Hardwicke Knight
Encyclopedia
Frederick Hardwicke Knight (b. 12 July 1911, Stoke Newington
, England-d. 25 August 2008, Dunedin
, New Zealand) was a prominent author and photographer from Broad Bay
, New Zealand
. An acknowledged expert on the history of southern New Zealand, he wrote many books related to early Dunedin and Otago
.
Knight spent his formative years in England and in France, where he travelled in the 1920s, before becoming a travelling photographer working throughout Europe, notably spending time as a photojournalist in Stalinist
Russia. A conscientious objector
, Knight did not serve in the military in World War II, instead being part of the emergency medical services, working under Dunedin-born surgeon Harold Gillies
.
In 1948, Knight was appointed Director of Medical Photography at Enfield Hospital in England, and in 1957 he emigrated to New Zealand, taking up a position as head of the Medical Photography Department at Otago Medical School. Here he helped develop important photographic techniques for diagnosing eye problems, and in 1965 he was elected president of the New Zealand Institute of Medical Photographers.
Knight was long interested in historical photography, and published numerous books on the subject, starting with Photography in New Zealand a social and technical history (1971). Other notable books include Dunedin then (1974), another book on Dunedin historical photography (Princes Street by gaslight, 1977), and the seven volume series Otago cavalcade, published between 1983 and 1985. He also wrote several biographies of early New Zealand photographers, notably one of the Burton Brothers
(Burton Brothers : photographers, 1980) and New Zealand photographers : a selection (1981), and other books on local history such as The ordeal of William Larnach
(1981) and Buildings of Dunedin: an illustrated architectural guide to New Zealand's Victorian city (co-written by Niel Wales, 1988). He also produced a volume of his own images (Hardwicke Knight - photographer) in 1983.
Knight was an avid collector and documenter of local history, his home at Broad Bay on Otago Peninsula becoming a virtual museum. A significant part of Knight's collection of over 20,000 items, specifically his collection of works by the Burton brothers and a collection of vintage photographic equipment, was acquired by the New Zealand national museum Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
in 1991.
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
, England-d. 25 August 2008, Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand) was a prominent author and photographer from Broad Bay
Broad Bay, New Zealand
The settlement of Broad Bay is located on the Otago Harbour coast of Otago Peninsula, in the South Island of New Zealand. It is administered as part of the city of Dunedin, and is technically a suburb of that city, though its isolation and semi-rural nature make it appear as a settlement in its own...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. An acknowledged expert on the history of southern New Zealand, he wrote many books related to early Dunedin and Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
.
Knight spent his formative years in England and in France, where he travelled in the 1920s, before becoming a travelling photographer working throughout Europe, notably spending time as a photojournalist in Stalinist
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
Russia. A conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, Knight did not serve in the military in World War II, instead being part of the emergency medical services, working under Dunedin-born surgeon Harold Gillies
Harold Gillies
Sir Harold Delf Gillies was a New Zealand-born, and later London based, otolaryngologist who is widely considered as the father of plastic surgery.-Personal life:Gillies was born in Dunedin, New Zealand...
.
In 1948, Knight was appointed Director of Medical Photography at Enfield Hospital in England, and in 1957 he emigrated to New Zealand, taking up a position as head of the Medical Photography Department at Otago Medical School. Here he helped develop important photographic techniques for diagnosing eye problems, and in 1965 he was elected president of the New Zealand Institute of Medical Photographers.
Knight was long interested in historical photography, and published numerous books on the subject, starting with Photography in New Zealand a social and technical history (1971). Other notable books include Dunedin then (1974), another book on Dunedin historical photography (Princes Street by gaslight, 1977), and the seven volume series Otago cavalcade, published between 1983 and 1985. He also wrote several biographies of early New Zealand photographers, notably one of the Burton Brothers
Burton Brothers
Burton Brothers was one of New Zealand's most important nineteenth century photographic studios and was based in Dunedin, New Zealand...
(Burton Brothers : photographers, 1980) and New Zealand photographers : a selection (1981), and other books on local history such as The ordeal of William Larnach
William Larnach
William James Mudie Larnach was a New Zealand businessman and politician. He is known for building Larnach Castle and for his suicide.- Early career :Larnach was born in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney, Australia...
(1981) and Buildings of Dunedin: an illustrated architectural guide to New Zealand's Victorian city (co-written by Niel Wales, 1988). He also produced a volume of his own images (Hardwicke Knight - photographer) in 1983.
Knight was an avid collector and documenter of local history, his home at Broad Bay on Otago Peninsula becoming a virtual museum. A significant part of Knight's collection of over 20,000 items, specifically his collection of works by the Burton brothers and a collection of vintage photographic equipment, was acquired by the New Zealand national museum Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
in 1991.