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black white photography melbourne

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Melbourne Photography - black & white

There has always been something special about black white photography that can evoke an emotion and tell a story that colour photography seems not to. It can focus the viewer on special elements of the photograph that may be other lost in a colour image in the same way that depth of field can. Without the distraction of colour, the image of black white photography is left to structure, tones and luminance to convey the message.

Melbourne has the feel of a very European city and as such lends itself perfectly to black white photography and, like many cities in Australia. Much is made if its rivalry with its northern cousin Sydney but the reality is that the two cities have very different characteristics to each other and trying to determine which is better is like determining whether an apple is better than an orange; they are both fantastic cities in their own right.

Wonderful Victorian architecture affords the city of Melbourne a look and feel that transposes beautifully into black white photography; cafes, old world shopping arcades like Block Arcade, wonderful parks like Fitzroy gardens, and the famous areas around Port Phillip Bay like Brighton, St Kilda, and Elwood.

Melbourne has a reputation for having four seasons on one day and while that may be a point of friendly rivalry with other states and cities (Melbourne actually has less rain than Sydney), it does lend itself to the moodiness that is so often conveyed in black white photography. This wonderful moodiness has many photographers likening this beautiful city to many of the northern hemisphere including Paris and Stockholm.

Melbourne Docklands:

Melbourne Docklands is a region west of the Melbourne CBD that reinvigorated what was basically a dilapidated and unused area of Melbourne’s waterside. Located close to Southern Cross Station and the stadium precinct, the development has taken many years and has produced a modern commercial, retail and residential area; invigorating this side of the city. Like any city development, the construction initiative reveals a life of its own.

St Kilda:

Located on one of the most picturesque points of Port Phillip Bay, St Kilda is a must for anyone wishing to visit Melbourne. Once a daytrip destination for Melbournians, St Kilda today is a major tourist destination and is easily accessible from the city of Melbourne; especially on a famous Melbourne Tram along the wonderful promenade of St Kilda road. Fitzroy Street and Acland Street are the main focal points of St Kilda and both will lead the visitor to the Esplanade and the St Kilda foreshore where the historic St Kilda Pier is located.

The Palias Theatre:

The site of the current Palais was formerly the location of ‘Palais Pictures which burned down in the early 1900’s. A replacement was planned and Walter Burley Griffin began designing a remodelled Palais Pictures which begun construction in 1925 but an unfortunate fire did not see his vision come to fruition. A subsequent design was built and opened in 1927. Over the years, the classic Art Deco theatre has hosted events as diverse as The Bolshoi Ballet, Jesus Christ Superstar, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, the Melbourne International Festival, John Butler Trio and many more.

Elwood:

Elwood is a Melbourne bayside suburb a short distance from St Kilda forms an integral part of the foreshore walk which stretches from Port Melbourne through St Kilda and onto Elwood, Brighton, Sandringham and Black Rock; a top tourism destination which allows the Melbourne visitor to explore the north shore of Port Phillip Bay. The Elwood boat ramp took on an ominous appears at sunset while the water was a smooth as glass.

Block Arcade:

The Block Arcade is wonderful example of classic 19th Century shopping arcade with its exquisite etched glass roof and mosaic floor (the largest in Australia). The complex is classified by the National Trust and is on the register of the National Estate. The arcade is so named due to the late 1800’s Melbourne tradition of ‘Doing the Block’, meaning to walk up and down the very fashionable shopping strip of Collins Street. Today, Block Arcade is full of unique retail shops and wonderful cosmopolitan cafes and maintains its original vision of a being modelled on those of Milan and London. - Melbourne - Victoria - Australia

Being a relatively compact state, Victoria also has many other spectacular and famous areas for the visitor to explore. The Great Ocean Road, which starts at Anglesea and stretches along the Surf Coast to Apollo Bay and is considered to be one best coastal drives in Australia. Beyond this a very picturesque forests of Cape Otway and then the world famous 12 Apostles.

The Surf Coast:

The Victorian Surf Coast is a short drive from Melbourne and is the location of one of Australia’s most scenic coastal drives; The Great Ocean Road which begins at Torquay and meanders along the coast through wonderful seaside towns of Anglesea and Apollo Bay. 

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