The National Library’s image collections are the photo albums of Australia. They are an invaluable archive that helps us understand the story of Australia, its country and its people.
Just like with personal photo albums, images in the Library's collections, both physical and digital, reveal the communities we live in, the landscapes we inhabit, our history and moments both significant and ephemeral.

Viewfinder: Photography from the 1970s to Now explores 50 years in the lives of Australians. Pulling exclusively from the Library's photography collection – now made up of more than a million photographs – the 125 images in this exhibition reveal a changing Australia and the evolving nature of photography.
Selected themes
Exhibition highlights

Dave Tacon, Flemington Eagles Striker Osman, Representing the Flemington High Rise Housing Commission Flats, Lets Fly with a Corner Cross, Atherton Reserve, Fitzroy, Victoria, 10 September 2005, nla.obj-137108517, courtesy Dave Tacon

Rennie Ellis, Hippie, Kings Cross, 1970-1971, nla.obj-145154046, courtesy of the Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive

William Yang, Rainbow Angel Wings, New Mardi Gras, 2003, nla.obj-136950531, courtesy William Yang

Jon Rhodes, Jimmy Sing, Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales, 1974, nla.obj-2171057193, courtesy Jon Rhodes

Roger Garwood, Volunteers Work in Groups with Children in the Hydroptherapy Pool at the Sir David Brand Centre, Perth, February 1989, nla.obj-136970905, courtesy Roger Garwood

Rennie Ellis, Jenny Bannister and Girls, Melbourne Cup, 1978, nla.obj-145167899, courtesy of the Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive

Mervyn Bishop, Self-portrait of Aboriginal Photographer Mervyn Bishop, Sydney, 1989, nla.obj-153510920, copyright courtesy Mervyn Bishop and Josef Lebovic Gallery, Sydney

William Yang, Madelaine and Eileen Nom Chong, Braidwood, 1990, nla.obj-146595971, courtesy William Yang

Dave Tacon, Australian Renton Millar, World Champion Professional Skateboarder, Performs a Method Air Above a Half Pipe Ramp, Before a Crowd of Young Onlookers at Prahran, Victoria, 8 April 2009, nla.obj-137927722, courtesy Dave Tacon

Jon Rhodes, Paul Jackson, Dubbo, News South Wales, 1973, nla.obj-2147881601, courtesy Jon Rhodes