Have you ever seen an early photograph of the Illawarra or Shoalhaven simply with the initials SC on it.
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If so, it is the work of local photographer Samuel Cocks.
Cocks was a pioneer in capturing the early history of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven - his photographs depicted life in our region in the late 19th and early 20th century.
As local historian and author of a new book on Samual Cocks, Robyn Florance said his "contribution to especially capturing local history cannot be ignored".
Mrs Florance along with Graham Harmer has produced a wonderful book - The Man Behind The Camera - Samuel Cocks Artist and Photographer 1870-1948 - was officially launched at the Kiama Leagues Club earlier this week.
A large crowd was on hand to see Cocks' grandchildren Rod, Phil and Judy launch the book saying they were "delighted, proud and grateful of the telling of their grandfather's incredible life."
"Many of his photographs depict street scenes and events such as parades and portraits and are the best visual record of what life in the early 20th century was like," Mrs Florance said.
Over time his images have become some of the most recognisable and cherished images of the region.
His work is unmistakable and takes you on an incredible journey back in time.
He captured many of the region's defining moments - the WWI Waratah March through to things like the principle work of extending the South Coast Rail Line from Kiama to Bomaderry.
But who was Samuel Cocks?
It was a far different time and he used far different equipment, which is also covered in the book.
For one there was no such thing as a digital camera or an iPhone.
Cocks almost exclusively used glass plates to record his images, varying in size depending on the particular camera being used.
They were suitably sensitised to record images.
Glass plates were a highly stable, non distorting surface on which the image forms.
When the camera is used on a tripod, which Cocks did for almost all of his work, coupled with a suitable shutter speed and aperture, images of remarkable detail and clarity can be produced.
"And this is certainly the case with Samuel's work," Mrs Floranme said.
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"The basic sharpness of the image and potential great depth of field are also characteristics of Cocks' works, which also allow substantial enlargements to be made from the original negatives."
One of his photographs of Seven Mile Beach gained him international acclaim at the Calcutta Exhibition of 1898, which helped further his local reputation.
Samuel was the fifth child of seven born at Bathurst in 1870 to William and Margaretta Cocks, who ran a small general store in that town.
The family moved to Kiama in 1882 where they set up a similar store known as Williams Cocks and Company in Manning Street.
At various times the children all worked in the family store, but they also had their own specific callings and interests - Samuel's was photography.
He won a number of medals for his photography and copies of his scenic photographs were used in numerous tourist publications and postcards of the era.
He also put together many illuminated addresses for presentation to prominent citizens at significant times.
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Illuminated addresses were once important components of a celebration of achievement - they were very ornate and often included elements of the person's history in the medley of the images.
Today that art has almost vanished but in the mid to late 19th and early 20th century they were a popular way to thank prominent individuals for their contribution to organisations.
That artistry went from fairly amateur productions through to highly sophisticated illustration techniques and calligraphy, which were an artform on their own.
"The detail and clarity of images Cocks produced for his presented illuminated addresses themselves are magnificent, priceless historical records and are a tribute to his mastery of this medium," Mrs Florance said.
He was apprenticed to Richard "Henry" Holden, a Kiama photographer who had business premises also in Manning Street.
Samuel eventually took over that business in 1898 when Holden left the district.
With an expanding demand for his work he set up business in Junction Street Nowra and also had an agency in Berry.
He took on an apprentice himself, Sid Riley, who would later gain fame as a leading Sydney photographer.
Apart from his evident skill as a photographer Samuel was also a skilled artist, working in both watercolours and oils.
According to Mrs Florance with "his artistic talent, Samuel's work was characterised by balance, good composition, perspective and clever use of light and shade".
"He had the artistic ability to lead the eye to focus on the prime theme of his image - his seascapes and local scenes were particularly compelling, capturing the mood and movement of water.
"His volume of his work, which was extensive, and its range meant that in his lifetime he effectively recorded the historic development of the Kiama-Nowra areas in physical and human terms."
After establishing his photographic business, his first commercial venture was the production of his first album, Views of the Shoalhaven, which was followed by a steady production of postcards designed for purchase by visitors to the area.
To avoid piracy or copying he took to including his initials SC, usually at the bottom of the image or lower corners of the frame.
Sam married Elizabeth "Bessie" Emma Hindmarsh from Kiama on April 24, 1912, with their only child, Seldon, born in October 1913.
As he aged his work involving people, events and landscapes reduced to studio portraits.
He died at Kiama Hospital in April 1948, aged 76.
Much of Cocks single play photographic work is now held by the University of Wollongong archives and can be viewed online through the UOW website.
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