South Australia from above: views from then and now

Description

Hear Dr Paul Dare describe the life of pioneering South Australian photographer Darian Smith (1900-1984) and his contribution to aerial photography.

In the 1920s through to the1960s, the pioneering South Australian aerial photographer, Douglas Darian Smith (1900-1984) documented the stunning landscapes of South Australia from the skies.

Dr Paul Dare and colleagues have re-photographed the scenes, as close as possible to the original location to show the enormous changes in land use and development that have occurred over nearly a century.

He has published: South Australia From Above: Views from Then And Now. Through the lenses of two skilled aerial photographers, the book invites readers on a fascinating journey through time, unfolding the transformation of South Australia from yesteryears to the present day. From the cityscape to the coastal beauty, and from vineyards to shipyards, the book uniquely captures the essence of South Australia's rich heritage and its evolution in the 21st century. Copies of the book will be available for purchase on the night.

Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Freeman of the City of London, and a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots.

Dr Paul Dare

After reading physics at the University of Oxford, Paul completed a PhD in Remote Sensing at University College London, where he developed an interest in satellite, radar and airborne imaging technologies. Equally passionate about aviation, he relocated to Australia in 1999 to pursue a career in his chosen field.

His first role was at the University of Melbourne as a Research Fellow, where he worked with satellite imagery primarily. Google Earth was yet to materialise, and Paul was an early adopter of emerging imaging technologies, marked by his contribution to the front page of Melbourne’s Sunday Age newspaper on 9 April 2000.

In 2003, he relocated to Adelaide with his family and a newly awarded commercial pilot’s license. In South Australia, he saw an opportunity to apply his academic research to the commercial world and he set up his own airborne imaging company, Spatial Scientific Technologies, in 2005.

A photographer since childhood, Paul soon developed a reputation as one of Australia’s leading airborne imaging experts, applying new technologies to aerial survey in a range of contexts including bushfire mapping, environmental monitoring and primary industries. His client base expanded and, today, his customers extend from Australia to South Africa, Europe, North America and over Antarctica, as his company continues to design airborne imaging systems and deliver imagery

Image: Photographer Darian Smith about to board a light aircraft SLSA B 46124.

Gold coin donation for members
$10 for non-members

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