Join Mike Bowers in conversation as he dives into his favourite images from the Fairfax Photographic Archive and discusses what makes them work as standout examples of news photography.

Mike Bowers

Mike Bowers is a photojournalist with over 37 years’ experience. He currently hosts the Talking Pictures segment on ABC TV’s Insiders. He has covered 13 federal election campaigns, and photographed conflicts in Cambodia, Kosovo, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and the Middle East.

Mike has worked for some of Australia’s most prestigious publications, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian (Australia), The Australian, The Canberra Times, The Age, The Bulletin, The Australian Financial Review, BRW, Time and The Daily Telegraph.

About Fit to Print - 2nd Edition

At its very best, photojournalism can define a moment, a movement, an era or even a whole generation. It can bring down a careless politician or elevate them to a winning position. It can lift a weary spirit. And sometimes it can move opinions and change the way we view the world.

In Fit to Print, photographer and media commentator Mike Bowers explores the Fairfax Photographic Archive held by the National Library of Australia. This collection comprises over 18,000 glass-plate negatives, photographs of which appeared in Fairfax publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun and Sydney Mail.

In creating photographs for mainstream publications, the early photojournalists familiarised Australians with a new visual language of the news.

Covering the period 1890–1948, the book includes photographs of rural and urban scenes, industry, politicians, celebrities, daily life, special events (such as the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), sporting and social events, and more.