Down and out /  by Mario Mirabile

The weekly lunchtime photo walks at work have been back for about two months now. There's an enthusiastic core of intrepid walkers who show up week in and week out, rain or shine, plus a few others who occasionally rise to the challenge. It's an enjoyable way to spend some time, and we'll all get together a few days later and review the results of our efforts. The hardest part of the whole process has always been selecting a topic which offers some creative challenge, while still being achievable within an hour or so and a relatively short distance from our workplace.

I had resolved to pick a word at random and let people make of it whatever they would, but that hasn't eventuated yet. I have, however, tried to mix in a few topics that are a bit more conceptual. So far we've ranged from rectangles and doors through to convergence and minimalism. For the last couple of weeks we've been planning to do chiaroscuro, a technique utilizing strong contrasts between light and shadow, but the weather hasn't co-operated. This week we ended up with "DOWN", which turned out to be harder than it sounds. Hopefully the weather will be kinder this week.

Vanishing point /  by Mario Mirabile

Our brains are very good at picking up and following  visual cues, and one of the strongest cues are converging lines. They literally act like funnels, drawing us into an image. Artists have long been aware of their power and used them to trap a viewer's attention and hold their interest. Our eyes will tend to follow the lines to their meeting point, and if there is something of interest at that point, so much the better. 

Webb of intrigue /  by Mario Mirabile

Webb dock is the largest container facility in the Port of Melbourne. In 1986, a new rail line was built to connect the dock to the West Melbourne rail yards. The bends in the newly constructed line proved to be impractically sharp, and with pressure from the accelerating development of the Docklands, the line was decommissioned in 1992. Seeing an opportunity to utilize the existing infrastructure, a prize was offered as part of a larger public art project to convert the rail bridge for pedestrian and bicycle use.

The result was Webb Bridge, connecting Docklands Park at the northern end to the Yarra's Edge development on the south bank. The northern recycled portion had a few hoops thrown across it to add interest, but it is the sinuous extension at the southern end that really catches the eye. Representing a stylized Aboriginal eel trap, it almost feels alive as it curves down to the river bank. In the right light, from within and without, it offers endless photographic possibilities from almost any angle. These were shot at sundown, so I just need to work up the resolve to get there before dawn on a still morning.  Not tomorrow though – perhaps the next day.

Much ado about not much /  by Mario Mirabile

Through most of last year, I organised weekly lunchtime photo walks with work colleagues. The concept was simple enough - pick a day, send out invitations, then wrack my brains for a suitable theme. While simple enough in principle, the selection of a theme often caused me a lot of trouble. It needed to be accessible, achievable within an hour or so over the course of a lunchtime, and not too repetitive despite being restricted in the area we could cover in the time available. Sometimes, inspiration eluded me, leading to some topics which were rather mundane or which just pain didn't work well. Even so, someone always managed to find interesting ways to interpret the theme, and over the course of the year we produced some real gems between us.

I had to stop the walks toward the end of the year as my back problems caught up with me. But now, after surgery, I'm getting back into the swing of things and the walks are back in business. I'm determined to be a bit more adventurous with themes this year, but the constraints imposed by the time limit are still proving to be a pain. A couple of weeks back, I set the group the task of "minimalism" , and it resulted in some really interesting images. Perhaps I shouldn't worry too much about being too abstract, and go with the idea I had of choosing a word at random from the dictionary, and letting people be as interpretive as they like.

This week's word is "convergence"

Hello, sailor /  by Mario Mirabile

The area to the west of Melbourne's CBD was originally a swamp. As Melbourne grew, its need for more extensive port facilities grew with it. The 1880s saw the Yarra River re-routed and widened, and the swamp became a sprawling network of docks, rail yards and industry. The docks thrived for 70 years till the rise of cargo containerization saw a gradual reduction in the need for port facilities, and large areas fell into disuse and disrepair.

By the 1980s, the docklands were considered a blight on the city, and the first plans to sell off the old swamp for redevelopment were put in place. Progress was slow, and for the next 10 years the area was most noted for its underground rave party scene. Things finally got moving in the late 90s, and office towers, apartment blocks, and even a new sports stadium sprang out of the ground. The area is still developing, and construction shows little sign of slowing down. The abundance of waterfront real estate has luxury apartment developers licking their chops, and even the docks are back in use. Only now, the berths are filled with luxury yachts.

Tickets please /  by Mario Mirabile

Melbourne has the world's largest tram network, comprising 250 kilometres of track, 500 trams and 2000 tram stops. With 200,000,000 passenger trips every year, they are the most used form of public transport after trains. Operating continuously since 1884 in one form or another, they have become an integral part of Melbourne's image and culture. Originally operating as horse drawn vehicles, they progressed through a complex (and presumably very dangerous) cable drawn mechanism, to the electric system drawing power from overhead wires still in use today. They are robust and reliable, and many of the venerable W-Class vehicles originating in the 20s are still in use today. They are so much a part of the road system that they have given rise to one of the most interesting traffic control measures in the world - the bizarre hook turn, designed to facilitate their co-existence with cars.

A good place to bone up on their history is the Melbourne Tram Museum, located in the old Hawthorn Tram Depot in Wallen Road, Hawthorn. It houses restored examples of many of the models to have graced the rails over the years, together with a large assortment of tram related ephemera. It's a bit of a squeeze, but it's interesting to see relics of an era when elegance of form was as important as function. There's lots of polished timber, ornate wrought iron, rich leather, and even the odd stained glass panel. Most people will come to see the the trams, but for me the greatest treasure in the place is Norm.

