If you wear the standard “branded” strap that came with your camera please click out of this website and never come back, unless you are wearing it “ironically” – But you better look like one of these guys if you are using that escape clause… Apart from the clear crime against humanity, branded straps are […]
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Howey Place
June 7, 2014 
1 Comment
Once you have visited the more popular laneways, Howey Place is one of the next destinations worthy of a wander. It is mostly covered, providing a great option for wet days. It is relatively narrow and tends to funnel subjects – so just find a good spot and start camping. Frame your shot then wait […]
Continue reading Don’t Just Make a Carbon Copy
June 1, 2014 2 Comments
Architectural Photography is a passion for some. Taking a shot of a building’s interior or exterior, with the perfect lens, on a perfectly still tripod, with the perfect light, and at the perfect angle is challenging pursuit that requires patience. The same applies to Landscape photography. The result can often transcend the technique. But mostly […]
Continue reading City Square Water Feature
June 1, 2014 0 Comments
The City Square has a few different locations worth checking out which were covered off in this post. On the Collins St side there is a water feature that is a great background for the right subjects. I haven’t really got an image I am 100% happy with yet, but hope these location roughs do […]
Continue reading Richmond Station
May 31, 2014 0 Comments
Behold my most favourited picture of all time! Richmond Rail Station provides many opportunities. This particular image was captured looking down the exit ramp from the platform, waiting for the light to stream down from the skylights. The colours of the tiles combine with the dirty whites to deliver great contrast. Here it is from […]
Continue reading Hosier Lane
May 31, 2014 0 Comments
Hosier Lane is a landmark Melbourne laneway, featuring wall to wall street art and graffiti. The art is constantly changing and can provide some spectacular backgrounds. It even has it’s own website here. There are always a few tourists and visitors checking it out. You can expect a lot of DSLRs with kit lenses pointing […]
Continue reading360 Collins St – High Persepective
May 25, 2014 0 Comments
After spending some time studying Fan Ho, I realised that too many of my images were captured from a consistent perspective of about 5ft 8inches – head height… Images become more interesting when they show something from a new perspective. You can read more about this and Fan Ho’s work here. Finding high or low […]
Continue reading Rangefinder Cameras – Starting Out
May 25, 2014 7 Comments
Rangefinder Cameras are a revelation to photographers who are starting to delve into more exotic kinds of gear. At first glance, to the developing photographer, rangefinders can look like toylike and less than worthy of your new found skillz. There are good reasons why rangefinders can look a bit ‘r Us. The viewfinder is a […]
Continue reading111 Bourke Street – Aussie Post HO
May 24, 2014 1 Comment
There is a great spot on Bourke Street – between Russell and Exhibition Streets for a quick bit of people spotting. The building is the Head Office for Australia Post, and no expense appears to be have been spared. My favourite location here is the building street number sign itself. Stacks of lines and solid […]
Continue reading Inconspicuosity Tip #2 : Angles
May 18, 2014 5 Comments
How little people notice can be quite amazing. Photo ninja skillz do not involve things like stealthy camera bags with lens holes or 90 degree angle mirror attachments. Actively “hiding” when out with your camera is a tad on the childish side. The less you are noticed, the less you will contaminate or interfere with […]
Continue reading Fan Ho – 9 Composition Techniques. Part Four.
May 17, 2014 5 Comments
8. Light Funnels Urban landscapes create many Light Funnels that Fan Ho took advantage of to either add drama to an image, or backlight a subject to some degree. The narrow confines of Hong Kong’s streets offer many opportunities to narrow the flow of natural light into a funnel. In all of the images, […]
Continue reading Fan Ho – 9 Composition Techniques. Part Three.
May 12, 2014 5 Comments
5. Look for Angles that are Not Ninety Degrees. The Beauty of 120 Degrees. Ninety degree angles naturally appear everywhere. Fan Ho often created images using angles other than ninety degrees, often approximating 120 degrees. Angles other than ninety are unexpected and more interesting. The angles of the shadows in this image are much wider than […]
Continue readingMore GPO
May 11, 2014 0 Comments
I covered the GPO in this post some time ago. Here are some more reasons to explore potential opportunities there. The GPO has a beautiful outdoor undercover area around the perimeter of the building, featuring repeating arches. There are a couple of cafes located here, giving plenty of subject options from amongst the diners. If it […]
Continue reading Fan Ho – 9 Composition Techniques. Part Two.
May 10, 2014 6 Comments
2. Light Edges Light Edges are very clear, defined strips of light contrasting with a shadow. These feature regularly in Ho’s images to highlight what is usually a small human subject. The size of the subject removes the “human” face and enables the viewer to project themselves into being the subject (IMHO). These Light Edges […]
Continue reading Fan Ho – 9 Composition Techniques. Part One.
