconic images from the State Library’s unrivalled collection so this will also be a chance to delve into the fascinating stories behind these photos.
Behind the Truth illustrates the trickery behind some very famous imagery, such as Australian photographer Max Dupain’s iconic image Sunbaker, taken in 1937.
Although this image has come to epitomise the quintessential Aussie male, the model was actually a British engineer.
And not many people will know that David Moore’s famous 1966 image, Migrants arriving in Sydney (left), is not a photo of new migrants at all – four of the group were Sydneysiders returning from a holiday!
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Lake, said that Campbelltown City Council was proud to host such a fascinating and historically enlightening exhibition.
“Council is pleased to coordinate with the State Library of NSW to bring popular exhibitions to the people of Campbelltown and surrounding areas.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“It’s a great opportunity to view some of Australia’s most famous photographic images up close,” Cr Lake said.[/social_quote]
Behind the Truth is a free exhibition and is open to the public during normal library operating hours.
• For more information, contact library services on 4645 4444, or visit council’s what’s on website here.
• The official website for the exhibition can be found here.
