Sydney Opera House
Moore photographed Sydney Opera House both on assignment and for his own creative endeavours. Life Magazine assigned him, in 1966, when bitter division of opinion forced the resignation of Joern Utzon – Danish architect of the Opera House. His visionary structure was rising on Bennelong Point when the New South Wales Minister for Public Works, Davis Hughes, used an iron fist to enforce his will. Moore was an observer of the conflict.
Invited to the site by Government Architect Edward Farmer to give his opinion on the colour of the precast cladding on the podium walls, Hughes stood close to the erected test panels, poked the surface, then turned to Moore to enquire 'which do you prefer?'. Moore was appalled that such an important decision could be placed in the hands of the Minister for Public Works (much less a visiting photographer) and he politely registered his attitude. There followed a brief portrait session in which Moore attempted to portray Davis Hughes as the villain in this scenario.
With an architect father and brother, and having worked as assistant to Max Dupain, it is not surprising that Moore had a respect for architecture, particularly for those designs which strove for environmental integrity.
© 2008 David Moore Photography Pty Ltd