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The Photography of Peter Dombrovskis: Journeys into the Wild
187 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2017
13 people want to read
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Bob Brown
390 books5 followersThis is the general disambiguation profile for authors called Bob Brown.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 20, 2018
Superb images, mystical country, a great legacy.
I saw the exhibition of these photographs in a visit to Canberra late last year and the book will be revisited many times, I'm sure.
I saw the exhibition of these photographs in a visit to Canberra late last year and the book will be revisited many times, I'm sure.
January 20, 2018
‘In 2007 the National Library of Australia acquired over 3,000 colour transparencies that make up the Dombrovskis archive.’
Peter Dombrovskis (2 March 1945 – 28 March 1996) was an Australian photographer, best known for his Tasmanian scenes. Peter Dombrovskis was born, to Latvian parents, in a refugee camp in Germany. He and his mother migrated to Australia in 1950, and settled in Fern Tree, a suburb of Hobart, situated below kunanyi/Mount Wellington.
Peter Dombrovskis, who was a protégé of renowned wildlife photographer and activist Olegas Truchanas (1923-1972), took photographs of the Tasmanian wilderness. Those photographs were used in Mr Dombrovskis’s annual calendars as well as in calendars produced by the Tasmanian Wilderness Society. While I don’t have any of these calendars, I do have a number of postcards featuring his work.
‘Many of us will never go to the wilderness he photographed, but into the most ordinary everyday places he brought something beautiful, contemplative and powerful.’
In late December 2017, I went to the National Library of Australia to see an exhibition on some of Peter Dombrovskis’s photographs. The National Library of Australia printed 70 of the colour transparencies it holds for this special exhibition. Most (not all) of those photographs are of remote and inaccessible parts of Tasmania. I particularly love the photographs of reflections in the remote lakes, as well as images of the Painted Cliffs (Maria Island).
But Peter Dombrovskis’s most famous photograph is undoubtedly the one entitled: Morning Mist, Rock Island Bend, Franklin River (c1980). This particular photograph captured what would have been lost if the Gordon-below-Franklin dam had been built. This photograph was used extensively during the last four years of the ‘No Dams’ campaign. The fight to build the dam ended up in the High Court of Australia. The High Court heard the case in 1983 and announced its decision on July 1. It found by a majority of four votes to three that the Commonwealth Government had the power to stop the dam. Tasmanian Premier Robin Gray accepted the decision, halted the dam works and the Franklin was saved.
‘Dombrovskis’ contribution to the environmental movement is profound but his technical ability and artistry as a photographer are equally celebrated.’
There are other photographs, too, of opportunistic plants clinging to life on what you might think are barren rocks, of reflections in isolated lakes, of nature absent of the impact of humankind. These are photographs to consider, contemplate and revisit.
For those with access to the National Library of Australia’s website, it is possible to see the digitized Dombrovskis collection online.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Peter Dombrovskis (2 March 1945 – 28 March 1996) was an Australian photographer, best known for his Tasmanian scenes. Peter Dombrovskis was born, to Latvian parents, in a refugee camp in Germany. He and his mother migrated to Australia in 1950, and settled in Fern Tree, a suburb of Hobart, situated below kunanyi/Mount Wellington.
Peter Dombrovskis, who was a protégé of renowned wildlife photographer and activist Olegas Truchanas (1923-1972), took photographs of the Tasmanian wilderness. Those photographs were used in Mr Dombrovskis’s annual calendars as well as in calendars produced by the Tasmanian Wilderness Society. While I don’t have any of these calendars, I do have a number of postcards featuring his work.
‘Many of us will never go to the wilderness he photographed, but into the most ordinary everyday places he brought something beautiful, contemplative and powerful.’
In late December 2017, I went to the National Library of Australia to see an exhibition on some of Peter Dombrovskis’s photographs. The National Library of Australia printed 70 of the colour transparencies it holds for this special exhibition. Most (not all) of those photographs are of remote and inaccessible parts of Tasmania. I particularly love the photographs of reflections in the remote lakes, as well as images of the Painted Cliffs (Maria Island).
But Peter Dombrovskis’s most famous photograph is undoubtedly the one entitled: Morning Mist, Rock Island Bend, Franklin River (c1980). This particular photograph captured what would have been lost if the Gordon-below-Franklin dam had been built. This photograph was used extensively during the last four years of the ‘No Dams’ campaign. The fight to build the dam ended up in the High Court of Australia. The High Court heard the case in 1983 and announced its decision on July 1. It found by a majority of four votes to three that the Commonwealth Government had the power to stop the dam. Tasmanian Premier Robin Gray accepted the decision, halted the dam works and the Franklin was saved.
‘Dombrovskis’ contribution to the environmental movement is profound but his technical ability and artistry as a photographer are equally celebrated.’
There are other photographs, too, of opportunistic plants clinging to life on what you might think are barren rocks, of reflections in isolated lakes, of nature absent of the impact of humankind. These are photographs to consider, contemplate and revisit.
For those with access to the National Library of Australia’s website, it is possible to see the digitized Dombrovskis collection online.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
January 17, 2018
A beautiful, beautiful coffee table book full of stunning pictures of Tasmania from a man who obviously loved his subject.
Bob Brown discusses Dombrovskis ability to convey permanency and transiency in his photography and it was certainly one of the elements that really attracted my attention - flowers in bloom against a rock wall backdrop, icicles dangling from a snow gum, opportunistic plants growing in crevices.
I'm also a fan of the macro shot and Dombrovskis certainly knew how to capture close ups of plants, leaves and moss to their best advantage.
Tasmania is a dream subject for any photographer, but Dombrovskis had the happy knack of bringing the viewers right into his scenes. The colours and textures, the reflections and shapes show off the serenity, beauty and uniqueness of the Tasmanian environment.
Simply stunning, page after page after page.
Bob Brown discusses Dombrovskis ability to convey permanency and transiency in his photography and it was certainly one of the elements that really attracted my attention - flowers in bloom against a rock wall backdrop, icicles dangling from a snow gum, opportunistic plants growing in crevices.
I'm also a fan of the macro shot and Dombrovskis certainly knew how to capture close ups of plants, leaves and moss to their best advantage.
Tasmania is a dream subject for any photographer, but Dombrovskis had the happy knack of bringing the viewers right into his scenes. The colours and textures, the reflections and shapes show off the serenity, beauty and uniqueness of the Tasmanian environment.
Simply stunning, page after page after page.
November 2, 2025
I recently saw this book on a trip to Tasmania. Peter Dombrovskis has captured the beauty of the Tasmanian wilderness exceptionally well. He was an activist for preserving the wild natural beauty of the Franklin-Gordon river basins. The composition of the photographs makes great use of light, colour and juxtapostion of different natural elements. The book could have been better if the photographs had small descriptions and a map of the places where the pictures were shot instead of just quotes.
April 2, 2022
Peaceful. Inspiring. I spend a charming two hours strolling through the pages of this book. I’ve always loved Tasmania but the images captured in this book reminded me why.
December 2, 2019
Excellent collection of photographs and they are very relaxing to watch.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews