Photography News

Shapes and Curves in the City of Melbourne

October 16, 2013 by Leanne Cole

This is my first contribution to this blog, and I would like to say hello.  I thought I could do my first post on something that I am very passionate about, Melbourne.  I love this city, and I think it is a photographers dream.  I know when most people think of Melbourne they think sport, Australian Open, AFL, Grand Prix, or coffee, fantastic coffee culture here, and there is food.  The other thing that people think, is weather, we are known for our bad weather.  Apparently it always rains here, though Sydney gets more rain a year than Melbourne.  It is true, though the weather here can be rather unpredictable.  Being a photographer living in Melbourne means, you deal with the weather and work around it.

There is one part of Melbourne that I really don’t think gets enough publicity, our architecture.

sccity-hpm6482-2

Flinders Street Station

Flinders Street Station is a very obvious building that most people know, identify and photograph.  I wonder how many images are taken each year of this buillding.  This is more of an iconic photo of the station, though there aren’t the car trail lights which  you normally see.  It can be a hard image to get, you have to work out when is the right time, and when can you go without the place being crowded with people.  This image was taken early in the morning, so not many people, but also not many cars.  I’ve been told that about 9.30 in the evening during the week is a good time.  I have photographed this a few times, which is enough for me.  It is good to try at an iconic image, but really, shouldn’t it be about getting your own images, that are uniquely yours.

 

The outside of Flinders Street Station is very popular, but you don’t see many photos taken inside it.  There have been rumours spreading around that it is illegal to take photos in Flinders Street.  Apparently something to do with terrorism that you might be considered a terrorist and get told to stop.  Well, I can tell you that it isn’t true.  You can take photos inside, but you need a permit to do it.  You need a permit to photograph all stations that come under the control of Metro Trains, except for the stations underground, and Southern Cross Station.  The permit itself is very easy to get,  you just go to Metro Trains, Filming and Photography read the instructions, download the permit, sign it, and make sure it is with you when you go.  I wasn’t asked for the permit at Flinders Street, but I was asked for it at Heidelberg Station when I went there to take some photos.  The permit lasts for 2 months.  People say what is the point, you aren’t being approved, I suspect, that the reason for this is so you read the terms and conditions, and then agree to them.  That way you can’t say, but I didn’t know that I couldn’t do that.

There are other buildings that you need permits for, like St Paul’s Cathedral has now brought in photographers permits, but you can also get one so you can use your tripod, which is great, more money but good.  The permits only last for one day though, however they aren’t expensive.  It is good to find out these things first.

Most buildings, if photographing from the outside no permits are needed, and no permission, you can just photograph them.  There are so many outstanding examples of architecture in the city.  Due to the gold rush in the latter half of the 19th century Melbourne was a very prosperous city and they wanted to show off that wealth, and they did.  The original Town Hall was pulled down and a new, bigger, and better building was built in its place.  The Town Hall in Swanston Street has a rich history, and is an imposing building.  The inside is also great, they run tours of the building and you

Parliament House

Parliament House

are allowed to take photos inside in certain areas.   Parliament House at the top of Bourke Street, in Spring Street is the same.  When Parliament isn’t sitting you can take tours and take photos inside.  They also run an architectural tour, which I did earlier in the year, and you get to see more of the building, again, photography is allowed.

There are so many public buildings you can also just enter and take photos of, for example the State Library of Victoria, and the National Gallery of Victoria.  Then there are others that we can only dream about getting access to.  I was very fortunate about 12 months ago when I was invited to take photos of some of the interiors of the Manchester Unity Building.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I hope that other buildings, or rather the people who own them, might allow me access to their wonderful buildings.

This post is more an introduction to Melbourne and our wonderful architecture, I have barely touched the surface with the wonderful treasures that are here.  Perhaps next time, I will concentrate on certain areas, and we can discuss those.  There are many places, and I haven’t even started on the lane ways, don’t get me started there.  In future posts I can tell you my approaches to photographing architecture, things you might need to know about certain places, and where to find these treasures, I can also provide links, where available.

Leanne Cole is a Melbourne based fine art photographer who specialises in Architecture and landscapes.  She has over 20 years experience and has a Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Melbourne, faculty VCA.  Leanne also writes her own blog and has been doing that for many years now, she writes for anyone interested in photography.  You can find Leanne at her website www.leannecole.com.au, or her blog, she is also on Google+ and Facebook

19 Responses to “Shapes and Curves in the City of Melbourne”

  1. […] I wrote my first post today, on Melbourne and its Architecture.  So I am not really doing a post today, but if you want to see my first post there, here is the link, Shapes and Curves in the City of Melbourne. […]

  2. Noella Shorgan says:

    Delightful post,as always
    Your wordpress blogs have introduced me so well to Australia and Melbourne. Thanks

    Montreal,Qc Canada

  3. I follow Leanne’s wordpress blog and FB-page for a year now and daily looking forward for the next surprise. She uses (too?) many words for descriptions (but that’s my personal opinion) but the text is not where it is about.
    Australia is blessed with such a fine and dedicated (art-)photographer.

    • Leanne Cole says:

      Thanks for the great compliment Herman, sorry if I use too many words, though you can always just look at the photos, I hope you like those.

  4. Gilly says:

    Melbourne sounds like an exciting city and if Flinders is anything to go by, the architecture is stunning!

    • Leanne Cole says:

      It is a great city, and there is so many stunning buildings, I hope you will be okay with me showing you many more.

  5. Trevor Beech says:

    Excellent work, I love the explanations and attention to detail.

    I live in the UK and love to see and read other parts of the world.

    Congratulations for a wonderful post.

  6. Anne Kenny says:

    Good to see these photographs of my favourite city. Lovely post.

  7. Viveka says:

    Leanne, congratulation – fantastic job here – you kept me interested through the whole article. I tried to take photos from inside the taxfree shop at Copenhagen Airport, a stunning shop – but was told that it wasn’t allowed … but there is no sign anywhere saying so … so I think that guard just had bad hair morning, but I didn’t argue.
    That photo of the entrance of the station is brilliant with the light on the floor and all the people in transit.
    You’re very talent.

    • Leanne Cole says:

      Thank you so much Viveka, that is great to hear.
      Private places can be really funny when you go to take photos, I have been in similar situations, had security guards come and tell me I couldn’t take photos.
      Thanks again, you are a fantastic supporter.

  8. Excellently written post Leanne. It makes me want to visit Melbourne. I look forward to more posts :>

  9. Great piece Leanne. As an ex-Melbournian your insights into a city I hold dearly allow me to see its wonders through your eyes. I particularly like image of the staircase. Thank you fr the effort and skill you put into all your work. Well done.

    • Leanne Cole says:

      Thank you Stephen, that is wonderful to hear, I hope I can continue to do it. No need to thank me, I really appreciate all the support.

  10. Philippa says:

    A really enjoyable post Leanne. I live in Adelaide but love Melbourne, its architecture, art, coffee and atmosphere! Your love of Melbourne shows here. The image of Flinders St Station from the inside is brilliant. Surpasses all the usual ones! And the rhythms of the library staircase and books are fascinating. Congratulations on your first appearance on this Photographers site.

    • Leanne Cole says:

      Thank you Philippa, it is great that you can see how much I love it, I will have to find more images, or better yet, take more to show everyone. Thanks again.

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