A retrospective of the work of press, commercial, and fine-art photographer John Cato will be a key exhibition at the 2013 Ballarat International Foto Biennale starting this weekend. Cato, who died in February, 2011, covered a wide range of photographic styles throughout his working life, starting his photographic journey as an apprentice to his father Jack (also a prominent photographer) at 12 years of age.
He also worked as a press photographer on the now-defunct Argus newspaper in Melbourne from 1947 (following a stint in the Navy) and from 1950 was a partner of another well-known Australian photographer Athol Shmith, in his commercial studio, until it closed in 1971. Approaching 50 years of age, Cato then made the courageous decision to forsake more commercial work to concentrate on teaching and making fine-art images. His success as a teacher was based both on his exceptional technical knowledge, but also his ability to see through pretence.
After becoming one of the co-founders of Melbourne’s Photography Studies College, he eventually became the head of the photography department at Prahran College of Advanced Education, when this establishment was one of the key Australian facilities for training up-and-coming image makers. He was department head from 1979 until 1991, and just some his students include Bill Henson, Polly Borland, Julie Millowick and Andrew Chapman.
Along with his clear-headed approach to making images, his ability to deal with students made him one of the most sought-after educators of his time, and students of all levels were keen to attract his critiques of their work. Around 100 of his images are held by the National Gallery of Victoria, and others are in both international and Australian collections. When he turned to fine-art imagery, Cato developed a unique style which aimed to link humanity to the environment.
He shot a collection of abstract and sometimes
surreal images of rocks, trees, and clouds, forsaking large-scale scenes for
intricately detailed images. He was renowned for waiting for just the right
conditions to shoot in. He had a strong connection to the environment, and
often travelled to far-flung destinations with his wife Dawn in search of new interpretations
of nature. Cato’s retrospective exhibition will be displayed at Ballarat’s
Mining Exchange in Lydiard Street
after its launch at 3pm on August 17, for the duration of the month-long
festival.
John Cato's Double Concerto No. 3.
Cato's Petroglyph No. 9.
Cato's Tree: A Journey No. 1.