NWM

National War Memorial

From 1946 to1952 official photographers were appointed to document the British Commonwealth Occupation Force including Harold Dunkley and Phillip Hobson. The photographs taken were to give Australia some sort of coverage of what was going on. These images were also to “maintain an “impartial historical record” of the activities undertaken by the Australians “ (ref. http://www.awm.gov.au/publications/contact/conflicts.asp)

By 1950 to 1953 just a few photographers were left documenting the field, which resulted in coverage becoming limited. The Vietnam War from 1962 to 1972 included the most photographic coverage. Troops used their own cameras, and there were many assigned photographers shooting strategy work, the Australian Military Unit also had their own public relations unit photographers. A long time after the Vietnam War, Australian war photography changed greatly. This was due to many things including the development of digital technology, new media and smaller line between photography and art.

Not only did Australian War photography change, but opportunities for photographers changed as well. Commanders and government officials came to the conclusion that photographing the war and exhibiting to the public was the cause of anti wars views and war criticism. The increase of digital technology also meant that any one could pick up and camera and take photographs, so this was also another reason technology has changed the potential for professional photographer at the time.

The above photograph is from the National War Memorial collection and was taken in 1967 during the Vietnam War. This is an example of how the photographers of the time were shooting images to document was was going on.

It was in the mid 1940’s when Australian were most influenced by the Americans, from a social aspect. American trends such as fashion, manufactured goods, domestic technology and consumerism had quite an impact on Australians. It was also the American cinema, which Australians were exposed to that influenced the Australians to American fashion. The American soldiers were earning a lot more than Australian soldiers and because of this meant that the Americans had more stylish expensive attire. This also had an impact on Australian soldiers and caused the Americans to possess a ‘big spender’ status.
(ref http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/homefront/us_forces.asp)

The above photograph is of American Soldiers and was shot in 1942, you can see from this shot the smart fashion of the Americans