David Maurice Smith

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David’s work as a documentary photographer is informed by a previous 10-year career in social work supporting individuals in disadvantaged communities. It is this experience working with those on the fringe of society that has shaped a very intimate style of shooting and a desire to explore personal stories. Much of his imagery demonstrates close proximity in culturally sensitive situations, prompting Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey to describe his photos as “getting under the emulsion” of his subjects. A great deal of his energy goes towards longer-term personal projects focusing on cross-cultural issues. His belief in the power of effective visual storytelling has recently led him to embrace the mediums of audio and video to accompany his still imagery.

Based in Sydney since early 2009, David has established himself as contributing member of the photographic community. He has exhibited two solo shows: ORIGINS in the 2012 Head On Festival and Isla de las Munecas at the Storm Gallery in 2010 and contributed to numerous group shows. He was awarded runner-up as Sun Studio Australia’s Emerging Photographer of the year in 2012 and has been a semi-finalist in both the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize and the Head On Portrait Prize. In 2011 he was awarded the LIFE Magazine Grant at the prestigious Eddie Adams Workshop in New York.

Clients include The New York Times, Monocle Magazine, SBS, The Huffington Post, The Surfer’s Journal, Hemispheres Magazine, The Big Issue, TAKE Magazine, The Salvation Army, Das Biber and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

David joined Oculi in 2012.

personal website