Practice Discovery

As individuals we all have different experiences throughout life. Depending on what our experiences embrace will determine our perceptions of discoveries. Once discovery is created, previous perceptions of the world and our interactions with others may be reassessed. Conversely, having preconceived ideas and expectations may limit the individual’s experiences of discovery. Absence of preconceived ideas and expectations of the world and others could allow for more meaningful experiences. These aspects of discovery are portrayed throughout Nasht’s documentary Frank Hurley – The Man Who Made History and Judith Wright’s poem Moving South.

Discovery exposes that which allows individuals to perceive themselves and their world, and be perceived, in new ways. Hurley’s experiences changed his understanding of how to view and interpret his photos so that he was able to look past what the photos were actually depicting but to see the beauty his photos represented. This is reinforced in Nasht’s documentary of what his photos depicted Steve Martin’s quote, “ It should reflect an artistic angle as well as the true of the actuality if what happened,” this emphasises Hurley’s discovery to look past the obvious and in to the artistic beauty of his work. Furthermore, experiences as a photographer led Hurley to perceive the world in a different way. Had he not had such experiences he would not have had the opportunity to explore such places as the Western Front of World War 1. Through his World War 1 photography Hurley’s perception of the war was captured. He believed that the photography realistically portrays the experiences of the soldiers, as “He turned the battlefield into a giant canvas of his own making.” However, Australia’s official wartime correspondent, Charles Bean disputes this realism, condemning Hurley’s photography as “composite fakes” and demanded Hurley stop taking them. Evidently, both Hurley and Bean’s experiences have shaped their perception towards war.