My last few shots from the Elwood Blues Club birthday bash on December 8th. Christine Manetta sang a hot set which even featured a Doors number.
Din 'n' Dodd /
Dan Dinnen and Greg Dodd were the headline act for the Elwood Blues Club's first birthday bash at the Greyhound Hotel. Both are animated performers (Greg on guitar and vocals, Dan on guitar, harmonica and vocals) and they played a powerful mix of standards and original compositions to an appreciative audience. All they missed was "Happy Birthday"!
Adrian (or don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player...) /
Adrian Reeves is a regular keyboard/vocals performer at the Elwood Blues club. He plays with serious intensity and lots of flourishes, but will occasionally break into a wide, twinkle eyed grin which betrays how much fun he's really having. An entertaining and fun to watch performer.
Salty blues /
Salty runs the Elwood Blues Club. It's not strictly a club (it's a weekly event at a pub) and it's not in Elwood (it's in the neighbouring suburb of St. Kilda), but you've all seen the Blues Brothers, so you can guess where he got the name. Salty not only organizes the night, but is also a regular performer on vocals and harmonica.
It's a free event with a different headline act each week. It's on every Sunday from 5:00PM at the Greyhound Hotel in St. Kilda, and was the club's first birthday in the current venue. Well worth attending if you're free. You can find more information at www.salty.com.au.
Anyone for coffee? /
Central Melbourne was originally laid out of a regular grid of broad streets north of the Yarra River. The major public buildings, businesses and grand residences filled the main streets, while the smaller and seedier businesses and factories occupied the smaller east-west streets. These had names often prefixed with a "Little", the balance of the name matching that of it's neighboring major thoroughfare. A further step down in prestige was the maze of laneways and alleys which ran between streets major and minor, and behind buildings, offering places to dump rubbish and the occasional body.
Today, the lanes and alleys have become Melbourne institutions and something of a tourist drawcard. Tour guides are available to lead you through the maze of byways which are frequently adorned with elaborate street art. Others have sprouted cafes like mushrooms in spring, often appearing in he most confined and unlikely places. If you like coffee, come to Melbourne. You won't be able to walk 10 paces without finding yet another spot to satisfy your caffeine craving.
Wet, wet, wet /
There's a spot at Southbank which produces brilliant reflections just after rain. There's something about the short strip of pavement on the south side of the river just west of Princes Bridge. It doesn't take long for the water to dissipate and the reflections to fade when the rain stops, but if you get the timing right any you're lucky with the light, it can be quite spectacular. There's also good shelter under the bridge and around the Arts Centre, so you don't have to suffer too much for your art by getting soaked.
Well, today the timing was good for an after work shoot, but unfortunately the light wasn't great and the sky fairly leaden. As it was the commuting hour, I concentrated on cyclists of which there were plenty. There was also a lot of rowers hitting the river from the boat sheds, so I played around there for a while as well. I'm not sure the direct overhead perspective of the rowers from the bridge provides the best image, but I only had a wide zoom with me so it was the best I could do. It was also quite windy so the river was chopped up - I must get back and try it again on a still day with a longer lens.
A little luxury and ostentation /
Margaret Gurney, one of Trish's former art teachers, was having an exhibition at Yerring Station winery at Yarra Glen. As she was going to be there today, we went up with Gary and Glenda to see both Margaret and the artwork. We picnicked on the banks of the Yarra then went on to see the exhibit. Margaret's work was stunning as always. You can check it out at http://www.gurneyart.com.au .
The winery, like most of the bigger Yarra Valley wineries, has gone beyond being just a place to grow grapes and make wine. It has lovey grounds littered with sculpture, bars, cafes and a large function centre, so really it's more of a tourist destination (not to mention art gallery...). We happened to stumble on a Mercedes dealership having an event to launch a new model. We didn't score an invitation, but did hang around and observe the lucky ones exiting with their gift bags, and perhaps a new set of keys.
I'm cactus! /
We caught up with Kerry and Robert on Friday. Just as we arrived, Roberts friend Eddie came across the street to show us his amazing blooming cactus. The cactus was about the size of a large bread roll, but sported six large flower spikes each about 20cm long and topped by a spectacular pink bloom. We speculated about the photographic possibilities, and despite the fact that the blooms only last about two days, Eddie offered to leave the plant there overnight so we could have a go at it the next day.
On the stairs /
I think the stairs at the Bourke St entrance to Southern Cross station provide an great photographic backdrop. The horizontals of the steps make anything which interrupts the pattern really stand out, and the strong lines of the hand rails frame the image strongly. All that's needed is something on the steps to provide some interest.
I spotted David as i was out for my lunchtime walk. He was sketching and seemed oblivious as I walked back and forth deciding whether to go for a candid or work up the nerve to seek his co-operation. I decided to ask if I could photograph him as he worked, and he was happy to co-operate. We had a chat and I got a couple of interesting shots before he had to leave to meet his daughter.
Helen /
My camera club has an annual portrait workshop just before our end of year function. This year our model was the lovely Helen.
The new toy /
I recently succumbed to temptation and bought a new (used) lens. It's the Olympus 35-100mm f2.0, one of the better lenses in the Olympus E-system line-up. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get out and shoot with it due to the hip replacement. Well, even though I'm still using one crutch to get about, the lure of a street festival was too much. I hobbled up to the local shopping center and tested the lens on a band performance.
The "festival" was very disappointing. The band was good, but the location of the stage was very poor. It was the wrong end of the shopping strip, and didn't make use of the Bentleigh Rotunda - there were at most 30 people watching the performance. Never the less, they gave it everything like true pros and the lens lived up to it's reputation as well.
Laid up /
I had a hip replacement on October 4 which has strangely curtailed my mobility. It's all going well, but I haven't been able to get out much and my crutches and inability to drive for the time being make lugging and using my cameras awkward.
I did get out on Saturday with Trish. After failing to get a parking spot at Half Moon Bay, we parked in one of the car parks about a kilometer up Beach Rd. It was a brilliant sunny day and we were rewarded with a stunning look over the bay from atop Red Bluff. I managed to borrow Trish's camera and snapped off a few shots which I think have a very Mediterranean feel about them.
The only problem is the high viewpoint. I'd love to get about half way down the cliff face (can't be done...), but I plan to go back in at beach level and check it out. Love to catch the Red Bluff and rock outcrop with a storm rolling up the bay.
