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David Neilson 90/91, 04/05

David Neilson Photo: David Neilson

David Neilson has taken photographs in a wide range of wild places including western Tasmania, Greenland, South Georgia and Antarctica. Between 1983 and 1993 he worked for the Australian Conservation Foundation as pictorial editor and graphic designer. He has visited Antarctica twice. During the summer of 1990 and 91 he travelled south with the Antarctic Division's then titled Humanities Program to take photographs for ACF's ongoing Antarctic conservation work, and as an Arts Fellow in 2004-05 with the purpose of producing a book of photographs on Antarctica and the sub-antarctic islands.

David has published three significant works: a large format calendar: Antarctica–AWorld Park, and two books: Wilsons Promontory – Coastal Wilderness (1996) and Patagonia – Images of a Wild Land (1999). He currently lives near Emerald to the east of Melbourne and runs Snowgum Press.

Antarctic Impression

Emperors at Auster Photo: David Neilson

My strongest impression of Antarctica was the profusion of wildlife around the coastal fringe. The sheer numbers of penguins, seals and sea birds were remarkable and the high point of my visit was photographing Emperor penguins at the Auster rookery. One felt quite privileged to be in the presence of these magnificent birds. I was also fortunate to have a brief visit to the remote and hauntingly beautiful Prince Charles Mountains. My visit reinforced my feelings that we must take particular care of the Earth's foremost wild places including Antarctica. -David Neilson