Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.Views of Victoria (General Series) No.26 / 'Bend of the River Watt' / Albumen silver photograph mounted on boardOn Reverse: 'The present illustration represents a scene on the River Watt, and is situated in the valley between Mount Juliet and Mount Monda. The immediate neighbourhood abounds with scenery of the wildest and most romantic character. The River here is as clear as crystal, owing, no doubt, to its bed being composed of rock and pebbles. The banks on either side are studded with foliage so dense as to render access to the neighbourhood almost impracticable.’nicholas caire (1837-1918), australia - landscape photography