Lewis Morley facts for kids

Lewis Frederick Morley OAM (born June 16, 1925 – died September 3, 2013) was a famous photographer. He was known for his unique style and for capturing important moments.

Lewis Morley's Early Life

Lewis Morley was born in Hong Kong. His parents were from England and China. During World War II, from 1941 to 1945, he was held in a place called Stanley Internment Camp. This was during the time Japan occupied Hong Kong.

After the war, he was set free. He then moved to the United Kingdom with his family. Lewis studied art at Twickenham Art School for three years. In the 1950s, he spent time in Paris as a painter.

Starting a Photography Career

Lewis Morley began his photography career working for popular magazines. One of these was Tatler. He also became a very successful theatre photographer. He took pictures for over 100 plays and shows in London's West End.

His photos for the Beyond The Fringe show in 1961 were very famous. One picture of the cast, including Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, was used for the show's best-selling album cover.

Moving to Australia

In 1971, Lewis Morley moved to Australia. He went with his wife, Patricia, and their son, Lewis. They settled in Sydney.

In Australia, he continued his photography work. He took pictures for magazines like Belle. He photographed buildings and food. He also worked with interior designers and stylists. Lewis retired from photography in 1987.

Sharing His Work and Legacy

In 1989, Lewis Morley had a big art show in London. It was at the National Portrait Gallery. This show looked back at his many years of work. He later gave all the pictures from this show to the gallery.

His first book about his life, called Black and White Lies, came out in 1992.

Opening a Gallery

In the mid-1990s, Lewis Morley opened his own art gallery. It was called The Lewis Morley Photographers Showcase. This gallery showed the work of many different local photographers. It was a place for new artists to share their pictures.

Later Exhibitions and Recognition

In 1999, Lewis Morley was featured in a series about Australian photographers. In 2003, a film was made about his life. An exhibition called Myself and Eye was also held. It was at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

In 2006, a huge exhibition of his work opened. It was at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This show, called Lewis Morley: 50 Years of Photography, had 150 of his photos. Many of them had never been seen before. They covered fashion, theatre, and news events.

Lewis Morley passed away in September 2013. He was 88 years old. His collection of photos was later given to the National Media Museum in England.