May 6, 2014 6 Comments
Fan Ho has captured Hong Kong over the years using a Rolleiflex. Born in 1937, Ho has an important body of work that borrows from his experience as a Hong Kong based film director. You can find out more about him at his website here, and an interview with him here. I have one of his […]
Continue readingUnion Lane, DJ’s Coffee Shop, and Sugden Place
May 4, 2014 0 Comments
I suppose it is time to start sharing some of the “gotta go to” locations rather than the more esoteric “hidden gems.” Union Lane is one of several “sanctioned” street art laneways in Melbourne. Entry is via either from the Bourke Street mall end or Little Collins Street. The street sign is usually painted or […]
Continue reading Inconspicuosity Tip #1: Gear
May 2, 2014 4 Comments
Street photography is about hitting a pause button. Taking a split second to record a moment. Star Trek’s Prime Directive is “don’t get involved with or noticed by the locals”. Follow this philosophy -don’t actively impact the scene in any way. Move to get the right perspective, change lenses, fire up a flash – but […]
Continue readingVisiting the Impossible Project Studio in New York
April 30, 2014 1 Comment
Analogue Hipster. Low fi junky. Every smart phone can now take crazy good pictures. So the natural thing is to make to take these sharp, detailed images, and strip out some of the quality to make them look like they were taken using a crappy analogue toy camera or polaroid. Funnily enough, the result is generally […]
Continue reading Other Online Resources
April 25, 2014 4 Comments
Resources Free MoMA Photography Course Online A free, online six part course offered by the New York Museum of Modern Art. Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail A guide to the extensive range of second hand analogue gear available in Hong Kong. Dot-Well Camera All Good Friend Camera Company M&K Kamera David Chan Sencery […]
Continue readingFootscray Rail Yards
April 24, 2014 0 Comments
I have quite the passion for photographing big mechanical things – trains, ships, jet fighters to name a few. Can’t quite explain it, but there it is. If you are heading out to Footscray Station, and you are a bit adventurous, maybe give the Footscray Rail Yards a try. There are plenty of abandoned carriages […]
Continue reading Busy Places – Buildling Your Skills
April 22, 2014 0 Comments
Busy Places Busy places are full of busy people all moving in different directions with different purposes. Their minds are wholly engaged with their own affairs and missions. Whether in a group or by themselves, their main priority is whatever it is that they are doing. Their default is to not even notice you, unless […]
Continue reading Getting Used to Photographing People – Ruckenfigur
April 22, 2014 4 Comments
The next theme to explore is Ruckenfigur, a German word which translates to “back figure”. The “back figure” is a recurring theme in romantic landscape paintings, typified by Caspar David Friedrich, a 19th century German Romantic landscape painter. Ruckenfigur style compositions are generally seen from behind the main subject, who guides the viewer with their own […]
Continue reading First Steps – Landmarks
April 21, 2014 0 Comments
One of the first subjects with minimum stress levels are landmarks. Landmarks I am using this as a generic term for any interesting inanimate subject. It could be a sculpture, a sign on the road, a factory door, public artwork, graffiti – if it ain’t breathing (and is not just dead!) then it is a […]
Continue reading Some Fundamentals
April 21, 2014 1 Comment
Philosophy Street Photography is about urban exploring, wandering with a purpose. Lots of walking. Capturing people and places in a city, going about their business. Doing it on a regular basis is a must. Getting out the front door, onto a train every weekend. Going to the same places and seeing something differently, and sometimes finding […]
Continue reading Starting Out – Street Photography 101
April 21, 2014 1 Comment
Preparing to give it a try… Why give it a try? What camera do you need? What I am assuming you know. Where you can find out more. 1. Why Give it a Try? What’s your motivation? Street Photography is a worth challenge for those who are already familiar with their camera, and others looking […]
Continue readingOld GPO – Cnr Bourke and Elizabeth Sts
April 21, 2014 5 Comments
There is an oddly specific spot on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets in the City. It offers opportunities to shoot some interesting lines contrasting with pedestrian traffic. Here is the spot : By getting up on the ledge, the perspective shifts massively and becomes much more interesting. There are plenty of other locations […]
Continue readingSouthern Cross Station
April 19, 2014 0 Comments
Southern Cross Station is an absolute marvel, providing opportunities everywhere. Keep moving though, as you will always get the occasional overly officious employee or security lackey looking for something to do. You can get a photography permit for most stations here if you feel the need… As per usual, so long as you avoid a tripod […]
Continue reading Tips for Selecting Exhibition Images
April 19, 2014 3 Comments
I recently participated in a Photography Exhibition. I was very surprised by the number of prints that sold. I can only offer the following hypotheses: Themes and consistency For the first time, my images were visually quite consistent. Usually I just pick out a bunch of images I like, and slap them up, willy nilly […]
Continue reading Wide Angle Photography – Thoughts from a Heretic
April 19, 2014 4 Comments
135mm (my preferred focal length) gets you nice a close without getting people’s faces. Wide angle photography offers no such buffer zone. Most streety stylin’ photographers I know seem to preach a wide angle faith bordering on fanatical – so what have I been missing? In order to explore wide angle a little more, I […]
Continue readingCity Square
March 30, 2014 1 Comment
The City Square is a failed municipal experiment on the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets in Melbourne’s CBD. It has had many different faces over the years. The current one has some great opportunities. There is a textured wall on the Collins Street side running right along the footpath. This is akin to shooting […]
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Inconspicuosity 