Photographs present us with reality, or do they?

Our initial reaction to photographic images often leans towards belief or trust that the picture tells a true, unbiased story.

However photography’s veracity has less to do with essential qualities of the medium than with what people think and say about it.

The insistence on photographic objectivity derives from the early twentieth-century emergence of photojournalism and social documentary.

Delve into the fascinating stories behind some of Australia’s most iconic photographs in Behind the Truth, a new travelling display from the State Library of New South Wales opening at the Wagga Wagga City Library on August 1, 2015.

The exhibition features 10 iconic images from the State Library’s unrivalled collections that question the role of truth in photography.

“War, politics, daily life… photographs can capture history in different ways, but they can’t always be used as truthful historical resources,” says Louise Tegart, Manager, Exhibitions at the State Library.

The exhibition illustrates the duplicity behind some very famous imagery, such as Edward Searle’s heroic image Southern Sun in Sydney, 1930. 

“Southern Sun in Sydney celebrates the arrival in Sydney of pioneer aviatrix Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.

However, her plane The Jason, which features in the background of the image, crashed in Brisbane and she arrived in the Southern Sun with Charles Ulm.

This photograph is actually a montage of three images,” says Ms Tegart.

Even renowned Australian photographer Max Dupain cannot escape the scrutiny, with the truth behind one of his most famous images revealed in this exhibition.

“The Sunbaker has come to epitomise the quintessential Aussie male, but the model (Hal Salvage) was actually a British architectural engineer with a pronounced English accent,” says Ms Tegart.  She says not many people will know that David Moore’s famous 1966 image Migrants arriving in Sydney is in fact not of migrants at all.

The images in this display question the role of truth in photography and caution against the use of photographs as truthful historical resources without understanding the story behind the image.

LAST Tuesday comedian Sean Murphy dropped in on his way to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to the delight of the 100-strong audience in attendance.

If you missed out on Sean don’t worry. 

If you are looking for a place to chill out and relax for a few hours in the holidays drop in Mondays to Saturdays in the school holidays, we provide FREE board games, Xbox Kinect, craft and colouring-in activities, Wi-Fi, and of course, books.

Bring a coffee and relax in the children's area while the kids get busy.

Library Screen Scene is back this winter holiday each Wednesday from 10.15am we will be screening The Man from Snowy River parts one and two. 

Children and parents are invited to watch these great movies on our big screen.

You are welcome to bring yummy snacks and a snuggly pillow.

Monday: 11am to 6pm

Tuesday to Friday: 10am to  6pm

Saturday: 10am to 4pm