Athol Shmith, Photographer.
Athol Shmith in his South Yarra apartment.
Paul Cox (c. 1979)
Gelatin silver photograph 24.6 × 24.0 cm.
Department Australian Photography, National Gallery of Victoria. Presented through The Art Foundation of Victoria by the Shmith family, Governor, 1996
Following the two recent posts by Peter Leiss on Robert Rosen and Jill Gocher.
These posts triggered my memories of the good old days when I lived next door to
Paul Cox in Punt Road, South Yarra... Paul and I became great friends.
Although Paul passed away about 9 years ago, I have not created a written tribute to
him. I did make a film about those days with Paul, "The Nude In The Window".
Despite his initial nervousness about the film, Paul was very pleased with it.
In those 1970s days Paul introduced me to many people including Athol Shmith, whom
I met only on a few occasions. I was aware of Athol's exceptional portraits. I found him
incredibly approachable. But I didn't know him as well as I knew Paul.
When Peter Leiss sent me his interview with Robert Rosen, it became clear to me that
there was another story which should be told about Athol as an inspiring teacher.
I asked Peter if he could direct me to someone who might fill us in on Athol's role at Prahran CAE.
Peter referred me to James McArdle who was connected with both men in the 70s.
James has written a very fine account of Athol's life which features some of his
famous photographs, as well as images of Athol teaching at Prahran:
James McArdle (1975) Athol Shmith in class.
From left; Peter Bowes (back view), Athol Shmith, Toby Baker, Jon Sarah (?), Bill Henson.
And this shot by Greg Neville featuring Athol and Paul, and an unidentified guest lecturer.
Greg Neville (1971-2)
L to R Derek Lee, Athol Shmith, Paul Cox, an unidentified guest lecturer, and Bryan Gracey (with back to camera)
Here's a sample from James' article about Athol and those days:
"But it was not all just lighting. Athol was a genius at directing models. Urbane, sophisticated and witty, he was by no means handsome, but always impeccably dressed, even when lecturing, in brass-buttoned navy-blue reefer jacket, red waistcoat and Windsor knotted tie—always—while the male students sitting around him (and a couple of his fellow lecturers too) wore flared jeans, beards, long hair and sandals or bare feet. But his mesmerising pop eyes, conspicuous nose and gangly limbs he put to good use. Verbal directions would only interrupt the stream of banter that he used to calm nervous sitters, so after saying perhaps, “Head to the light, now eyes to camera” as if directing a movie star on set, he instead used mime and subtle hand signals; the subject would barely be conscious that they had lifted their chin, shifted their weight, or relaxed their shoulders just the way he wanted them to, they just did it, prompted by his own gestures that they then imitated."
I can highly recommend my friends to read James's full publication:
"The Lecturers: Athol Shmith"
https://prahranlegacy.org/2024/04/24/the-lecturers-athol-shmith/
Also, this written by his son Michael Shmith
Athol Shmith: My father in the frame
Michael Shmith July 30, 2014 — 4.06pm
https://www.smh.com.au/national/athol-shmith-my-father-in-the-frame-20140730-zyjdr.html
pt 6/10/2025
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