Last week I explored the magic of light.
In my early years, the local photographer handled everything from weddings, debs, insurance claims, business portraits and some commercial products.
They were all shot in studio. With a few props that seemed to be included in the photo as mandatory. A young lass could have the mirror, and sideboard in both her deb shots and then again in her wedding shots. As the work was hand-coloured the wall was toned to match the necessary colour scheme needed for the client’s satisfaction.
I’ve written before of the new wedding photographer who stated up, not using studio, but rather outdoor environmental portrait setting. It was a change that suited the era. It set the bench mark and the old studio would eventually fade away.
Needless to say as a young photographer, the magic of working in the outdoors and following overseas styles I quickly accepted the use of light and outdoor settings and was constantly on the lookout for the right place to work. Now I have to say that all this was before massive council restrictions, safety requirements and exorbitant insurance policies.
But light knows nothing of such things and still wraps me in its enchanting grasp.
So it’s not surprising as we were working with the young Hobbys the other day that the light through the watering of the gardens in the park should catch my attention.
Add to that the mystery of the shapes of the old ‘art in the park’ pieces and I was suddenly transported back so many years, and wishing I had at my disposal a much shorter focal length lens. The long lens just wouldn’t give me the angle of view that I might have explored.
Still.
The magic showed and I was drawn to press the shutter.
Light does that to me.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
It is interesting to look back and see how the demands on a photog have changed! And how the restrictions on where we can can work have crept up and up!
But light remains the constant.
Wonderful images that show the true art of capturing the light!
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Thanks David. No doubt you have experienced similar restrictions in outdoor (even indoor) settings. Once upon a time we’d have just set it up.
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What an intriguing photo David ! I can remember taking my family to the studio for our portrait updates and still have a photo of me my mum won as part of her prize when I won the local baby show, having been coloured tinted by hand by the photographer, showing rosy cheeks etc. 🙂 My daughter who is a professional photographer and graphic artist, found a niche in the area she lives where there are many wealthy retirees of taking the clients to a selection of beautiful coastal settings and doing family portraits when their children come to visit, she has a drone licence and now can do it from the air.
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Hello Ashley,
Glad you enjoyed the change of pace.
Hand colouring was a very interesting skill to have acquired. My local country photographer once told the story of why his 1950s Italian migrants kept coming in for sitttings. “It is,” explained one of the matriarchs, ‘because you give us such beautiful ‘blue’ eyes.”
The hand-colourist didn’t know any different and just made eyes blue. 🙂
Somewhere in the archives, is a similar photo of yours truly as a bub. I can always remember the brilliant blue eyes of that picture. Mine are far from blue. (Some would say Black like my soul) 🙂
Well done to your daughter for finding a niche. It’s one of those things that they who have walked before us have allowed us to build on.
I haven’t done weddings for over 30 years. Got roped into doing a family one this time last year.
These days the photos are simply part of the ‘experience’. Large family large groups, plenty of grandkids. We turned it into a picnic setting with fun games for the kids. Best wedding I’ve ever done.
Everything old is new again. 🙂
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I remember photographing this sculpture when it was still new. Now there are only a few left and this makes me wonder how the poor artists survive. They are not so flexible with adapting their studios to the new conditions as photographers do. This light does wonders and I see how you blew a new life into this piece using your long lens.
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Hello Adam,
Funny enough we walk past them most days we are out there. Sort of get used to them as the ‘furniture’.
It is a pity that time time has not dealt well with the pieces.
“Launched in March 2004, the Werribee Park Sculpture Walk is a permanent home to previous winners of the Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award and finalists. There was originally 30 pieces.”
OHS has rendered some of them as a hazard, and so they have been removed. Pity as some were really quite clever conceptions, The Picture Frame over the zoo being perhaps the most novel and impressive. And the now defunct sound scape which has ‘winds’ as its theme.
I was quite happy with the compression of the long lens. But it would have been quite good to have has a shorter zoom to play with the water stream and the shapes. Still. I was quite satisfied with the domination of shapes and tone.
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That’s such an interesting near abstract image David. I’m not at all familiar with the art works, so I find it quite intriguing, especially in conjunction with the line of the spray of water.
I have one of those baby portraits too, including the blue eyes, even though mine are green!
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Hi Eleanor, glad you enjoyed the visual change of pace.
Lots of time photography can just be an enjoyable creative release.
Sadly the art works are nearly all gone. Time and OHS rules have taken their toll.
This site has several of the more iconic pieces. The picture frame is still there and used daily by visitors. Cleverly located to look out over the Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Might be a good place for the beginners group to visit in the milder weather.
Here is the vic parks map.
Click to access werribee-park-visitor-guide.pdf
When I worked with colourists the thought of eye colour never came up. I guess blue was the best available. 🙂 Wash the colouring off and there is a sepia toned print under there.
From memory Marshalls were the favoured supplies of such colours.
Funny how some little memory links us all in a off-handed way. 🙂
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Thanks for the Parks Vic sheet – I shall download one. A good suggestion for the Beginners’ group, which I shall pass on to Hazel and Alan.
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Hi Eleanor,
There are a couple of really great birding spots along the river from the Mansion, if you or Alan or Hazel drop me a note I’ll plot out some opportunities in the area.
PS< also just found your Mainly Birds site.
Beaut stuff
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