Steve Parish

Steve Parish is a multi-award winning photographer and pioneer of photographic Australian publishing [ [http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/stories/s1223187.htm Steve Parish :: ABC Queensland ] ] . Born in Great Britain in 1945, he is the founder of Steve Parish Publishing [ [http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1398986.htm Talking Heads - Steve Parish and Bill Bristow ] ] .

Early life

While today, Steve is known for capturing wildlife with a camera and film, his early years were quite different. From the age of nine, Steve was a keen spear fisherman and at seventeen, a practiced hunter who had bought his first rifle at age 16 [ [http://www.steveparish.com.au/meet_steve/the_journey_the_beginning.php Steve Parish Publishing : Meet Steve : The Journey : The Beginning ] ] .

Steve was first introduced to photography when he was given the opportunity to join an expedition to Kangaroo Island led by pioneering Australian underwater photographer Igo Oak. Igo would become a mentor to Parish and a co founder of the South Australian Underwater Photography Society.

Despite his introduction to photography, Steve's disinterest in school, lack of formal qualifications and proven competency with firearms saw him start an apprenticeship as a gunsmith in Adelaide [ [http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1398986.htm Talking Heads - Steve Parish and Bill Bristow ] ] .

In 1963 at age eighteen, the self admitted "mouthy" teenage Parish joined the Royal Australian Navy. Steve admits he had little determination until joining the navy, whose no nonsense training toughened him up. He would later value the skills and determination he developed in the Navy as a diver [ [http://www.steveparish.com.au/meet_steve/the_journey_discovering_determination.php Steve Parish Publishing : Meet Steve : The Journey : Discovering Determination ] ] .

Navy years

While in the Navy stationed in Sydney, Steve joined the New South Wales Underwater Research Group. Here, he met Neville Coleman and Walt Deas who, like Parish, would later become renowned photographers in their field.

Steve was later transferred to Jervis Bay on the New South Wales central coast. The area around Jervis Bay is well known for it's natural beauty, as are th coastal waters. His time photographing in the are provided much of the material for his first book "Oceans of Life".

Photography and publishing

Steve Parish traveled extensively from 1981 to 1984. While doing so, he notice the absence of photographic material for the tourist market featuring Australia. In 1985, he began Steve Parish Publishing, initially called Wildlife Publishing [ [http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1398986.htm Talking Heads - Steve Parish and Bill Bristow ] ] .

Steve uses an array of 135mm, medium format and panoramic film formats in addition to digital video. He uses Fuji Velvia.

Awards

* 1974 Nikon South Pacific Underwater Photographer of the Year
* 1986 Agfa-Gevaert Trophy for the Most Creative Use of Photography in Print in the 3rd National Print Awards
* 1992 Gold Medal for Saddle-stitched Booklets, Catalogs and Brochures in the 9th National Print Awards
* 1993 Silver and Bronze Medals Queensland Industry Craftsmanship Awards for Excellence in Print Production
* 1993 The Galley Club Award for Excellence in Book Production and Manufacture
* 1994 The Galley Club Award for Excellence in Book Production and Manufacture
* 1995 Bronze Medal for Casebound Books in the 12th National Print Awards
* 1996 Gold Medal for Casebound Books in the 13th National Print Awards
* 1996 Certificate of Merit in the Printing Industries of America Premier Print Awards
* 1998 Certificate of Commendation in the Whitley Awards for the best books in the category Junior Secondary Series
* 1998 Certificate of Commendation in the Whitley Awards for the best book in the category Illustrated Works
* 1999 Australian Photographic Society's Award for Contribution to Nature Photography

References

External links

* [http://www.steveparish.com.au Steve Parish's website]