Ernest Gall facts for kids

Ernest Gall (born April 14, 1863 – died April 19, 1925) was a very talented photographer in Adelaide, South Australia. He took many pictures for businesses and was known for how artistic his photos were.

Ernest Gall's Photography Journey

Ernest Gall first became well-known in 1889. He took amazing photos of a new farming area called Renmark. Before becoming a photographer, he worked in a hardware store. He found that job boring, so he decided to follow his passion for photography.

New Ways to Print Photos

Ernest Gall was the first person in South Australia to use a special printing method called half-tone. This method helped newspapers and books print photos more easily. He was also very good at taking pictures for product catalogs.

He was one of the oldest members of the South Australian Photographic Society. He joined this group before 1889. After about 1900, he mostly helped judge photo contests. He also showed his own photos but not for prizes.

Working in Adelaide Studios

By 1893, Ernest Gall was working for Walter Scott-Barry. Walter Scott-Barry was a former government photographer. He had studios in Rundle Street from 1890 to 1896.

In 1894, Ernest Gall made a special copy of a photo collection. It was a collection of portraits called "Old Colonists" by Henry Jones from 1872. Ernest Gall's copy had 24 portraits that were a bit different from the original.

By 1895, Ernest Gall opened his own photography studio. It was first on Grenfell Street. Later, he moved it to Alma Chambers on Pirie Street. He became the official photographer for many important events. These included fancy balls at Government House and big meetings about Australia becoming a federation. In 1898, he started using flash lighting for his photos. This was a new technology at the time.

Later Life and Work

In his later years, Ernest Gall focused on taking portraits of people. He worked from a studio in his home. His home was called "Woodbridge" and was in North Adelaide. He believed that North Adelaide was an important part of the city.

He passed away at his home on April 19, 1925. Ernest Gall was a polite and well-mannered person. However, he was also quite shy and preferred a quiet life. He did not get involved in public events and never married.

Ernest Gall's Photo Legacy

The State Library of South Australia keeps a very large collection of Ernest Gall's old photographs. Most of these pictures are of buildings. He took them between 1889 and 1910. These photos are very important because they show what South Australia looked like a long time ago.