let there be light

When I traveled in Victoria's High Country during one autumn, I was finally going to have a chance to capture 'mountain light'. In the mountains, the atmosphere is different. There is haze & mist, casting colours & softness in light rays. Peaks are illuminated by the setting & rising sun, while deep shadows are cast in valleys.

old rail

I remember I was once seeking an old port. I wanted to add a rusty touch to a seascape in dim light. However, my reach to places around is limited, especially at night since I do not own a car--one reason why I haven't fully explored all the beaches around Melbourne. That day, I happened to be at St Kilda. After sunset, I came by this, and decided to settle (for now) my quest with it.

eternal flame

If you travel around Australia, you will see War Memorials in almost every city & bigger town. For the Australians, those fallen in wars have a permanent place in their hearts: lest we forget, these fellows died defending what we are & have today. The War Shrines in capital cities, like this one in Melbourne, are stately, majestic & solemn--a testament to the profound fondness attributed to the fallens.

peace be with you

I usually like to make small items stand taller in pictures. More often than not, I would lie down next to small things on ground, rather than shooting downward. It gives a totally different perspective--what they would appear to be if we were to stand face to face with them--as well as the stature denied to them in their daily encounter with us.

St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne. It has been one of the places that captured my eyes immediately upon my first arrival in Melbourne. Magnificent as the exterior is, I had since wanted to have some interior shots of this one of the landmarks of Melbourne. My somewhat elusive opportunity came on Melbourne Open House 2009 day.

leaflet

I had just got my first prime lens--50mm f/1.8D--and was very keen on seeing what this little cheap glass could do. 50mm on a camera with an APS-C sensor (like D300) translates to about 75mm in a normal format, and thus a moderate tele. As such, not exactly a typical landscape lens. It so happened that my initial test-subjects turned out to be, yes, leaves.