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10/03/2007: "FIRST UNDERWATER SHARK FILMS ....... Made in Australia"
Ron Taylor was the best underwater cameraman I have ever worked with.
In the era when motion picture film was very, very expensive – he would not waste an inch. Virtually 90% of what Ron exposed was useable, maybe even 100% sometimes.
Slaughter at Saumarez, the film, was titled in sensational values by a Sydney television news journalist, a bit over the top today. He wrote the script and did narration.
Today the same images and story are as interesting as when they were made.
The sharks scene would be acceptable possibly to describe shark behavior. This was the first documentary film of grey reef whaler sharks in The Coral Sea, years ahead of National Geographic.
The film today might be titled: “Expedition to The Coral Sea” with Wally Muller.
Likewise, “Revenge of a Shark Victim” might today be titled Protecting the Grey Nurse?
South Australian diver, Rodney Fox has talked about his encounter with sharks jaws extensively since he appeared in this, his first documentary.
Surf Scene is notable for the photography of longboard surfers made from Ron’s boat riding the same waves at Double Island Point, Queensland. Guess who was driving the boat while Ron filmed in 16mm without his camera in the housing?
