Sir John Smith-Dodsworth (Award Winning Plant Photographer and Author), Dies Aged 77 (1935-2012)
Sir John Smith-Dodsworth, Baronet, formerly of Thornton Watlass Hall, Yorkshire was born in North Yorkshire, England in 1935. He came to New Zealand in 1956 and settled in the Coromandel and has lived there since 1968. During his time there he developed an interest in ferns, further increasing the knowledge he had built over the previous twenty years.
He also developed his skills as a photographer of native plants. Many people know of him because of two books he co-authored - New Zealand ferns and fern allies - the definitive reference book on New Zealand ferns co-authored with Patrick Brownsey (and published in 1989) and New Zealand Native Shrubs & Climbers - a fabulously illustrated book about native plants (published in 1991).
More recently John worked with staff of the New Zealand’s Department of Conservation to provide images for numerous plant conservation publications, especially those advocating for the protection of threatened plants.
Many of his images can be seen in Threatened Plants of New Zealand by Peter de Lange et al published in 2010.
He worked with the Plant Conservation Network since 2003 to provide more than 3,500 images for use on its website. In 2011 he was awarded a Lifetime achievement award by the Plant Network for his services to plant conservation (see photo).
He died peacefully in hospital on 21st September 2012, aged 77.
Posted: 23/09/2012