Peter McNamara

Where have you worked and over what time period?

I started with The Daily Mirror in late 1964 as a copy boy. I became a cadet photographer in 1965 to 1968, then did a short stint in Melbourne. I went back to Sydney and worked for Southdown Press which produced TV Week, New Idea and the Melbourne Truth. 1970 to 1972 I was back at The Daily Mirror where I did relieving work in Canberra over a period of time. I transferred to Brisbane in 1972 for The Australian when they produced a tabloid edition, with local Queensland content to go around the broadsheet national edition. From 1974 to 1982 I worked for The Australian and The Sunday Sun. In 1982 The Daily Sun was started and I was the Picture Editor from the day it started to the day it closed in 1992. I joined The Courier-Mail in 1992 and was appointed Picture Editor and then Pictorial Graphics Manager. I stayed in this position until I retired from full time work in 2007. I was appointed Digital Archiving Editor from 2007 to 2012.

How did you get into press photography - what was your big break?

By chance. When asked what I wanted to be at the newspaper when applying for the job as a copyboy I saw a photograph on the personnel manager’s desk and that prompted me to say. ‘I want to be a photographer.’

What is your favourite photograph of all those you have taken and why?

There is no out right favourite; a lot hold fond memories. I am always hoping the next picture will be my best one, even now that I am retired. But the ‘Police shooting at Hawkesbury’, the ‘Face of time of the old diver’ and the only picture of Celine Dion in Brisbane, along with the more recent one of The VMR Bribie Island Recue boat in action are some . A lot of images were lost when The Daily Sun closed.

What is the biggest change you've seen in press photography over your career?

The biggest change has to be the digital camera. You know straight away if you have the picture.

What was the first camera you used and what camera do you use now?

The first camera was a 5x4 Speed Graphic and my current camera is a Canon EOS-1D.