The talent we have in Rotary is extraordinary

From backstage encounters with icons like Johnny Cash and Cary Grant to photographing for The Australian Women’s Weekly and even influencing menus at Buckingham Palace, Rotarian David Wallace’s remarkable career offers a candid, often humorous glimpse into a bygone era of photography and celebrity.

Born in Bristol, UK, at the ‘Naughty hospital’ for single women David Wallace was a photographer in England in the 60s.

He worked at a newspaper taking on photography, the youngest on the team.

“None of the older photographers wanted to go to concerts so I did them,” Dave said.

“In those days, you’d go backstage and have a drink with the performers before the concert.”

Dave remembers asking one singer what sort of music he played – as a naïve 18-year-old he had never heard of Johnny Cash!

Another naïve moment was on a photoshoot with Cary Grant.

“The first thing he did was buy me an ice-cream, wonderful. But I was stuck with an ice-cream and couldn’t take photographs until I finished it!”

Dave photographed many of the great stars of the 60s and 70s.

After moving to Australia, he ended up working for Women’s Weekly for many years.

In the 1970s the American government would pay for a photographer and a journalist to go to the US to do a travel story about four times a year.

“We’d come back with about 10 pages of editorial. Back then that was very expensive to advertise in the magazine.

Dave remembers asking one singer what sort of music he played – as a naïve 18-year-old he had never heard of Johnny Cash!

“One visit was to Nashville, mainly to photograph the Grand Old Opry. The Nashville mayor showed me around – we were treated like royalty. Kris Kristofferson came out. Before he became famous, he was a carpenter. They brought him to the Grand Old Opry – we got several pages of photographs for the magazine. Afterwards, the mayor sent me a certificate and made me an honorary citizen of Nashville.”

Dave also worked on the Women’s Weekly cookbooks, which are considered classics.

When he attended the Premier’s Reception in Sydney and lined up with the MPs and VIPs to meet the Queen, the Premier introduced him and his role.

“The Queen said she got the Women’s Weekly sent from Australia every week. She said she got most of her information about Australia from the magazine and she looked through all the recipes each week and sent some of them down to her chefs in Buckingham Palace so they could make them for her.”

Dave’s top tips for taking good photos

Taking good photos is not that difficult. Here are David Wallace’s top tips.

“In today’s world, a simple snapshot is not enough; if you can’t achieve professional results, consider seeking help from someone who can,” Dave said.

“We regularly see excellent photographs in magazines and on television, so take inspiration from them and strive to replicate their quality. Poor photography can undermine impact.”

Be creative: Subjects staring at the camera result in boring images. Create more dynamic and interesting photos; capture subjects in action, encouraging them to use their hands and arms to convey expression. Get in close to the subject – cropping out unnecessary elements can greatly improve the final image.

Backgrounds: Messy or distracting ones can ruin a photo. An out-of-focus background can enhance the foreground; using a wide aperture or a long lens can help achieve this effect. (Mobile phones may not be ideal for such shots.) Consider framing images through windows or doorways and aim for three-dimensional compositions rather than lining people in a single row.

Lighting is crucial: Avoid people looking into the sun and squinting; instead, try backlit photographs, which often result in softer lighting and more flattering images.

The rule of thirds: If the background is interesting, position the subject to the left or right third of the image.

Perspective: Shoot from high above or ground level, as low angles can produce striking results. When near water, look for reflections to add depth and interest to your photos. Midday lighting is often harsh; morning or late afternoon offers better conditions.

Angles: Turn people to stand at an angle rather than straight to camera. Engage with your subjects before shooting to understand the purpose of the photograph, which might reveal opportunities for better locations or timing.