Moments in time

While doing some research on digitisation programs on the Net, I came across a link to a wonderful new book - "Moments in time : the State Records Authority of New South Wales".

State Records NSW holds tens of thousands of archival photographs from the late 19th century through to the present. They are undertaking a digitising program to bring these images to light, you can see the images online at their website, or on their Flickr account, or in their book "Moments in time".

There are beautiful old sepia and glass slide photographs from the grand - the Art Gallery of New South Wales, to the squalid - The Rocks area.

The portico and side galleries, Art Gallery NSW

Cumberland Place, The Rocks, c1901

The book is divided into three broad chapters: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Transport (which begins with the dramatic shot of the steam locomotive half balanced on the cliff edge of the Zig Zag Railway), and Sydney. 

The photographs make ideal subjects for the "Now & Then" project, I know I'll attempt to catch the scene on the front cover. Have already worked on one of the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge "Eastern Footway looking north" taken on 3rd September 1931. Mine wasn't from quite the same angle (had I only known at the time), but it shows the change to the Sydney landscape and skyline, and from the construction workers to the Bridge Climb tourists (they did it without the steps).

Sydney Harbour Bridge - September 1931 & October 2011