Best pictures to make you smile from past 30 years

Some took years of planning to perfect, others were taken in the blink of an eye, but all these pictures from the past 30 years are guaranteed to be the best thing you see today.

Model Megan Gale was seeing red when she whirled her gown around on the roof of Melbourne Town Hall in preparation for the launch of Melbourne Fashion Week. Picture: Alex Coppel

THE old saying about never working with animals or children is something photographers hear a lot. 

But it’s advice they widely ignore because the trickiest subjects can often make the most striking photos.

Without them, the pages of the Herald Sun would be a lot less colourful.

For 30 years our photographers have been putting their talent and patience to the test to capture candid shots of creatures of all shapes and sizes.

Today, we look back on some of the most memorable pictures of animals and humans alike.

The images illustrate moments of fun and joy. 

With nerves of steel model Olivia Rogers holds the Melbourne Cup standing amid a throng of 40 galloping horses from the high country. The photo was two years in the making with the horses trained for the picture and a failed attempt due to weather. Picture: Jason Edwards

Shots from the Royal Children’s Hospital are heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking.

There are entertaining portraits of piglets, puppies, and former Federal Treasurer Peter Costello looking slightly overawed with six newborn babies.

Mischievous miniature pony Oky Pinoky’s mugshot featured on the front page in 2003 after his controversial eviction from Skinner’s Adventure Playground in South Melbourne.

Baby photos of Yakini the gorilla, who turns 21 next month, captivated global audiences – twice.

Photographer David Caird’s shots of young Yakini receiving medical treatment were used in newspapers and magazines around the world when they were first published in 1999, and attracted more international admirers in 2012 when they inexplicably went viral on Twitter.

“It was a whole generation that hadn’t seen them before,” Caird said.

When Yakini the new born baby gorilla from Melbourne Zoo needed a check-up he got the all-star treatment from a specialist from the Royal Children’s Hospital, but he showed his displeasure at the cold stethoscope creating an iconic picture. Picture: David Caird

Sometimes you have to go to great lengths, or in this case heights, to get a good picture. Craig Borrow braved dizzying heights to snap Chris Davies, of Victorian Rope Access, changing lights on top of the mast at the 101 Collins St building.

“The whole internet generation went crazy with it and it was just everywhere.”

Caird, who has published two photo books of Yakini, said the thing that made the images stand out was the gorilla’s human-like emotions.

“He looks like he’s bracing himself because of the cold stethoscope on his chest like a kid would do,” he said.

“I’ve photographed other gorillas but this one was so different because his expressions were so human, very cute, coy, cheeky. He’s just a special gorilla.”

From zoos to farms to suburban backyards, the Herald Sun’s photographers have gone all over to get shots of all types of animals.

Caird’s snap of Crunch the crocodile at Ballarat Wildlife Park was taken just before Crunch snapped at him.

Everyone love a nice animal shot, and crikey was this a good one! David Caird snapped this wild picture of three-year old junior keeper Charlie Parker, who went head to head with Gump the North American alligator at Ballarat Wildlife Park.

He said animal shots typically take a long time looking down the lens waiting for the right moment.

“You’ve got to set yourself up ready to catch the unexpected. You need to make sure you’re ready to fire and catch the shot because when it happens it happens quick.”

The same approach applied to taking photos of children, he said.

“Kids and animals are very similar. Working with both can be really tricky but it’s all down to timing, setting things up. If you get it right it looks great.”

Former treasurer Peter Costello’s iconic line urging Australians to have “one child for mum, one for dad and another for the country” saw him pose with newborn babies at the Royal Women’s Hospital. Picture: David Caird

Legendary television personality Bert Newton still laughing after 50 years in television with Channel 9 studios. Picture: David Caird

The sky over Avalon Airport lit up with flames as Tinstix of Dynamite flew over the airspace during their finale to the Melbourne International Airshow. Picture: Alex Coppel

Supermodel Miranda Kerr took high fashion to the next level when she stepped out for a fashion shoot at Werribee Mansion in front of a red chopper. Picture: Alex Coppel

Pooches are always popular at the Herald Sun and this picture was no different. Molly, Max and Monty had a front-row seat at the Victorian Duck and Cattle Dog Championships in South Gippsland, with the moment captured forever by Craig Borrow.

