Sunday, 8 September 2013

Portrait Photography Melbourne Perfect Venues

By Helene Norris


When making arrangements for portrait photography Melbourne, why not aim for something different, something outside the stuffy confines of a photographer's studio. Take a look around at some of the city's scenic areas and 19th century architecture for inspiration. Make your portrait memorable.

The City of Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. The greater metropolitan area, with a total population of some 4.5 million, takes in 30 municipalities in addition to the state capital. Situated in a sheltered nook off Port Phillip Bay. Looking out over the Bass Strait, you can see Tasmania on a clear day.

The night time skyline is awesome, with the bay reflecting a myriad of colored lights. Perhaps impractical for a portrait shoot, but beautiful enough to be worth mentioning whenever possible. Better backdrops for your photograph are some of the city's old buildings from the 19th century, which is a lot longer ago than you may imagine. One of these landmarks is Flinders Street Station. It was built in 1854, when it was the first-ever city railway station in Australia. Inspired by French Renaissance buildings, it holds both a clock tower as well as a large dome.

Another lovely building is the Shrine of Remembrance on St Kilda Road. It was built in the first instance as a memorial to those soldiers who had given their lives in the First World War. Today, it honors all of Australias soldiers who have served in all wars. One of the biggest such memorials in Australia, it was inspired by the Tomb of Mausolus in Halicarnassus and the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Both of these edifices are clearly represented in this starkly beautiful structure.

What sports fan wouldn't want to incorporate Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) into his portrait. Cricket whites are compulsory. The stadium itself is located in Yarra Park, right off the river. To get an idea of the massive scale of the ground, compare it to the Olympic Stadium situated due south and right on the Yarra River. Compared to MCG, it looks the size of a high school swimming pool.

Another perfect background is formed by the Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building. This structure was constructed in the late 19th century in order to hold the Melbourne International Exhibition. One of the few buildings of its kind left standing in the world, it was granted World Heritage Status in 2004 by UNESCO. Perhaps the best time to use this building for a backdrop is when the huge field of tulips is in full bloom.

This beautiful city has so much more to offer than lovely old buildings. Try Williamstown Botanic Garden for an area of natural outdoor beauty. The only problem you will have is deciding which of the beautiful exhibits to use as a backdrop. Here, you can try looking for your favorite plants or trees and sit for your photo there. Alternatively, just wander around, find a nice spot and shoot.

Even if none of these ideas for portrait photography Melbourne doesn't quite suit you, at least you have an idea of the broad range of alternatives that the city has to offer. Try one. It is infinitely more creative than sitting in front of a blue background grinning like an idiot in a photographic studio.




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