Steve Parish
Encyclopedia
Steve Parish OAM
is a multi-award winning photographer and pioneer of photographic Australian publishing. Born in Great Britain in 1945, he is the founder of Steve Parish Publishing.
Steve was first introduced to photography when he was given the opportunity to join an expedition to Kangaroo Island
led by pioneering Australian underwater photographer Igo Oak. Igo would become a mentor to Parish and a cofounder of the South Australian Underwater Photography Society.
Despite his introduction to photography, Steve's disinterest in school, lack of formal qualifications and proven competency with firearms saw him start an apprenticeship
as a gunsmith
in Adelaide
.
In 1963 at age eighteen, the self admitted "mouthy" teenage Parish joined the Royal Australian Navy
. Steve admits he had little determination until joining the navy, whose no nonsense training toughened him up. He would later value the skills and determination he developed in the Navy as a diver.
and Walt Deas who, like Parish, would later become renowned photographers in their field.
Steve was later transferred to Jervis Bay
on the New South Wales central coast. The area around Jervis Bay
is well known for its natural beauty, as are the surrounding coastal waters. His time photographing in the area provided much of the material for his first book Oceans of Life
. In 1985, he began Steve Parish Publishing, initially called Wildlife Publishing.
Steve uses an array of 135mm, medium format and panoramic film formats in addition to digital video
. He uses Fuji
Velvia
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
is a multi-award winning photographer and pioneer of photographic Australian publishing. Born in Great Britain in 1945, he is the founder of Steve Parish Publishing.
Early life
While today, Steve is known for capturing wildlife with a camera and film, his early years were quite different. From the age of nine, Steve was a keen spear fisherman and at seventeen a practiced hunter who had bought his first rifle at age 16.Steve was first introduced to photography when he was given the opportunity to join an expedition to Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
led by pioneering Australian underwater photographer Igo Oak. Igo would become a mentor to Parish and a cofounder of the South Australian Underwater Photography Society.
Despite his introduction to photography, Steve's disinterest in school, lack of formal qualifications and proven competency with firearms saw him start an apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
as a gunsmith
Gunsmith
A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds firearms. This occupation is different from an armorer. The armorer primarily maintains weapons and limited repairs involving parts replacement and possibly work involving accurization...
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
In 1963 at age eighteen, the self admitted "mouthy" teenage Parish joined the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. Steve admits he had little determination until joining the navy, whose no nonsense training toughened him up. He would later value the skills and determination he developed in the Navy as a diver.
Navy years
While in the Navy stationed in Sydney, Steve joined the New South Wales Underwater Research Group. Here, he met Neville ColemanNeville Coleman
Neville Coleman is an Australian naturalist, underwater nature photographer, writer, publisher and educator. In 2007 Coleman was inducted to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.Coleman started scuba diving in 1963, exploring Sydney Harbour...
and Walt Deas who, like Parish, would later become renowned photographers in their field.
Steve was later transferred to Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
on the New South Wales central coast. The area around Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
is well known for its natural beauty, as are the surrounding coastal waters. His time photographing in the area provided much of the material for his first book Oceans of Life
Photography and publishing
Steve Parish traveled extensively from 1981 to 1984. While doing so, he noticed the absence of photographic material for the tourist market featuring AustraliaAustralia
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...
. In 1985, he began Steve Parish Publishing, initially called Wildlife Publishing.
Steve uses an array of 135mm, medium format and panoramic film formats in addition to digital video
Digital video
Digital video is a type of digital recording system that works by using a digital rather than an analog video signal.The terms camera, video camera, and camcorder are used interchangeably in this article.- History :...
. He uses Fuji
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
Velvia
Velvia
Velvia is a brand of daylight-balanced color reversal film produced by the Japanese company Fujifilm. The name is a contraction of "Velvet Media", a reference to its smooth image structure. The original incarnation of the film was called "Velvia for Professionals", known as RVP, a classification...
.
Awards
- 1974 NikonNikon, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...
South Pacific Underwater Photographer of the Year - 1986 Agfa-Gevaert Trophy for the Most Creative Use of Photography in Print in the 3rd National Print Awards
- 1992 Gold Medal for Saddle-stitched Booklets, Catalogs and Brochures in the 9th National Print Awards
- 1993 Silver and Bronze Medals Queensland Industry Craftsmanship Awards for Excellence in Print Production
- 1993 The Galley Club Award for Excellence in Book Production and Manufacture
- 1994 The Galley Club Award for Excellence in Book Production and Manufacture
- 1995 Bronze Medal for Casebound Books in the 12th National Print Awards
- 1996 Gold Medal for Casebound Books in the 13th National Print Awards
- 1996 Certificate of Merit in the Printing Industries of America Premier Print Awards
- 1998 Certificate of Commendation in the Whitley Awards for the best books in the category Junior Secondary Series
- 1998 Certificate of Commendation in the Whitley Awards for the best book in the category Illustrated Works
- 1999 Australian Photographic Society's Award for Contribution to Nature Photography
- 2000 Company short-listed in the Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children’s Literature for the Encyclopedia of Australian Wildlife
- 2001 Winner in the Whitley Awards in the Best Popular Zoology Book category for the Encyclopedia of Australian Wildlife
- 2003 Short-listed in the Children’s Book Council Eve Pownall Award for Information Books for ARK: Discover & Learn about Australian Forests and Woodlands
- 2003 Wilderness Society Environment Award for Outstanding Environmental Publishing
- 2007 Company shortlisted for Galley Club Award for Innovative Design for Fan Palm Address Book
- 2007 shortlisted for Children’s Book Council Awards, Eve Pownall Awards for Amazing Facts about Australian Dinosaurs, Steve Parish Publishing & Queensland Museum.
- 2008 shortlisted for Children’s Book Council Awards, Eve Pownall Awards for Fact File: Australia’s Deadly & Dangerous Animals, by Michael Cermak, published by Steve Parish Publishing
- 2008 Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for services to publishing.