My fourth autumn in Melbourne. My favourite season here due to the colourful trees, cooler temperatures, and the way the light hits on the landscape on accord of the sun sitting lower in the sky. From April through July I shot a couple of rolls of Portra 160 film with the Voigtlander 40mm and 58mm prime lenses. Selected here are photographs from a few day trips. On reflection, no grand landscapes. Instead, wide open apertures, shallow depth of field, and colourful scenes. A combination of factors that shooting on film can render more magically than digital.
The two photographs above were taken on a loop walk around Dandenong forest. From Belgrave train station you can spend anywhere from an hour to the whole day walking around trails. Cockatoos, flying overhead, conduct verbal warfare from outposts atop eucalyptus trees. Occasionally you’ll see squadrons flying in formation moving from one area of forest to the next.
On another day we took the train on the same line, hopped off at Upper Fern Tree Gully station, and took the bus up the hills to Olinda. Great pie shop, go there. Five minutes walk and you’re in the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden. Early morning is best – no one around, dew on the leaves, and the low angle of light adds depth to the forest. Most of the trees in the botanic garden are introduced varieties, so expect every shade of colour from yellow to red. Surrounding the botanic gardens are the typical gum trees, standing tall and green no matter what time of year.
Williamstown. Always good for a walk around the peninsula. Below is a frame I’ve lined up before but the composition has never worked. On this day the clouds parted and drew a leading line into the frame. My eyes didn’t consciously see it at first, but it’s what makes this frame work. Bonus points for the reflection of the blue sky showing a more subtle leading line across the water.
