Studio Ten was one of the leading commercial and fashion photography studios in Sydney from the 1950s through to the 1980s. Mist's work, like Henry Talbot's Melbourne archvie characterises the promotion of fashion in Sydney during this period.
David Mist's photography also extended into the documentary idiom. In this genre, his major projects include photographs produced for his 'Sydney' book of photographs of 1969 and 'Made in Australia' book, also of 1969, which captured shots of Australian women.
Mist recalls a lost opportunity in London prior to emigrating to Australia: 'I turned 'a tall scruffy bird' looking for work as a model away from my London studio in 1958. The model turned out to be Jean Shrimpton who was later taken up by another well known British photographer, David Bailey, whose photographs helped make Shrimpton into an icon'.
As one of Sydney's most active commercial photography studios since the 1950s, Studio Ten produced some memorable Australian images, including images of car parks, hairstyles and protests.
As well as photographs, negatives and transparencies, this archive includes newspaper clippings and other forms of biographical material relating to the photographer.
Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator 2009
David Mist (b. London 1937)
British photographer who migrated to Australia in 1961. In London he trained at Studio 5 in [Shepherd's] Market with John Cole and Cecil Beaton (British 1904-1980 Knighted 1972). Other, now well known photographers, used to use the studio eg Norman Parkinson (British b.1913). Mist worked with John French. The photographer, David Bailey was his assistant at the time.
David Mist joined renowned Sydney photographer, Laurence Le Guay and his partner John Nesbitt renaming the business Studio Ten in 1961.
Mist's commercial photography work for Australian clients took him to many countries around the world. He worked for Grace Bros in Greece and Mexico, for Dunlop in Malaysia, for Westfield shopping centres in Bali, Greece etc examples of which are represented in this collection.
Used for promotional, personal and exhibition purposes by the photographer during the course of his work in London and at Studio Ten, Sydney. Donated by the photographer to the Powerhouse Museum in 1996
The photographer chose the Powerhouse Museum as a repository for his archive as he was already aware that the Museum held the commercial photography archive of Henry Talbot (Melbourne late 1950s-1984) and a large collection of retailing and promotional negatives and transparencies relating to Studio Ten's more commercial work.
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