Self described tomboy Kristy Lee Denovan is not your typical ballerina with a sailor tattoo on her arm and standing only 1.6m tall. But she displayed all the grace and grit that saw her rise to principal dancer with the Melbourne Ballet Company as she stood on the century-old pilings at Princess Pier. Picture: Jason Edwards

Living footy legend Ron Barassi was snapped trimming the turf at the MCG. The ground is better known to the decorated former player and coach as his ‘back yard’. Picture: David Caird

Black-and-white piglet Wobbles nipped the nose of his owner, farmer Brian Doggett. Wobbles’ name paid tribute to Collingwood, Doggett’s favourite team. Picture: Craig Borrow

At just nine-weeks-old Joshua Spaulding stole readers’ hearts with this cute picture to celebrate Baby Massage Week. David Caird snapped mum Rachel giving some tender loving care to her bub.

Conjoined twins Nima and Dawa, pictured at 14 months old, made the arduous trip from a rural area of Bhutan to Melbourne for life changing surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital. The pair won the hearts of Victorians and returned home happy, healthy and active. Picture: Alex Coppel

Simon Crisp had battled to save his own property in Longwood East from a rampaging fire with the help of the CFA. When the danger was over he took a well earned bath and beer. Picture: Jason Edwards

Cate Campbell is a swimming golden girl but on this day she tried her hand at modelling in the deep blue. Picture: Alex Coppel

Cricket great Shane Warne was known for his flight of the ball but this day he and then girlfriend Liz Hurley had to dodge flapping wings during a Spirits of the Sky bird of prey show at Healesville Sanctuary. Picture: Alex Coppel

The TV breakfast show rivals hammed it up as the ultimate odd couple sharing an early morning pancake as part of a Herald Sun special on Small Screen Legends. Picture: David Caird.

He ain't heavy, he's my bubba! Mum Natashia from Preston got the shock of her life when baby Brian Jnr tipped the scales at 6kg, nearly double that of an average sized baby, and the largest to ever tip the scales at Mercy Hospital for Women. Picture: David Caird

Some of Australia’s comedy greats chowed down their last supper before the Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicked off for the year. Sharing in the feast were Tommy Little, Colin Lane, Dave Hughes, Denise Scott, Wil Anderson, Cal Wilson, Frank Woodley, Tom Gleeson and Dave Thornton. Picture: David Caird

This shot of Brad and Georgette Fishlock embracing their son Tyler highlighted why the Good Friday Appeal holds a special place in the heart of so many Victorians. Jay Town captured the moment the three year-old body, who had a rare form of cancer, was reunited with his parents after undergoing an operation to remove his remaining eye. The cancer came back when he was older, but Tyler fought it off a second time. Picture: Jay Town

The Melbourne Cup became the perfect snuggle spot for Lilly the wombat during the cup’s visit to Healesville Sanctuary. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mildura wheat farmer Daniel Fox cooled off on a scorcher of a 43C day with his children by taking a much-needed dip in their family pool. Daniel headed home to soak up the sun with his children, Claudia, 6, Hannah, 10, Tom, 11 and Sam, 13. Picture: Jason Edwards

Stunt double Leigh-Ann Vizer’s life was in King Kong’s hands the day she scaled Eureka Tower to help promote the show’s Melbourne opening. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Setting the scene in the film Pinball where he starred as himself, Mark ‘Chopper’ Reid loaded up and took aim at Jake Nowakowski’s lens on the set of the movie. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

This heart warming shot captured an unlikely friendship between Tiger the untamed cat and Annie the wild pony. Nicole Garmston photographed the pair on a farm at Terang. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A little trooper, Pandora Humphries celebrated her first birthday at the Royal Children’s Hospital where she was battling a rare metabolic disease. Picture: Craig Borrow

Freeze! Neale Daniher braces for the avalanche of ice water raining down from the bucket being tipped by Essendon legend and former teammate Tim Watson. The pair partook in the icy display to raise money for the fatal motor neurone disease from which Daniher himself suffers. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Oky Pinoky may be munching on a carrot in this adorable photo, but the miniature horse also spent a fair amount of time biting the poor people around him. Craig Borrow captured the moment he stole his buddy Casper Cartwright’s lunch.

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