Merv Fitzhenry
by Anat Shushan
About a year ago, I started coming across street images from a photographer I didn’t know.
I found his work fascinating. Each photo blew my mind and I could not wait to see the next one.
After a short while, I started to immediately recognize his work. Each image was telling a strong overwhelming story. It was obvious the photos were taken many years ago by someone who has photography deep in his heart and soul.
That photographer is Merv Fitzhenry, today a 90 years old man living with his wife in Gold Coast, Australia.
About a month ago I went on a short trip to Australia, knowing I had to meet him in person. For me, it was meeting a legend. Not less than that.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t meet for a long time, but I am so thankful even for the short time I got to spend with him. That made my trip complete. He is not only an incredible photographer, but also the kindest sweetest man.
But since I didn’t get to spend as much time with him as I wanted, and I didn’t get to sit with him for hours and listen to his stories like I wished, I had to know more about him…
Mervyn Fitzhenry was born in 1929 in Sydney, Australia.
Q: What where you interested in as a kid? What fascinated you?
My first big interest was to become a jockey. I left school at about 13 years of age and got a job at a horse racing stable had a few rides but got to heavy. After knocking out my trainer, I then left and became a Pro Boxer. I was 17 years of age.
Q: At what time in your life were you exposed to photography? Was it “love at first site?”
When I started Photography it was 1971. A friend of mine gave me one of his camera's. He put it on auto and it stayed there. I always use auto but I did lose a lot of photo's. I then went to a nearby park and these are my first photos. I think I was about 42 or 43 years of age.
This was my first photo 1971 and 2'nd photo. They were both not far from each other.
From then on I kept taking the same kind of photo's that's all I knew.
Q: Each and every one of your images tells a strong story. That’s why I fell in love with your work. Every time I come across an image of yours I have to stop and look. I think that what makes a great photographer. Being able to express the soul of the people in the photo. Can you tell us a little about the people in your photos? Who were they? Were they a part of your life?
The people I take are the same as where I grew up. The kids in the backlanes I was one of them, but over 40 years earlier I never found it hard to take these photos.
The people I photograph are all strangers. I take their photos and go. I like to take photos in their homes, that way I have to talk to them but they always let me in.
I only had trouble with one old lady she used to stand at her front door partly open with her dog. She lived on her own with her dog. she was very scared of strangers. At first she wouldn’t speak to me, I kept going back and after about 3 days she let me in and I got my photos. I always get my photo's.
Q: Photography has changes so much over the years. Since the digital cameras came into our lives, it feels like the “rules have changed”. Can you tell us what was it like, being a photographer back in the 70s and 80s?
Cameras.... I know nothing about cameras. They all take photos. It's what you take that matters. Never had a camera with motor drive.
Q: What made you connect to photography so strongly?
I worked on the Sydney waterfront as a wharflabour from the 50''s to the 90''s. 1971 after work I go walking the streets with my camera. I never take photos in a street with lots of people, always in the back lanes where there are not many people that is where I get most of my photos.
I never ask people if I can take their photo, I take it and go.
One more thing I like to mention …. I always go on my own, would not go with anyone else otherwise you all take the same photos.
People photos I like to see their eyes.
Merv never took pictures in colour, only B/W.
His first camera was a second hand Pentax, then he started using an automatic Nikon.
He always uses a 50mm lens and a 400ASA film.
His work, which is honest, telling true hard human stories in a brave and touching way was published in Time Magazine and others, museums, exhibitions, books and won a lot of international awards.
One of his tips, which is without a doubt my favorite, is to be selective with your photos. Very selective.
Not once got into trouble while taking pictures. A true street photographer!
