Hamilton Atkin b. 1904

Also known as Rev Atkin
  • Artist (Photographer)
Photographer and Presbyterian clergyman, Atkin was the first Director of the Audio Visual Department of the Church in Victoria before becoming a professional freelance photographer in 1966. In 1953 he produced a film about Indigenous Australians called 'Man of the Mulga'. The National Library of Australia holds over 1000 photographs taken by Atkin that portray young people in school and church-rel
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Photographer and clergyman, was a Presbyterian clergyman who came to Australia in 1942 and played an influential role in the church for the next 40 years. He was the first Director of the Audio Visual Department of the Church in Victoria, ran the first Stewardship campaign in Australia in 1955 and founded and was president of the Australian Religious Film Society for many years. In 1953 he produced a film about Aborigines called Man of the Mulga . For about 30 years Rev. Atkin took a collection of about 1000 photographs, now in the National library of Australia [NLA], mainly portraying young people in schools and involved in church-related activities, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous subjects. His photographs taken in the Musgrave Ranges, SA (c.1950s) record traditional life of the people in the region and included a photograph of the opening of Ernabella Church in 1953.

In 1966 Atkin became a freelance professional photographer. In 1970 he was appointed editor of the Church’s paper, Outreach , and his photographs were often taken to illustrate articles. His widow, Dr Margaret Atkin, said 'he always saw photography as a means of communication’ (interview with Barbara Perry, NLA). Many of his photographs were exhibited and published. The NLA holds 81 exhibition prints.

Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1999
Last updated:
2011

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