GEORGE J. MORRIS
1884-1959
George
James Morris was born in Sydney and studied modelling and engraving
at Sydney Technical College and may have
later taught
there
around 1905. Morris possibly started photography as early as 1901,
but more likely around 1920-21 when he visited Germany, England
and America studying engraving and photo-reproduction processes.
He
began exhibiting around 1925 as a member of the Sydney Camera
Circle and the Photographic Society of New South Wales.
Morris
established a commercial studio in Sydney in the 1920s, specialising
in advertising
and industrial assignments.
In
1927 Morris became a partner in Ramsay Photo Works, responsible
for the copying and enlarging work.
In connection with this
business Morris again travelled to Europe and America in 1936
carrying
a Leica camera. Morris later exhibited his overseas pictures
in the
form
of the largest bromoil transfers ever seen (1 m x 60 cm in
size, one remains in Morris’ widow’s collection)
which he had produced using a mangle. Morris served as secretary
of the
Sydney
Camera Circle for many years. Morris was a close friend of
Cecil
Bostock
with whom he shared interest in fine craftwork and boating.
One
of his last activities was joining the Contemporary Camera Groupe
in 1938 after which, at the onset of war. Morris
went to work for
the Department of the Army.
As
a result of an accident during this work Morris suffered a long
illness before his death.
Morris’ work was unusual in that
his pictures of places show an influence of the photo-journalistic “essay” well
before the documentary movement developed in Australia.
above
text based on Gaël Newton's Silver & Grey
Angus and Roberston, Australia 1980
