Nicholas Caire

Nicholas John Caire (28 February 1837 – 13 February 1918) was an Australian photographer. Caire was born in Guernsey, Channel Islands, to Nicholas Caire and Hannah Margeret. found he had a passion for photography that his parents encouraged. Caire moved to Adelaide, Australia, along with both his parents in 1860. Around this time Caire Found a mentor in Townsend Duryea. in 1867 he opened his own studio in Adelaide, Australia. He was married to Louisa Master in 1870 and then shortly after moved to Talbot, Victoria where he continued his photography and started to write for Life and Health Magazine. Caire died in 1918 in Armadale, Victoria.

Photography

At a young age Caire developed his passion for his photography and, with encouragement from his parents, he pursued this goal his entire life. Caire never pursued any other career goals that didn't include photography. Then when Australia got access to x-ray photography, Caire would shoot X-Ray photography at the Melbourne General Hospital one day each week, he did this for free.

He would only work with what he considered to be perfect conditions, this meant he would only take one or maybe two images a day, but because of the image quality in the work he would produce he could sell his works for a very high price and in large quantities. His best known series documented the rewards and hardships in the daily life of the first settlers. With a previous exhibition being held at the same place consisting of 32 artworks on display, the exhibition was titled Nicholas Caire. At his Calcutta Exhibition Caire was awarded a prize for his images of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens.

Death

Caire died on 13 February 1918. This included many of his ones used in his major folio Gippsland Scenery, which is his best known work. He was survived by his wife, Louisa Master, his two sons and his four daughters, to one of whom he left his two cameras.