‘Australia’s most photographed man’ shown for the first time at RMIT

‘Australia’s most photographed man’ shown for the first time at RMIT

A new RMIT Gallery exhibition offers a unique insight into the life of Alan Adler, who spent more than 50 years maintaining the iconic Flinders Street photobooth, and others around Melbourne.

Auto Photo: A Life in Portraits features Alder’s collection of photobooth images, honouring his life's work as the oldest and longest serving known photobooth technician in the world.

By capturing thousands of photos strips of himself while servicing the machines, Adler has become known as the nation’s most photographed man.

RMIT PhD candidate and exhibition co-curator, Catlin Langford, said visitors can view Adler’s archive of photo strips spanning over 50 years.

“The images he took are evocative signs of his life and how he developed over the years,” she said. 

“You really get a sense of both his life on a personal level and also a story that is reflective of Melbourne.”

At the height of his photobooths’ popularity, Adler maintained 16 booths across Melbourne. He died in 2024, but his cherished booths and community impact remain a unique part of Melbourne’s culture.

Alongside Adler’s work, the exhibition will feature prints of everyday Australians who used the booths for passport photos and identification, or to create lasting memories and capture spontaneous moments with friends and family.

(L-R) Alan Adler, Chris Sutherland and Jessie Norman, gelatin silver prints © Alan Adler/Metro Auto Photo. (L-R) Alan Adler, Christopher Sutherland and Jessie Norman

Co-curator Jessie Norman, who restores and operates Alan’s suite of photobooths as Metro Auto Photo, alongside her fiancée Christopher Sutherland, said the exhibition pays tribute to both Adler and the incredible history of photobooths. 

"We have some prints at the exhibition dating back to the 1930s,” Jessie said.

“It's such a beautiful process to create these photo strips, we view these photos as a love letter to Melbourne.

“Through this exhibition we hope to continue his legacy and shine a light on Alan’s life’s work, in the sense that he was the unthanked hero of the city.”

Helen Rayment, Manager, RMIT Galleries said the exhibition showcases Adler’s considerable work to a new generation of RMIT students.    

“RMIT is well-respected as a leading institution of art and design Australia, and this exhibition gives students and the wider public a chance to connect with culturally significant artwork in a meaningful way,” she said. 

“We are thrilled to work with RMIT PhD candidate Catlin, as well as Jessie and Chris – who is an RMIT photography graduate himself – on this wonderful project.” 

The exhibition invites visitors to engage with Adler's story and create new memories by using a photobooth themselves, making the experience truly immersive.

Auto Photo: A Life in Portraits is a free exhibition showing at RMIT Gallery until 16 August 2025. 

The exhibition is a Centre of Contemporary Photography (CCP) exhibition, presented in partnership with RMIT Gallery. Curated by Catlin Langford and Metro Auto Photo.  

06 June 2025

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06 June 2025

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