Melbourne (metro)

Melbourne is a city that is fairly young by international standards. It has some architectue that Australian's refer to as 'Victorian' (from the period of Queen Victoria). During the Victorian Gold Rush a few people made vast fortunes, but many more people become wealthy enough to create nice houses and to fund nice buildings. As with any large city, there are considerable amounts of potential photographs here from architecture to people to events to zoos and gardens. I tend to like old building, but I am not overly fond of 'cityscapes' or sky scrapers. I particarly like the gardens of Melbourne.

1. Flinders St Station
2. Yarra River
3. Exhibition Buildings
4. Shrine of Remberance
5. Laneways of Melbourne
6. Docklands
7. Webb Bridge
8. Birrarung Marr
9. Werribee Mansion
10. Princes Pier

Flinders St Station ///whips.simple.years (-37.818076, 144.967056)

For more details see Flinders St Station

Viewpoints

The station can be photographed from almost 360 degrees, and given some thought, from different elevations. Finding a new viewpoint is challenging though.

1. From diagionally across the road at St Pauls. This is a classic view. It needs a wide angle lens (24 mm or less) and there is likely to be traffic to content with. The easiest way to deal with the traffic is to take multiple exposures to delete the moving objects.
2. From Federation Square. 'Fed Square' is over Swanston St (called St Kilda Rd at this point) from the station. Federation Square is an interesting place to photograph in its own right. Photos of the station from here though have to content with the traffic going down St Kilda Road, but also a lot of fixed infrastructure.
3. From Flinders St (west). Walking down Flinders St to the west, there are several views of the side of the station. The station goes for at least two blocks. One of the key pedestrian access points is from Elizabeth St, and there is a substantial entrance way here. Further west still are the unusual 'vaults' at Banana Alley.
4. From Princes Bridge. Princes Bridge is a good spot for any keen photographer to visit anyhow, and it is only 50M from the station. From here there are good shots of Southbank, the city, and the Station.
5. From Southbank. Southbank is directly south of the station, on the banks of the Yarra. (yep, an inventive name) From here you can see the 'other side' of the station from the view on Flinders St. As there is no traffic this side, I prefer the view this side. It does lack the entrance way that is on Elizabeth St though. It is easy to walk west down Southbank, to cross the pedestrian bridge, visit the Casino, or have a cup of coffee or lunch. if you head east under St Kilda Rd, you also come to Alexander Gardens, Kings Domain (gardens) and over the Swan St bridge, to Olympic Park, Birrarung Marr and back to Flinder St.
6. From Sandridge Bridge. The Sandridge Bridge is a pedestrian Bridge over the Yarra between Flinders St Station and Southbank. The Bridge itself is interesting, and there are good photos to be had up and down the Yarra of the city, Flinders St, and Southbank.

About Flinders St

Flinders Street Railway Station was, and still is, the main the surburban railway station for Melbourne. It has also been a meeting place for Victorians for many decades, and as it is unchanged from the 1940's, it also features in historiacal films and television shows of Melbourne. Right opposite is the Young and Jackson hotel, which is also a very old and well known watering hole for Aussies.

How to get there

The Station is at the corner of Swanston St and Flinders St. This is effectively the southern border of the Melbourne Central Business District, and within a few blocks walk of any of the main hotels. It is of course the main railway terminus, on the main tram routes, and a key intersection. i.e. you can get there just about any way you like within Melbourne. Via car, there is good parking in Flinders St, just to the west and east of Swanston St.

Accessability

As a key public transport hub, the station is well equiped for wheelchair access. The roads and paths are essentially flat for a block or two around the station, so it is quite suitable for easy walking or bike riding, etc.

Best time to visit

The station operates 24X7, and the weather in Melbourne is mild. There is no season that is better than another to visit. If a visit to the station is accompanied by a visit to the nearby gardens, then spring / summer is perhaps better. However, Melbourne is famous for '4 seasons in one day' meaning that there can be quite sunny times in winter and showers in Summer. In terms or photographing the station, the key issue is people. During the day, the station is quite busy, and the streets are full of traffic. If you are looking for a busy scene, then this is fine. However, if you are looking to record the architecture, you are better off around dawn and dusk when both the numbers of pedestrians and vehicles reduce, but also the lights on the building come on to give is a warm, lived in feel.

Where stay

Melbourne has many many hotels, hostels and caravan parks. The caravan parks tend to be out on the fringe of the city. I am not aware of any camping grounds within an hour or so of the city.

How I photographed the Station

What I took - what was in my kit

I took my LowePro Backpack loaded with Linhof Technorama with Velvia 50 film for the panorama, and Canon 5DSR body, Canon 24 mm TS, Canon 16-35mm and 50mm Sigma Art Lenses, Manfrotto 190 Tripod, and of course a range of lens wipes, spare batteries, sunscreen and bug repellant.

Techniques

My chosen view point was from across the road, at the steps of St Paul's cathederal. There is a small alcove there that is almost made for photographers. My style for this photograph was my normal style.

The only problem with this viewpoint, is that, as it diagonally across the corner of two busy roads and looking at a major pedestrian transport hub -- was the amount of traffic obstructing the view. I like to capture the Station without people, or with very few people. I also like the warm, lived in feel that comes with it having the lights on. I therefore captured it at dusk (after some laneway photos nearby earlier in the day) and I used multiple exposures to 'erase' the cars and pedestrians.

Yarra River

Exhibition Buildings

Shrine of Remberance

Laneways of Melbourne

Docklands

Webb Bridge

Birrarung Marr

Werribee Park

Princes Pier

Viewpoints

Melbourne, like most major cities, has a vast array of different ways in which it can be concieved. It has modern architecture, people, victorian architecture, a 'feel', street art, rivers, shops, and semi-unique items such as trams. Before you can talk about viewpoints, you must talk about the subjects that the photographer is trying to cover.

I have photographed aspects of Melbourne many times. I always take a back pack loaded with what I expect to use on the trip, but what I expect to use changes depending on my subjects. Tilt-shift lenses for street art and architecture. Wide angle lenses for rivers, landscapes and parks.

Other things to look out for

I suggest anyone looking to visit Melbourne go online, or go to a tourist information site and find the sort of thing that they are keen to see. Lots of people go to the wineries, beaches, and penguin parades.

Location