Vale photographer David Slack-Smith

A MEMORIAL service for internationally recognised photographer and Lighthouse Beach regular David Slack-Smith is being held at St Agnes Church Port Macquarie this Friday, 9 January, at 2pm.

A member of local photography and bird watching clubs, Mr Slack-Smith passed away last week.

David moved to Port Macquarie with his wife Glennis when he retired from being a farmer in Dubbo.

Then aged 70, he helped care for his mother-in-law.

He spent 10 years in Port Macquarie and, according to his daughter Jane Slack-Smith, loved living by the sea.

Having been a farmer in western NSW all his life, it was a new environment to explore – with his camera.

“He cared deeply about the land and animals and was hailed “the best stockman ever” by many,” Jane shared with News Of The Area.

“His natural affinity with animals helped him train work dogs and horses in a kind and gentle way.

“He loved racing and had an incredible memory for horse pedigrees and the lineage of every horse racing.

His camera captured his love of nature and he received many international awards for his photography.

“He had an eye for beauty and saw humour in many scenes,” Jane said.

“I remember showing him my new fancy SL camera about 30 years ago and he said ‘Can you get up at five tomorrow morning? I’d like you to take a photo for me’.

“So we got up and we went down to a paddock and there, overnight, the gentle rain of the centre pivot irrigation had formed icicles on the fence.

“He said ‘just watch this’ and as the sun came up, the light hit the icicles and it was pure beauty. He said ‘take that photo … now’. It was sublime.

“I asked how long he had been thinking about capturing this image and he said ‘I’ve been waiting 25 years for that shot’.

Jane asked if there were any other photos he had been thinking about and he said “turn around – in a moment little lambs will come over that hill and you’ll see them with the sunlight behind them”.

“Again, it was a magic moment.

“At that point I gave him my camera and said ‘take it. This is yours. Just hit P for panic and learn how to use it and then teach me how to use it’.”

David went on to become the President of the Photo Club in Dubbo and after moving to Port Macquarie, joined two photo clubs and a smaller breakout group, as well as the bird watching group.

Jane said he was patient and would sit and hide for hours waiting for the perfect shot, although many birds came to visit him on his balcony overlooking Lighthouse Beach.

Images of the Satin Bower Bird with a milk bottle ring around its neck led to him passionately advocating for people to cut the ring around the bottle before disposal, as the birds pick up anything blue.

When the ring becomes embedded, they can die of starvation.

Jane said her Dad was a gentle giant, not just because of his 6’4” (193cms) height, but also because of his presence and impact.

David was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours and moved to Melbourne for treatment and to be closer to his daughters.

Jane said he was a fighter till the end and never gave up.

He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by “his girls”; wife Glennis and daughters Jane and Peta.

By Sue STEPHENSON