Max Dupain Essay

Maxwell Spencer Dupain was born on the 4th of April, 1911, in Sydney, to parents Ena and George. While receiving an education at Sydney Grammar School, Max had an interest in both poetry and rowing prior to developing an enthralment with photography at the age of thirteen. This interest was prompted by the gift of his first camera, a ‘Box Brownie’, followed by a ‘Vest Pocket Camera’ two years later. His interest in photography expanded, thus leading Dupain to win the ‘Carter Memorial Prize for Productive Use of Spare Time’ two years later. In 1928 Max joined the New South Wales photography society and it was here that he met Harold Cazneaux, a photography legend. In the society Max began to enter photography competitions and submit entries

for display. Two years later Dupain began a three year internship with Cecil Bostock, whilst doing this he also attended the East Sydney Technical College and the Julian Ashton Art School from 1933 to 1935. As Max studied with Cecil he learned the vital importance of early studio photography, discipline and the need for a rigorous attention to detail. He also enjoyed weekends away with friends, experimenting with different kinds of photography before finding that his passion lay in modern photography.

In 1934, after completing his internship with Cecil, Max started his own studio. He specialised in advertising, fashion, still life and portraits, whilst experimenting with human forms and Australian beach culture. It was at this time that he produced his most famous item, ‘The Sunbaker’, which would become Dupain’s signature piece. In 1939 Dupain married a fellow photographer and childhood friend, Olive Cotton. Their marriage would last only a year. Dupain’s skills in photography attributed to his joining of the ‘Sydney Camouflage Group’ in 1942, to contribute to the war effort. He was a camouflage designer and photographer serving in Darwin and New Guinea. Yet despite his obvious skill with a camera, Dupain was not an official war photographer. This did not prevent him from enlisting as a Royal Australian Air force as a researcher and a photographer as he reported on the camouflage effort being made by the Australian and US forces. In 1945, Dupain applied to the Department of Information to become an official war photographer in spite of the fact that the department had changed its focus to promoting Australia to

immigrants. He was accepted and commissioned to partake in a large scale campaign to increase migration to Australia, which he did by photography the Australia’s lifestyle. Dupain portrayed Australia as a growing and prosperous community in which acceptance was easily given. During this time he also developed his documentary skill. Max’s work with the government would continue throughout the nineteen fifties and sixties, all the while taking a wide variety of pictures. An example of this was the numerous musicians he was commissioned to photo. When taking such images he often used strong lighting and intense facial features. From the beginning of the 1930’s to the start of the 1960’s Dupain’s work consisted mostly of portraiture. It was in the late 1960’s that Dupain would begin the work that would become his pathway to fame, Architecture. He had a simple and direct approach in his pictures, that many found visually pleasing. In 1962 Max was commissioned by the National Trust of Australia to photograph important buildings. Dupain’s work in architecture is often called his ‘long suit’ as it would last throughout the rest of his life. In 1971 Max decided a change of scenery was needed and moved to a new studio in Atarmon, Sydney, where he would remain for the rest of his life. He continued photography architecture and in 1975 Dupain’s work was seriously reviewed at the Australia Centre of Photography. Only seven years later Max was awarded with an ‘Order of The British Empire” before receiving a life membership with “The Royal Australian Institution of Architects” a year later. In 1986 a book honouring Max’s life was published, followed by a second one merely two years later. Maxwell Spencer Dupain passed away on July 27th of 1992. He was 81 years old and a photography legend that shall not be forgotten.