Shot: 400 photographs, 200 photographers, 3 centuries
The first exhibition to comprehensively review the Library’s photo collections — one of the largest, most diverse, and significant in Australia. Take a closer look at the works of Australian photographers, from the first commercial photographer through to present-day practitioners. With a representative image from almost every year between 1845 and 2022, this tour presents visitors with a fascinating new take on Australia’s past.
Visit the new underground photography gallery and follow the fascinating journey of the photographic image in Australia.
Shot delves into the Library’s extraordinary collection of two million images and delivers a visual feast of 400 captivating moments — many displayed for the first time — with nearly every photographic format and every year between 1845 and 2022 represented.
The exhibition features Australia’s oldest photograph, the earliest examples of colour photography, iconic works by some of our most acclaimed photographers and contemporary images and commentary by over 30 living photographers.
On display for the first time are 25 large glass plate negatives from the Holtermann collection which form an astonishing 9-metre panorama of Sydney in 1875.
Due to the delicate nature of numerous works, this may be the first and only time to see some of these rare images of Australia’s pictorial history on display.
