Surprising Studio

LC-Wide (Kodak BW400CN) - ACDC Lane - Cherry Bar.

So, Melbourne. You have been been impressing me lately. Yes, you are getting colder, but you have resisted too much of that silly rainy windy mess that you are known for. Among other things you have opened some pretty amazing doors lately, including of the physical variety... the physical art/creative studio variety. 

I have longed for a little while now to have a place where I can dedicate my time to my creative artistic projects, my post-grad coursework and my Lomography freelance work. A few of weeks back I responded to an advert of the Creative Spaces website for a desk space in a communal studio just a couple of blocks from my house in Carlton. After meeting the awesome bunch of people who share the space, they decided that I fit the bill & I was welcomed into the world of Bouverie Studios! Hurrah!

The past few of weeks that I've been working in the studio have been super productive & very much worth the extra rent. I recommend anyone who doesn't feel like they have the space or solitude they need in their current working space to seek out a studio space, it very much worth it for your own peace of mind & the best outcome of your work. I'm surprised just how much I can get done on nights & weekends, more than I ever did working out of my bedroom in a share house.

What has surprised you lately?

x 

Mel

Supersampler Early Winter

Supersampler - Lomography 800CN film

Oh Melbourne in winter, there is always that chill in your bones that often disappears in hot showers & cosy beds, but always reappears with a sudden jarring moment familiarised by the term 'burrr'. Then there are the sunny days, that aren't necessarily any warmer, but they give a heightened illusion of warm, even if just to the eyes. They make the cold that much more bearable & all the layers, socks, scarfs & coats worth it.

I've been lucky enough to have a couple of my wonderful interstate friends & my awesome family visit in the last few weeks. It is always lovely to have visitors, show them 'my' Melbourne & share with them my favorite cafes, restaurants, galleries & lane ways.

This time last year I was preparing for a trip to New York City... a summer break from the Melbourne winter chill... this year I will just have to layer up, curl up & think warm happy thoughts.

x
Mel

One for the weekend

LC-Wide (Fuji Superia 200 film)

Oh, it's the weekend!

While late autumn is settling in with cool temperatures here in Melbourne, I can see & read about all my northern hemisphere friends welcoming in the days of spring... I'm trying not be be jealous & embrace jackets & tights. I've been enjoying the last couple of warm days in Melbourne at friend's birthday picnics in the park & slowly loading higher & higher ISO film into my cameras.

Tomorrow is World Pinhole Day... so this weekend I'm going out to shoot my very first pinhole photographs with my Diana F+ (in pinhole mode of course!). I'm throwing up between using black & white film, 400 or 100 colour negative... hmmm.

Are you shooting pinhole this weekend? What are your plans for the weekend?

x Mel

Friends in Black & White

LC-A (Kodak BW400CN)

I often forget how much I love using black & white film in my LC-A... a wander around the streets of Melbourne & a couple quiet drinks with some work friends easily changed that.

The season is slowly changing here, the nights are getting cooler, the mornings have a slight chill, jackets & cardigans are slowly emerging from closets. Soon the light will become scarce & I will be pushing 400 & 800 ISO film through my cameras & watching the leaves fall.

x Mel

NYC - The High Line

 

 
Diana Mini using bulb setting (Lomography Chrome 100 X-Pro)

One place I marked as completely necessary to visit while in NYC was the High Line. I had read about it & was intrigued by the urban re-utilisation project & also the thrilling views from it's various platforms & overpasses.

The story behind the High line is a fascinating one. Here are are a few facts about the High Line:

It was built between 1929 and 1934.

It cost over $130 million in 1930 dollars, equating to more than $2 billion today.

In 1980 the last train runs on the High Line, pulling three carloads of frozen turkeys.

April 2006, construction begins on Section 1 (Gansevoort Street to 20th Street)

2008, Landscape Construction begins on Section 1, with construction and installation of pathways, access points, seating, lighting, and planting.

June 9, 2009, Section 1 (Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street) opens to the public.

June 8, 2011, Section 2 (West 20th Street to West 30th Street) opens to the public.

You can discover more about the High Line at thehighline.org.

See how I painted the night on my Diana Mini with views from the High Line.

x Mel

PhotoMoti Featured Photographer

You can now see an interview that Thomas from PhotoMoti did with me over at the PhotoMoti Blog. Thomas also selected a few of his favorite photos of mine to include, so please go have a look if you have a moment.

While you are at PhotoMoti have a look around, there is a shop with some ready to purchase vintage cameras along with other cool camera and photography gear. They are based in Sydney, Australia, so it's handy to have more and more options available to us Aussies.

◆ Mel