Ask the Leyland Brothers...

[Nige]

The Leyland Brothers, Mike and Mal, were one of (if not the) 1st Travel Documentary makers in Aust. They used to "roam around the countryside", looking at Australian scenery and areas of interest. They used to these documentaries on movie cameras (guessing Super 8 and predecessors). Seems Mal used to take a few photo's along the way, as you would!

The ditty for the show went something like 'Roam around the countryside, ask the Leyland brothers..."

Anyway... while researching an upcoming trip, I came across their website with photo gallery. Worth a look I reckon, even though the scans are pretty rough.

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[PeterB]

The Leyland Brothers, Mike and Mal, were one of (if not the) 1st Travel Documentary makers in Aust. They used to "roam around the countryside", looking at Australian scenery and areas of interest. They used to these documentaries on movie cameras (guessing Super 8 and predecessors). Seems Mal used to take a few photo's along the way, as you would!

The ditty for the show went something like 'Roam around the countryside, ask the Leyland brothers..."

Anyway... while researching an upcoming trip, I came across their website with photo gallery. Worth a look I reckon, even though the scans are pretty rough.

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I always loved watching these shows as a kid. After reading your post, the T.V. theme song won't leave my head !

I was a bit dissapointed to read the following bold text:
"Mal Leyland is a darkroom printer with more than forty years professional experience. He applies his extensive knowledge to produce master digital files which are printed on archival papers using pigment inks which are bound to the paper with chemical binders."
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Tell me what part of that printing process requires a darkroom !!! unfortunately I don't see the point telling us that he has 40 years experience in a darkroom.....

regards
Peter

 

[Nige]

I didn't read that bit...

My preferred documentaries were Alby Mangels with Judy Green in tow...

 

[Mick Fagan]

Very interesting Nige. Over quite a few years I met the Leyland brothers and some of their family at different times and places in OZ, usually outback. I always had time for them but near the end, they were running out of ideas it seemed to me.

Once 26 years ago, I and a mate were heading up to Cape York on our bikes. We had road going BMW bikes with trials universal tyres on, which was pretty much all the modification we did to get to the cape. We were at the Jardine river, fast flowing about 35m across and waist high water. We used two airbeds, partially inflated rolled up under each engine cylinder and tied with rope.

We needed three people to get each bike across so we had to find someone who wasn't too afraid of crocodiles, we found a fella from Sydney on a trail bike and together we helped each other across the river, took ½ a day each way.

The leyland brothers were set up about 2 kilometres away crossing the jardine in a deeper crossing to get a better film for the TV show. I thought they had never dramatised for their shows, aparently I was wrong.

Never knew Mal was that good a still photographer!

I wonder about indigenous people who have passed away and are they are showing their images?

Mick.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Alby was really in the right place at the right time, as for Judy Green, lovely woman.

Mick.

 

[Claire Senft]

Far out..back.