In
late 1872 Merlin commenced the commissioned work for
Holtermann's
International Exposition. Besides large plate photographs
of the Hill End area, he travelled
the central western
districts
of NSW and
then to the south, travelling through Bathurst,
Rockley, Orange, Dubbo, Trunkley, Carcoar, Goulburn
and other places on his return trip.
It
is considered that these plates were all 10" X
12"
which was the
format agreed to between Merlin and Holtermann; being
the largest available. Merlin had used this format
for his landscape and city photography while in the
Sydney studio, established in 1870-1871. The
A & A
studio work in Sydney and later at Gulgong and Hill
End as well as the previous travelling
photography in Victoria and NSW, had been
quarter plate cate-de-visite
size. Holtermann had equipped Merlin with new vehicles
and equipment to travel and use the larger format.
However,
when Charles Bayliss took over the commission in
mid to late 1873, following Merlin's
illness
and
subsequent
death, it has been suggested that Bayliss convinced
Holtermann to move to using the Mammoth Plate size
of 18" x 22". It is not documented as to how Bayliss
had become familiar with Mammoth Plate photography.
The
subject matter was to be no longer the
portraits in the studio or of people
with their homes or places of business. The Exposition
photographs were to illustrate the commercial and industry
successes of the growing colony.
Therefore
while the
images contained
the mines and the miners as before, they are now more
often within the larger landscape. The plates
are dominated by images of townships and their commercial
and institutional buildings, as well the City of Sydney
and other images of indutry both within towns throughout
the countryside.
The
images below is a sample of Merlin's
early Exposition work.
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(original
12X10" by Merlin
for the Holtermann Exposition) |
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|
Hawkins
Hill mines at northern end of lode, 1872
(original 12X10" by Merlin for the Holtermann
Exposition) |
| |
|
(original
12X10" by Merlin for the Holtermann Exposition) |
| |
|
(original
12X10" by Merlin for the Holtermann Exposition) |
| |
|
Browning's
Overland Hotel
cnr Macquarie & Cobra Streets, Dubbo
(in 1953 ~ Reman Court Flats)
(original 12X10" by Merlin for the Holtermann Exposition) |
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