Title: Capturing nature :
Authors: Finney, Vanessa,; McKay, Kim,
Date: 2019
Publisher: NewSouth Publishing,
Physical description: v, 199 pages : illustrations, portraits, photographs ; 27 cm
Language: English
LC classification: T
Abstract: The groundbreaking scientific photographs of Australian Museum curator Gerard Krefft and taxidermist Henry Barnes are revealed for the first time. In the mid-nineteenth century, scientists around the world were quick to see photography's huge potential for capturing fleeting moments of life, death and discovery. At the Australian Museum, curator Gerard Krefft and taxidermist Henry Barnes began to experiment with the revolutionary new art form, preparing and staging their specimens from whales and giant sunfish to lifelike lyre bird scenes and fossils and documenting them in thousands of arresting images. Capturing Nature reveals these groundbreaking photographs for the first time, along with the Australian Museum's urgent quest to become more scientific in its practices.
Notes: Published in association with the Australian Museum in conjunction with the exhibition Capturing Nature: Early scientific photography 1857-1893.
Subject headings (LCSH): Australian Museum--History--Exhibitions.; Australian Museum--History.; Barnes, Henry, -1904.; Krefft, Gerard, 1830-1881.; Museum exhibits--New South Wales--Sydney--History--19th century.; Natural history museums--New South Wales--Sydney--History--19th century.; Natural history--Australia; Nature photography--Australia--Exhibitions.; Nature photography--New South Wales--Sydney--History--19th century.; Photography, Biological--Exhibitions.; Photography, Biological--Pictorial works.; Photography--New South Wales--Sydney--History--19th century.; Photography--Scientific applications--Exhibitions.; Science museums--New South Wales--Sydney--History--19th century--Pictorial works.; Wildlife photography--Australia--Exhibitions.; Zoological specimens--Australia--Exhibitions.; Zoological specimens--Australia--Pictorial works.