We took a short trip to Melbourne in the weekend. This is for me the first time on a plane in over two years, which is a record of some sort (but I am sure I am not alone).
The unplanned, unguided and basiclly unscripted trip, totalling a late flight in, a day wandering and an early morning out had a much stronger effect on me than the short duration would indicate.
I photographed for the first time in over two years with absolutely no pressures applied. No work requirements, no self inflicted expectations, no “theme” or “style” assumed. Just wander and shoot*.
Nice to see people out, without the tell-tale COVID requirements.
Melbourne supplied relatively exotic sights, great light and a street friendly populace.
Big cities, especially on sunny days early or late, tend to glow with reflected light.
I must admit to feeling a little unsettled the whole trip, which I put down to the novelty and relative fragility of travel these days, but once moving, it melted away, replaced by exploration and anticipation.
“Glowacious” as one of the Western boys would say.
The trip even seemed to stir something more up in me. Hot on the heels of a general malaise I have been feeling with both my photography and gaming (not video, loving that), I hatched a sceme on the plane trip home that was realised today, netting me two rooms of the house better employed for both hobbies/jobs.
I now have a nicer space for gaming, with no monster table dominating the space (switching to Matts has allowed me a “set up-pull down” table dynamic) and a small studio. Small meaning upper body portraits and tests only, but enough room to do these well (roughly 4x3m) and my growing collection of photo/video gear is well organised finally. There is also plenty of room to set up my 7x5 table in that space when needed.
*EPM-2 on a 60” cross body strap, 17mm f1.8 in aperture priority ranging from f1.8 to f5.6 and either in AF (wide central area) or zone focus MF set to 2m.