Volunteer guide Norm worked on the trams for nearly 50 years, as a tradesman, driver and unofficial historian. His encyclopaedic knowledge of not only the network, but also of individual trams, is nothing short of astounding. Every detailed story - and he has many, which he relates at length - includes the identification number of all the trams involved. His love of trams is evident, and no trip to the museum would be complete without following him around as he relives the glory days of these Melbourne icons.

A la mode /  by Mario Mirabile

Photographing musicians can be a real challenge.  In a performance setting, lighting and getting good access without interfering with the performance are significant obstacles to overcome. Portraits of individuals or groups are another matter entirely. The challenge here is to capture the character and spirit of the performers when they aren't actually performing. 

I was recently invited to accompany a friend who was going to shoot his son's band, Lazarus Mode. They had recently replaced their bass player and were looking to update their profile pictures. The chosen location was a dusty and cluttered warehouse which occasionally doubled as a TV studio. We managed to conjure a few interesting shots, but decided there was more promise outside. The members all tried to maintain an air of cool indifference to the process, but occasionally let their guard drop and showed they were enjoying being the focus of attention. They're a charismatic bunch, particularly the lead singer, Jake. They frequently play around Melbourne,  so why not try to catch a gig. You can find out where they're playing at www.lazarusmode.com .

Water, water everywhere /  by Mario Mirabile

Australia is generally seen as a hot, dry continent.This is certainly true of the vast interior, but the climate varies quite dramatically. The far north  has a tropical monsoon climate, while the far south is quite temperate. We have wide variations, but on the whole we're not subjected to the wild extremes of heat and frigid cold seen in similar latitudes in the large continental land masses of the Northern Hemisphere.

The south east corner of the continent is, perhaps, the most moderate, as the concentration of population in this part of the country attests. We've had our droughts and dust storms in recent years, and our use of water was severely restricted as recently as five years ago. But for the time being at least, the creeks are flowing and the storages are nearly full. Nevertheless, we shouldn't take this relative abundance for granted - the next drought could be just around the corner.

Winter is coming /  by Mario Mirabile

Autumn is usually Melbourne's best season. It starts warm as summer reluctantly releases its grip, passes through gloriously soft sunny days, then almost imperceptibly gives way to the wet misery of winter. This year though, after a cooler than normal summer, autumn has failed to deliver on its usual promise, and is succumbing to winter with barely a whimper. The forests in the nearby hills are damp and dripping, the leaves have mostly fallen, and the toadstools are proudly showing their colours in the leaf litter.  There's nothing for it but to rug up and crack open a bottle of port. Cheers.

Linearity /  by Mario Mirabile

The line is the most basic formal element in art. Depending on how it is used, it can convey space, rest and repose, movement, stability or chaos. It can cause the eye to wander, or it can tightly constrain it. Lines can be made into detailed drawings, and yet the simplest squiggle can suggest the most complex of ideas. 

I was recently presented with the challenge of producing work on the theme of "lines and curves". These pictures came about in quite different ways - one was stumbled across as I walked, and the other was carefully constructed. Both feature strong linear elements, yest they couldn't be further apart in mood and feel. That's the versatility of the line at work.

Blitzing /  by Mario Mirabile

Each year the City of Kingston conducts a competition called ArtzBlitz as part of the arts program. The concept is simple - at 5:00 PM on Friday a  one word theme is announced, and the entrants have 24 exactly hours to conceive, execute and deliver a finished work to the town hall. There are various categories - 2D, 3D, digital media, youth and children. To complete the quick turn-around, the entries are judged and the winners announced on Sunday afternoon. I entered the 2D section last year and was fortunate enough to win second prize. Encouraged by this success, I was foolish enough to enter two categories this year - 2D and digital media. Naturally, this meant I would have to come up with two concepts, shoot and pros-process them, and in one case print, mount and frame the finished work.

This year's theme was "FUSION". I workshopped a few ideas with my wife and some friends over dinner and a few drinks, then went hope to start work on my digital entry. This kept me up till 2AM, but at least I felt confident I had the shots I needed. Next morning I worked on these till until my model got out of bed, then shot the second concept. This one didn't come together as well or as quickly as I hoped, and by the time I had it printed and framed, I was sick of the sight of it. I delivered my pieces to the Town hall, and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

This is the result - "Fusion Inc." and "Funky Fusion". No accolades for me this year, but when I saw Funky Fusion hanging in the gallery, I was much more pleased with it than I had been the day before. Perhaps  I can bring myself to do a bit more work on it.

The entries are exhibited at the Kingston Arts Centre, Moorabbin till May 30th.

The future of Anzac Day /  by Mario Mirabile

The celebration of Anzac Day began as early as 1916, just one year after the Gallipoli landings. It quickly became an established national day of commemoration for the fallen, and continued to grow in prominence up to the years following WWII. The unpopularity of the Vietnam War, together with a growing acknowledgement of the violence and atrocities committed in war, saw the day become somewhat controversial through the 60s and 70s. Attendances at commemorative services dropped, and interest in the day itself waned.

However, as the number of surviving WWI veterans decreased, the 80s saw an international resurgence of interest in the history of the war. Attendances at Anzac services gradually increased, and the revival of interest was particularly noticeable among the young. Whether this was due to a new found respect for the service of previous generations, or a desire not to repeat the mistakes of the past, the number of young faces quickly grew to outnumber the old. And perhaps by having a deeper understanding of where Australia has been in the past, they will develop a better appreciation of where it should go in the future. They are, after all, the ones who will be taking it there.