The Attitude of Sydney Street Life by Australian Flaneur Arthur K Syer – Photographs 1885-1890

Syer’s low angle photographs were taken surreptitiously, using a ‘detective camera’. Such cameras, sometimes concealed in parcels or portmanteau, were made possible with the invention of the dry plate in 1880.

Australian flaneur Arthur K. Syer took these candid photographs of street scenes in Sydney, Australia towards the end of 19th Century. We see deliveries, barrow shopping, queues at Circular Quay, shipping, street cleaning, children playing, farming, scenes at horse races and farming scenes. Syer’s low angle photographs were taken surreptitiously, using a ‘detective camera’. Such cameras, sometimes concealed in parcels or portmanteau, were made possible with the invention of the dry plate in 1880.

 

 

Sydney c.1895 – Arthur K. Syer

 

 

Circular Quay, Sydney c.1897 – Arthur K. Syer

Arthur K. Syer was brother of the artist Walter Syer, (aka the illustrator ‘Cue’) and a friend of Phil May, the English cartoonist who for three years (1886–1889) worked for the The Sydney Bulletin. Arthur supplied May with snapshots photographs of everyday people. May used the photographs to add authenticity to his cartoons.

Sydney c.1897 – Arthur K. Syer

Sydney c. 1897, by Arhur K. Syer

Advertising hoarding for McLean-Rigg – Sydney c. 1897, by Arhur K. Syer

Manly Ferry, Sydney c. 1897, by Arhur K. Syer

Gentleman paying street merchant Sydney c. 1897, by Arhur K. Syer

Governor Bourke Hotel, Sydney c. 1897 photo by Arthur K. Syer

Girl with pet duck on lead, Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

King and Elizabeth Street corner, Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Advertising hoarding, Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Arthur K. Syer (d. 1935) Tram, West Crescent St., North Sydney c. 1880s – 1900
Arthur K. Syer (d. 1935) Children crowd around a ladder c. 1880s – 1900

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Farming scene Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

An aviary in Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Chimney sweep in Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Circular Quay, Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Phillip Street, Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Small band playing in street, Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

Sydney c. 1897 by Arthur C. Syer

 

 

 

Via: State Library of New South Wales

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