A remarkable collection of black and white photographs documenting decades of everyday life in the Illawarra region will be featured in a special exhibition opening this December at Wollongong City Library. The collection, created by veteran Illawarra Mercury photographer Adam McLean, captures fleeting moments that tell the story of the region better than any posed photograph ever could.
McLean, who has taken thousands of photographs throughout his career covering breaking news and story assignments, has developed a keen eye for the small moments that make up daily life. His 'Daily Life' collection showcases another side of everyday existence in the Illawarra, featuring its landscapes, streetscapes, and most importantly, its people. The photographer's approach emphasizes natural, unposed moments that reveal authentic human experiences.
"For me, I'm more interested in the 'fly on the wall' documentary style photography," McLean explained. "Whenever I get a chance, I just want to be a casual observer rather than an active participant." This philosophy has guided his work throughout his career, leading him to capture candid moments during floods, among football fans, and at formal events that have shaped the region's character over the years.
McLean's artistic journey began during his early days as a young photographer working in the darkroom of TAFE's photography department. It was there that his creative vision was profoundly influenced by Max Dupain's famous 1937 photograph of a sunbaker taken at Culburra Beach. "I looked at that and I just loved the tone and the highlights. I found that really interesting," he recalled. This encounter with Dupain's work sparked his interest in the technical and artistic aspects of black and white photography.
Later in his career, McLean studied the work of other prominent street photographers, which further refined his documentary approach. "With photojournalism, you're really not taking part in what's happening, you're just on the sidelines. You don't try and manipulate the scene. You are just there, hoping to kind of capture what's happening," he said. This methodology sets his work apart from more controlled, staged photography.
The photographer emphasized the authenticity that comes from this unobtrusive approach. "It's very different than setting up a photo because you know what story you're trying to tell, so you're trying to do it. I don't want to contrive things too much. I want it to be a true representation of what's actually happening," McLean noted. His technique involves positioning himself strategically, understanding how light will behave at certain times, and waiting for those perfect, fleeting moments when everything aligns.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided McLean with unique opportunities to document life during an unprecedented time. "I did a lot of this during COVID, when I would just walk the streets. COVID was such a strange time to be wandering around," he reflected. During this period, he captured particularly memorable images, including one of a man employed to visit businesses and educate people about sanitation and mask-wearing protocols. The subject wore a Darth Vader mask as a conversation starter, creating an unexpectedly poignant image that captured the surreal nature of pandemic life.
McLean's philosophy about photography centers on the ephemeral nature of the moments he captures. "This is the beauty of photography. You take photos in a fraction of a second, and these moments are usually fleeting. You don't really ever see them again, they're gone and nobody really thinks about it again," he observed. This perspective drives his commitment to preserving these ordinary yet extraordinary moments that might otherwise be lost to time.
The upcoming exhibition will showcase McLean's work as part of the Illawarra Mercury's celebration of its 170th anniversary. The display at Wollongong City Library will offer visitors a unique glimpse into the region's social history through the lens of documentary photography. The collection spans multiple decades and includes images of community events, street scenes, natural disasters, sports gatherings, and intimate moments of daily life that collectively paint a comprehensive portrait of the Illawarra region and its people.
