Tag Archives: Urban Photography

A new Lane explored

While on a lunch-time wander around town I noticed a large colourful mural in a Lane off Lonsdale St – Drewery Lane. Having a good look around, I explored the art work in the lane. There are actually two ajoining lanes with some interesting artwork – a mix of large murals, art installations and an  unusual building sculpture. There is also a hidden laneway bar. Below are a few of the murals in Drewery and Sniders Lanes. (part 1)

Drewery Lane, Melbourne CBD

Drewery Lane, Melbourne CBD

Drewery Lane, Melbourne CBD

Drewery Lane, Melbourne CBD

Sniders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Sniders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Sniders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Sniders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Sniders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Sniders Lane, Melbourne CBD

 

Hosier Lane Updates

While my focus over Winter and Spring has been heading into the wilds for hours of serenity (and bird pics), I have still been visiting my usual city haunts and exploring for new sites. I walked down Hosier Lane, in Melbourne CBD, a while back and took a few shots of colourful and interesting works.

Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD,

Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD,

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Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD,

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Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD,

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Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD,

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Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD,

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Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD,

Hosier Lane Art and Selfie Tourists

The ever changing laneways of Melbourne

I often walk through the laneways of Melbourne CBD looking for changes,  new art and really anything of interest. I revisited my favourite laneways this week and while walking down and around AC/DC Lane and into Duckboard Place, I squeezed past several tradesmen trucks and walked on to look for new material. Something was not right so I back-tracked and realised that one of the best pieces in the Lane had gone and new/old windows had suddenly appeared. The whole building has been gutted and the old windows have been restored after being bricked up for so long. Duckboard Place (extension Lane of AC/DC Lane) has had a few changes as well. An expensive new restaurant is about to  open up and the whole wall opposite has been covered with small advertising billboards. I guess the locals advertisers have realised how popular the area is – the problem will be that no-one will bother any more as the street art has gone and there is not any space to put up anything else. I certainly don’t mind progress and restoring the old buildings and giving them new life and purpose, I am just a little disappointed that a favourite piece has gone. Most pieces last only a day or so before being tagged and covered but ACDC Lane is different and the art has lasted months.

Bird Street Art, ACDC Lane, 9 June 2015

Bird Street Art, ACDC Lane, 9 June 2015

Bird Street Art II, ACDC Lane, 10 Aug 2015

ACDC Lane, 10 Aug 2015

Bird Street Art II, ACDC Lane, 10 Aug 2015

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July Street Art Updates III

Along with mural style street art on walls there are also quite a few street art objects. Many are hidden away and need someone to point them out, others are right in front of you but don’t last long due to the temporary nature of street art. Anything that is meant to survive needs to be robust. There are some interesting, funny and strange pieces in Hosier Lane. The second skull image below has been many colours (just black when I first saw it) and has been altered a number of times. This is one of the most colourful incarnations I have seen so far. As usual many of the walls have been re-sprayed including what is becoming my favourite corner.

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

The ever changing life size skull

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

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Street Art, Hosier Lane

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Street Art, Hosier Lane

My favourite corner – the art work here changes every time I visit. 

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Artist

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Layers of art

July Street Art Updates

Earlier in the month I photographed some of the new work in a few of the regular sites. The hard part of photographing the work is to get there before the taggers and the next artist with an idea and plenty of spray paint – some really nice pieces are gone overnight.

Street Art, Union Lane

Street Art, Union Lane

Street Art, Union Lane

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Street Art, Union Lane

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Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

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Street Art, Hosier Lane

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Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Artist – finished work to follow

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, Hosier Lane

Street Art, ACDC Lane

Street Art, ACDC Lane

Street Art, ACDC Lane

Street Art, ACDC Lane








 

Hosier Lane Street Art

I walked down Hosier Lane a few weeks ago to check for new art and found a few nice pieces that were fairly new and mostly untouched. The black and white Pirate scene was particularly good, very large and impressive (language warning – sorry Mum). Also in the new collection was a memorial piece.

Hosier Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

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Hosier Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

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Hosier Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

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Hosier Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

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Hosier Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

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Hosier Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

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Hosier Lane Selfies

I walked through Hosier Lane yesterday to check the latest wall art and found quite a few people visiting – many internationals, including a Spanish family, who I kept seeing around where I was photographing. I ended up taking a few street shots of them as well as they were funny to watch, enjoying themselves. I was using my very wide angle lens so I could not stand right back and pretend that I was doing anything other than taking photos of them…other than a quick glance they did not seem to mind at all

Hosier Lane,Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane,Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane Selfie

Hosier Lane Selfie

Hosier Lane Selfie

Hosier Lane Family Selfie

Hosier Lane Tourists, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane Tourists – mum using the Selfie stick – it took her a few goes at trying to photograph them rather than herself (and I think me over her shoulder)

Hosier Lane Tourists, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane Tourists – hamming it up,  and another couple taking a selfie

My own Hosier Lane Selfie

My own Hosier Lane Selfie – I thought I would give it a go as well…no smiling please this is serious…

Protest and Statement Street Art

At various street art sites you can always find good examples of protest and statement art. They are usually much smaller and one needs to look in the out of the way places along the laneway walls. The pictures below were taken in the last week.

Protest and Statement Art, Duckboard Place

 Statement Art, Duckboard Place

Protest and Statement Art, Hosier Lane

Statement Art, Hosier Lane

Protest and Statement Art, Duckboard Place

Protest and Statement Art, Duckboard Place

Protest and Statement Art, Duckboard Place

Duckboard Place

Odd Melbourne: Shopfronts and displays

It is not everyday that you find a giant cross in the window display of a clothing  shop.  Apparently the shop has a “unique style with sophisticated quirk”.

Shopfront, Flinders Lane

Shopfront, Flinders Lane

And this Building display window has been converted into the seating area for about 5 customers for the Switchboard Cafe – one of the tiniest cafes in Melbourne with a small hole in the wall for coffee and food prep –  room for one,  under the stairwell of the Manchester Unity Building – where the old electrical switchboard was located.

Switchboard Cafe, Manchester Unity Building

Switchboard Cafe, Manchester Unity Building

Graffiti Birds

Birds and Street Art, a great combination…

Birds, ACDC Lane

Birds, ACDC Lane

Bird, Hosier Lane,

Bird, Hosier Lane,

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Bird, Union Lane

Union Lane Colour

I often walk down Union Lane to check out the large colourful works along the walls. In the last few weeks quite a few good quality pieces have suddenly gone up and I took advantage of some clear weather and good light to take a few shots.

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Union Lane Street Art, Melbourne CBD

Secret Places – disappearing Melbourne

A little laneway off Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD,  leads to a dead-end and an old building that won’t be long for this world…

Old Building

Not a lot of time left for this old Building

Off the hip: Bookstore window

A bit of a wonky shot. Shooting from the hip takes a little getting used to. I liked the shop window display – it had a busy-ness that appealed to me with the books covering random subjects.  After processing I realised that there was not a single book displayed that I have read. I did find one on birds that I will have to go back and possibly purchase. From memory it was 6 books for $50 not Books for $50 – my wonky aim again…

Melb CBD Bookstore

Melb CBD Discount Bookstore – click to enlarge

Off the Hip: Eyes of Youth?

Part of the “Shooting from the hip” series.

Drops of Youth?

Drops of Youth?

Things you find in the Street

Walking along Bourke Street looking for interesting angles I came across this guy and his two friends standing at the Corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets.

Swanton St Statue

Smoko break on Swanston Street.