Archives for 2010

My biggest lesson in photography this year is that if you take photography seriously you need to treat it as an activity in it’s own right.  Trying to combine holidaying and serious photography just doesn’t work.  I decided in Melbourne to take photographs of things that genuinely moved me rather than snapping away at all I could see.  Things that I encapsulated an experience and potentially something I’d be keen to get printing up and put on the wall when we got home.  Suffice to say I have taken fewer photographs this time.  I could have taken heaps more if I had hauled myself out of bed at the crack of dawn to capture the morning sun and empty cityscape but since this was a holiday I have enjoyed the opportunity to take things at a much slower pace.

Melbourne is a magnificent city  I love the mix of old and new, the careful thought that seems to have been put into developing the city and it’s public buildings (the art galleries and museum are truly fantastic and an experience in itself).  The wide avenues seem to allow Melbourne CBD flow freely with pedestrians, cars, bikes, horse drawn carriages and the iconic trams allowed to scuttle along with a natural rhythm and flow.  The expansive parks and Botanic Gardens giving the city space to breath deeply and relax.

For me Melbourne is an intensely stylish place.  Things are done well and they are done right.  No half measures.  It strikes me as a City with a generous heart and soul.  I could not have done it justice by taking lots of photo snaps it deserves better which gives me a perfect excuse to come back to Melbourne on a photography trip.

Two views from the Botanic Gardens which I loved – you’d almost think that they’d designed the garden or the city to create the perfect view.

After years of attending outdoor plays performed by the Oxford Shakespeare Company when we lived in the UK it was a total treat to relive the outdoor theatre experience in Melbourne.  We watched Comedy of Errors by the Australian Shakespeare Company which was a rip roaring take on one of the Bard’s popular hits.  I don’t know whether it’s the compulsory drinking and snacking or just sitting under the stars but outdoor theatre experiences always seem more relaxed and slightly mischievous.  It does of course help to have a great play and actors to entertain you with and we weren’t disappointed at all.  I love the fact that at the end of the performance there is no harsh auditorium lights to make you blink and bring you to back to the harsh realities of life.  You can simply pick yourself and your picnic kit up from the ground where you’ve been lounging and leave the venue in darkness still engrossed in the world that the play has transformed you to.  A perfect theatrical afterglow.

With the Ashes Cricket over by lunch time today thousands of folk poured out of the ground and into the City.  It was at this point I was reminded how crowded Melbourne is with the influx of visitors for this sporting festival.  Simply moving around was tough and finding a cafe with a table to spare for lunch was a challenge (although I did manage to persuade someone that it was such a waste to leave a reserved table empty when there were 4 paying customers ready to hand over their money!).

I took a wander with my camera today but was quickly forced into an air conditioned shopping mall to escape the heat and bustle.  With so many crowds it’s hard to take photographs that do the place justice so I’ll have to make a foray out earlier in the morning to beat the rush.

Up river towards the Melbourne Cricket Ground – affectionately known as the G.

Crowds outside Flinders station and crashing the Christmas Sales on Bourke Street.

The weather forecast is showing increasing temperatures this week peaking on Friday with 36 degrees C.  Can’t wait!

One of the biggest risks of Melbourne is getting sensory overload.  There is simply so much to see and do it’s a tough job to decide where to look and go first.  I love the eclectic mix of hip, cool, hippy and pure sophistication.  When the boys headed back to the MCG for the afternoon session of Cricket my poor mother-in-law was dragged around Melbourne’s lanes to view the street art.  There were parts that looked more graffiti but nevertheless there was plenty to brighten up what would otherwise be a pretty dreary alleyway.

I’m thinking of getting the first of these pictures blown up and pasted to the side of the chicken pen to remind George the rooster who’s boss!

Unlike my husband I’m no die hard cricket fan.  I do however like an occasional day at the cricket and nothing beats being in the sporting crowd to watch England and Australia play for the Ashes in Melbourne.  This is the second time I’ve joined the Barmy Army’s Supporters Club with my maiden game four years ago.  Second time around I was old and wiser. This time we took plenty of food to keep our strength up and save us queuing and missing valuable cricket time.  Also, lots and lots of sunscreen, hats and clothes to keen covered up.  As it turned out the more clothes the better to start with as there was a chilly wind and overcast skies.

Just as the skies turned blue and the sun came out England continued to bat their way to a commanding lead.  All a little different from last time around when England were drummed into submission leaving thousands of English fans to drown their sorrows in the Melbourne shopping sales.  Although it was Australia’s misery this time everyone leaving the ground were good humoured which was just as well as there were thousands of people winding their way back towards the city centre no doubt for an evening of post match review.

The two hour time difference between Wellington and Melbourne played to my advantage to enjoy the early morning sun as it sat on the Exhibition Hall in Melbourne.  Not a bad view from your hotel window.  Am looking forward to exploring the rest of the architectural delights of this very European style city.  But first we need to see the Aussies off in the cricket!