Melb/Vic meetup.

[bitsnpieces]

Hm... In terms of locale, I honestly don't know much... I don't even know my own city... >_>

I'm generally cool with anything, trying to be diverse, learn everything I can, so hopefully others will have some better ideas. lol

I heard those tourist trams do go to interesting places, but I wouldn't know. Though it sounds like this may have been done before.

But was thinking, why not take something normal and make it special?
Don't know if that made sense but something I did at Airey's Inlet on New Years was when I saw a little stream of water running along two banks of sand, I tried to make it look like a canyon. Found a rock, tried to make it more like a mountain, etc. Even if it doesn't look like the real deal, it was the fun of doing it and trying to exercise some creativeness in the mind, and also play with angles. Very much like those perspective photos we see.
So taking the normal, making it special.

I had some thoughts about some night photography, wasn't sure night in the city/town, or night landscape/stars. That will depend on time though - for me, I'm flexible. So depending on people's schedule and how long they want to be up for, that may provide some insight to where you may begin and end our journey since location will depend on interests.

So those are my ideas I guess - after some technical stuff to learn more about photography and our cameras, some kind of creative work for fun, and night work to end it majestically.

[OzzyDevil]

Do I get lessons lol i will take photos of anything lol..

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[geoffsta]

I can start at any hour of the morning, and finish any hour of the night (As long there is plenty of coffee).
As there will be a few new comers, I'd like to demonstrate a few styles of photography. Like Long Shutter speed, A bit of portraiture using ourselves as models, street photography, use of filters and working in manual. Just to name a few.

I'd suggest starting at St Kilda pier, and work our way into the city. Possibly do a bit of stuff in Hosie Lane. Then catch a few buskers along Southbank. Another good thing could be visit a camera shop, and get Arthur to explain the good and bad things about different bits of gear.. Just my thoughts...

[Speedway]

I start hunting for another car on Monday (I have been without a reliable vehicle since Christmas) and may be in Melbourne around this date so I maybe a late inclusion.
Cheers
Keith.

[arthurking83]

......

I'd suggest starting at St Kilda pier, and work our way into the city. ....

This sounds good. Only issue is weather. If it rains we'll just get drenched.

......and get Arthur to explain the good ...

Anything Nikon!

........... and bad things about different bits of gear..

Anything not Nikon!


I'm kind'a thinking we should plan the meeting point somewhere where we can all easily park, or get to by public transport.
Then do a loop of the sorts of things we all want to see/do.

Easiest parking close to the city that I can think of is near the gardens/shrine area. A few coins will get you all day parking. From there we could easily walk into the city along St Kilda road.
From memory(not sure on this):

the tourist tram ambles it's way up Flinders St(lots of typical street type scenes) and then along Spring St.
Spring St has the govt buildings and Fitzroy gardens(looking nice ATM with the autumn leaves everywhere).

It then heads back down to docklands along Latrobe St. We could do a detour down Elizabeth St and into the photo shop precinct.

Get back onto the tram towards docklands or walk up to the Vic market if folks want.

Head down to docklands do some docks/watery stuff, head back up into the city to complete the loop.

Sunset is at about 5:30ish, so night/dark/long exposure stuff is easily accounted for .. say along the river/southbank/Casino/back to Hoiser Ln areas which puts us all back in the Stkilda Road area where we would have parked our cars.


This is NOT a plan .. just a rough idea that we can all work on once we're all together.

[MissionMan]

What about the option of a sunset in Port Melbourne at Princes Pier. It's a 15 minute trip from the city and closer to st kilda.

[OzzyDevil]

Quick question.. Don't u need a myki to travel on trams and stuff ? And I guess I need to bring my tripod too ? Other than that I am in for sure

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[bitsnpieces]

I think we should have a Plan A if all goes well, and Plan B if there's rain.

And yeah, bring tripods just incase

I think the plan arthurking83 put up sounds great, but I would be in with MissionMan on the end bit - maybe sunset at Princes Pier and the night photography around there could be cool.

I think what this is going to come down to is, do we want a sunset (because I don't know what sort of scenery is at Princes Pier for night shots - if there is, then no problems, sunset and the night stuff there is good), or the river/Southbank/Crown, etc, where there's lots of nice things?

As mentioned, I know nothing about my city, so I'm following all of you :P

[arthurking83]

Apologies sunset is closer to 5 pm.

I don't bet on sunsets in Melbourne could be spectacular .. could be bleak.
But, Princess pier sounds good .. (depending on weather).

[Filter]

Was keen as mustard to join the walk......and then I checked out my shift roster, dam....day shift. It all sounds like a great concept. Have a great time, looking forward to seeing some results.

Filter.

[bitsnpieces]

Well, you still got the night portion of it

[Jodieh1]

The meet up sounds great however what time of the day are you looking at this will depend on my availability. I am keen but will be travelling from regional Victoria. What type of things to you guys do on these meet ups and how long generally are they for. Im new to this and would love to get as much advice as I can

[arthurking83]

Start time: any
Duration: any
End time: any
Basically, if you feel up to coming along just come along.
Meeting up halfway through the get together is common, having to shoot off due to other commitments is also common.

