Henry Walter Barnett | |
|---|---|
 Barnett circa 1894 | |
| Born | Henry Walter Barnett (1862-01-25)25 January 1862 |
| Died | 16 January 1934(1934-01-16) (aged 71) Nice, France |
| Other names | H. Walter Barnett |
| Occupation | Photographer |
Henry Walter Barnett (25 January 1862 – 16 January 1934), usually known asH. Walter Barnett, was an Australian photographer and filmmaker. Barnett was a prominentportrait photographer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, establishing the successful Falk studios in Sydney. Later in his career he was based in London, England, with studios atHyde Park Corner andKnightsbridge. Barnett became involved in filmmaking after meeting cinematographerMarius Sestier in 1896, and with Sestier made some of the first films shot in Australia.
Barnett was born on 25 January 1862 inSt Kilda,Melbourne, Australia, one of seven children[1] of English-born Jewish parents Lewis[nb 1] Barnett, a merchant, and his wife Alice Jacobs.[2] He left school at the age of 13 and began his photographic career as a studio assistant, later establishing a studio inHobart, Tasmania with his business partner Harold Riise.[2] In 1884 he sold his share of the Hobart studio,[3] after which he travelled and worked variously in London and the United States. During his time in London he was employed by the society photographersW. & D. Downey, where he assisted in photographing the future KingEdward VII.[2]
In 1885 Barnett founded the Falk studios in Sydney,[2] at which he established himself as one of Australia's leading portrait photographers.[3] He opened a second studio in Melbourne in 1895.[2] He was known in particular for photographing stage stars and other celebrities; one of his best-known sitters wasSarah Bernhardt, who sat for him while visiting Australia in 1891. Other prominent visitors to Australia photographed by Barnett wereRobert Louis Stevenson in 1893 andMark Twain in 1896.[2] One of his most notable works was a photograph ofHenry Parkes, in which according to Ennis (2004), Parkes "plays the role of a wise old man whose intense expression is evocative of a seer's".[4] Barnett married Hilda "Ella" Frances Clement Forbes in 1889.[3]
In 1897 Barnett relocated to London and established a photography studio atHyde Park Corner, later adding a second studio inKnightsbridge.[3] He joined photographic societyThe Linked Ring in 1899,[5] was a founder member of the Professional Photographers Association (later theBritish Institute of Professional Photography) in 1901,[5] and was elected to theRoyal Photographic Society council in 1903.[2] In 1904 he published a collection of photographs of his most notable sitters, titledA List of Well Known People Photographed by H. Walter Barnett. He exhibited a collection of photographs of British Armed Forces personnel of World War I in 1917, titledWarriors All.[6]
Barnett sold his London studios in 1920 and moved toDieppe, France, where he maintained a keen interest in contemporary French art. He died inNice on 16 January 1934, aged 71.[2]
In 1896 Barnett met French cinematographerMarius Sestier, an agent of early filmmakers theLumière brothers assigned to demonstrate theircinématographe abroad.[3] Barnett and Sestier began making films together, starting with a short film ofpassengers Alighting from Ferry Brighton at Manly, which was the first film shot and screened in Australia.[7]
They made approximately 19 films together in Sydney and Melbourne,[7] most notably a series of about ten to fifteen films documenting the 1896Melbourne Cup Carnival, including a film of the1896 Melbourne Cup horse race. Barnett directed the films while Sestier operated the cinématographe, and in theMelbourne Cup film Barnett is seen on camera encouraging spectators to wave their hats as the horses cross the finish line.[5]The Melbourne Cup film was premiered at thePrincess Theatre, Melbourne on 19 November 1896.[8] It was covered in the Australian press, includingThe Age andThe Bulletin, and has been cited as Australia's first film production.[9]
In 1897 Barnett's company produced four films of theEnglish cricket team in Australia in 1897–98.[10] These including one of the earliest survivingcricket films, featuringPrince Ranjitsinhji Practising Batting in the Nets.[10]
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