Frank Plicka
Encyclopedia
Frank Plicka is a Czech
-born Australia
n photographer, best known for his book Streets of Sydney, an extraordinary tour of Sydney
, documented in black & white photographs taken over the last 30 years. This book depicts life in, and around Sydney
streets, pubs, bars, galleries, and beaches.
, former Czechoslovakia
. His father was a miner, often unemployed and as many others at that time, could not give the family a decent living.
Starting a primary school meant a new happy life for Plicka. He finished school with best possible results, skipped high school and was enrolled in an elite school "Real Gymnasium" in 1937. After World War II
, during which Czech universities were closed, he continued his studies at Charles University of Prague
and graduated as a pedagog. Then until 1968, he was involved in sports professionally, coaching top Czech swimmers. In 1967, he was awarded a title Coach of the Year.
In 1968, after Soviet invasion to Czechoslovakia, he fled to Australia. He settled in Sydney, taking different jobs at different places, and started concentrating on street photography.
Besides Australia, he photographed one year in Africa
(1970s) and three years in Asia
(1980s). During last 35 years, he finished three books. At present time, only Streets of Sydney has been published.
During recent years, Plicka held several exhibitions in Sydney, but prefers private life and does not seek a wider recognition.
. As a sports photographer, he photographed in six Europe
an countries, including Russia
.
His trademark is candid black-and-white photography. He has been using different cameras during 65 years of work, but since 1952, he has been using Leica cameras, mainly his favourite Leica M3
. He uses 35 mm and 50 mm lenses for his work.
Plicka has been processing his photos on his own from his beginnings. He changed from darkroom
to digital/computer processing in 2004.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
-born Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n photographer, best known for his book Streets of Sydney, an extraordinary tour of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, documented in black & white photographs taken over the last 30 years. This book depicts life in, and around Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
streets, pubs, bars, galleries, and beaches.
Biography
Plicka was born in 1926 in a mining town of KladnoKladno
Kladno is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located 25 km northwest of Prague. Kladno is the largest city of the region and holds a population together with its adjacent suburban areas of more than 110,000 people...
, former Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. His father was a miner, often unemployed and as many others at that time, could not give the family a decent living.
Starting a primary school meant a new happy life for Plicka. He finished school with best possible results, skipped high school and was enrolled in an elite school "Real Gymnasium" in 1937. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which Czech universities were closed, he continued his studies at Charles University of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and graduated as a pedagog. Then until 1968, he was involved in sports professionally, coaching top Czech swimmers. In 1967, he was awarded a title Coach of the Year.
In 1968, after Soviet invasion to Czechoslovakia, he fled to Australia. He settled in Sydney, taking different jobs at different places, and started concentrating on street photography.
Besides Australia, he photographed one year in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
(1970s) and three years in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
(1980s). During last 35 years, he finished three books. At present time, only Streets of Sydney has been published.
During recent years, Plicka held several exhibitions in Sydney, but prefers private life and does not seek a wider recognition.
Work
From early age, Plicka was involved in sports and his desire to catch all moments led him to sports photographyPhotography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
. As a sports photographer, he photographed in six Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries, including Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
His trademark is candid black-and-white photography. He has been using different cameras during 65 years of work, but since 1952, he has been using Leica cameras, mainly his favourite Leica M3
Leica M3
The Leica M3 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Leica AG, introduced in 1954. It was a new starting point for Leitz, which until then had only produced screw-mount Leica cameras that were incremental improvements to its original Leica...
. He uses 35 mm and 50 mm lenses for his work.
Plicka has been processing his photos on his own from his beginnings. He changed from darkroom
Darkroom
A darkroom is a room that can be made completely dark to allow the processing of light sensitive photographic materials, including photographic film and photographic paper. Darkrooms have been created and used since the inception of photography in the early 19th century...
to digital/computer processing in 2004.