William P. Hart

Background

William Hart was born in 1845 in Scotland.

Career

William P. Hart flourished as a photographer in the 1880s in New Zealand. Based in Queenstown, he was in partnership with a Mr. Campbell of Invercargill, at least through the 1880s. He apparently accompanied various explorers on their treks, such as Quinton McKinnon and Donald Sutherland (after whom Hart named Sutherland Falls).

William Hart claimed to have been the first to photograph Sutherland Falls, on March 9, 1883. Mount Hart was named after the photographer by Donald Sutherland. Despite the fact that his photographs were mainly used to assist explorers in gathering information, William Hart brought an aesthetic tone to his depictions of the New Zealand countryside.

Works

More photos

• photography

  • Cobb and Co. coach, Palmerston, Otago

  • St Bathans

    1877

References

• Macmillan biographical encyclopedia of photographic artists & innovators
  1984