Vale The man with the camera: Richard Woldendorp

Australia, Western Australia – and Darlington – lost a favourite son in the passing in April of photographer Richard Woldendorp, the man who ‘painted’ breathtaking abstract landscapes with his camera, letting Australians see their remotest regions as never before.

He hung out of the window of low-flying Cessnas to capture his stunning images and they have become his unmatched legacy to the nation. After growing up during the hard times of Hitler’s occupation of the Netherlands and serving in the Dutch army, Richard initially wanted to learn to paint and found a home in Darlington at a time when a string of notable artists turned our village into the place to be for young artists. Then he acquired a camera, and used it to become an artist.

He found the best of partners in beautiful Lyn who played a vital role in supporting his career and promoting his artistry. The couple had three daughters – Yolanta, Gemma and Eva – and home became a stunning house on the edge of Darlington overlooking bushland. Richard embedded himself in the community, a genial and generous figure, always with a camera.

He became a legend in his lifetime and a State Living Treasure, but at heart he was a man of family and community, who loved a good party, was a mentor to many and never lost his wonder at the beauty and complexity of the natural world. His final book, The Tree, was a powerful call for the preservation of Australia’s wild places. Richard passed away surrounded by his beloved family and you’ll find a comprehensive Vale to him in Mundaring Arts Centre notes.