There's no pre set start time, but usually what happens is that some of us meetup at a predetermined location, we hang about for a while waiting for others to join the group and then we able along whatever course is agreed upon.

..... What type of things to you guys do on these meet ups and how long generally are they for. Im new to this and would love to get as much advice as I can

So the types of things we do end up doing varies depending on who's idea is heard first.
If you have a positive idea of the kinds of things you'd like to achieve with photography .. all the better.

In a little while I'll post up an actual rough guide as to where and when we expect to meetup, as more ideas come into the thread.
So if you check back, I'll edit the thread title with a time and location of where we expect to meetup.

FWIW: Geoffsta is coming in from Bruthen, and I expect him to be in Melb a bit early(ish). I can be ready to go at almost any time .. may even get in to the meetup point early to try to catch a sunrise(~7AM) .. if the weather is appropriate.

So far, as alternatives haven't been proposed, I'm thinking that the most accommodating point to begin the meeting would be:

The Royal Botanical Gardens cafe, on Birdwood Av. (I don't know the actual name of the cafe, but be aware that there is also a cafe INSIDE the gardens too .. so it's not this one)
The cafe I'm thinking of is on Birdwood Av, south east of the roundabout and across the road from the Shrine.
It's impossible to miss the location. There is a small observatory building on the path that leads to the entrance of the gardens, cafe is between them.

From here we can decide if folks want to go into the gardens, or amble along St Kilda Rd and up into the city.
The alternative is to walk through the gardens, cross Alexandra Av directly to the Yarra, along it then into the city. Depending on what time people want to catch up and do this, you can get nice early morning perspectives of Melb from the Swan bridge(over the Yarra).
Another alternative to that is to walk to the far NE corner of the gardens and cross the Yarra at Morrel Bridge. A picturesque bridge over the Yarra, which is a pedestrian bridge only now. It's a few klms longer than either of the other two options, but a nicer walk overall.
The walk into the city will probably lead us to Fed Sq. Depending on what time we get there, this could be another point where any later comers could catch an early group.

That's just one alternative to what we could do. Any other suggestions are not only welcome, but encouraged.

The reason I suggest the gardens as a meet point is twofold.
1. there are many points of interest to cater for those of us that will be waiting for the group to congregate
2. All day parking is relatively cheap on Linlithgow Av.
If you're coming from the SE(ie. from the Monash Fwy), you want to be on Alexandra Av. On the city side of The Swan St Bridge, you turn left at Linlithgow Av(veer left just before the traffic lights).
Stay along here and look for a parking spot anywhere. the Gardens is about 1klm from that veer turn off, and if you stay to the left all along until you get to the roundabout at Government House.
Past that roundabout tho, and on Birdwood Av, parking could be harder to find(due to the gardens visitors).

Later in the week I'll post up my phone number too, so people have a way to contact the group as it migrates.

[geoffsta]

The meet up sounds great however what time of the day are you looking at this will depend on my availability. I am keen but will be travelling from regional Victoria. What type of things to you guys do on these meet ups and how long generally are they for. Im new to this and would love to get as much advice as I can

Hello Jodie.
Traralgon is about half way for me. I'm the other side of Bairnsdale. So if you want a lift let me know.

[Filter]

Well, you still got the night portion of it

I work 7 till 7 bits, 8:30 in town will be a tad late :-(

[bitsnpieces]

Who says we have to finish by 8:30pm

I'm sure there will be those who may need to head back, and honestly I do too, but I'm always willing to stay if there are any people out there willing.

Also, just wondering what time the early birds are planning to be there? Or least what time is best? I don't mind going early... Hopefully easier for parking right?
I'm guessing based on arthurking83 mentioned, ~7am may be the go?

[arthurking83]

My plan will depend entirely on the weather.

If it's overcast and dull .. no use in getting up early to catch a non sunrise.
If there's a chance for decent early morning photography, I'll try to be there at 7-ish.

Not 100% sure what time the gardens open, but I don't think it's that early(something like 8-9AM I think).

[falcon91]

I'd be interested in joining the meetup as well depending on times etc...

[OzzyDevil]

I just remembered I had something to do on day so I can't make it I promised my daughter I would pick up her motorbike gear and go for a ride.. So I'm very sorry I csn make it

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[arthurking83]

falcon there aren't any set times. Come along as you have the time too.
We'll be posting up at least two phone numbers ... so there will be a way to contact the group on the day(watch the thread over the next week).

I expect that the group will be up, out and about for the majority of the day. Some are keen to hang about till later, others may be keen to start early.
As long as you save the posted numbers to contact, you'd send a txt on the day asking 'whereforeartthou' .. etc, etc ....


tough break Ozzy. I have kids too, so I understand.
I reckon tho, there will be a next time .. and you already have my number, so if you have time later in the day to come along, txt any of us.