Melbourne APUG get-together!

[munz6869]

Fellow Melburnians - isn't it time we all caught up and chatted about photography, made some photos, checked out everyone's mad gear, etc etc? Seems to me the last time we did this was when Ralph Lambrecht was in town, and that was aaages ago!

To get the ball rolling - how about some Saturday in March - somewhere photographically interesting with coffee nearby. I vote NOT the Botanical Gardens... I have had in my head since an Age article the other day to check out the park in Newport that was the old Quarry...

Anyways - what are folks' thoughts?

Marc!

 

[wotalegend]

I completely agree, Marc. I too have made a mental note to visit that park in Newport after reading The Age article. We probably should be avoiding the Labour Day long weekend which is 3 - 5 March.

Cheers, Peter.

 

[SMBooth]

Both ideas have been flickering in my head too, March sound fine. May have to go hunting for coffee though....

 

[Joachim_I]

Sounds good to me.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I favour the idea too Mark, but for photography, not endless standing around talking with cameras just begging to be used. What did we invest in cameras for? I too, saw that interesting article about the Park in Newport that was once a quarry. Might be a plan. What else is around there? The old railway workshops have been demolished: I photographed them in Kodachrome in the early 1980s. Sad, but thy were utterly decrepit from vandalism and neglect. There's the Willie town foreshore too, where the impressive Kate Robertson and her Linhof are known to hang out. Kate is a MBR student at RMIT in fine art and wields that Linhof loaded with Acros with a commanding verve and presence, even in the filth and heat of ConFest. Makes Pentaximus look rrrreeeaaalllyy small....

Where would we go for the requisite latté Marc?

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Hanging Rock...?

 

[LJH]

Noojee?

 

[munz6869]

Neato - well google tells me:

Newport Lakes reserve - 20 min from Melbourne CBD
Hanging Rock - 1 hour and 2 minutes
Noojee - 1 hour and 43 minutes

None of these are too far away, and all look picturesque and have interesting photo-ey things. My questions are: Is there coffee nearby, and would we lose anybody at Hanging Rock?

Marc!

 

[hoffy]

Here's a thought.

Why don't you make it Mt Gambier, or Robe or Pt McDonald? See you there?

 

[Joachim_I]

Newport lakes reserve is not too interesting, in my opinion. I lived next to it for a year. I often visited the reserve with binoculars in the evening (with some luck you can spot Nankeen Night Herons there) but never thought it was worth bringing a camera (I don't have a tele lens to capture those herons). Also no decent coffee nearby.

 

[munz6869]

Well, that rules that out!!!!!!

Marc!

 

[SMBooth]

What about Gulf Station at Yarra Glen
http://www.gulfstation.com.au/

You may need to tell them 1/2 photographers are coming up, but I don't think they would mind.

 

[johnnywalker]

I can't believe what I am reading. A bunch of Aussies worried about where they'll get their coffee? Or is it just understood that everyone brings their own beer?

 

[OzJohn]

I can't believe what I am reading. A bunch of Aussies worried about where they'll get their coffee? Or is it just understood that everyone brings their own beer?

Mate I'm an Aussie and I was wondering the same thing. Must be a Victorian thing! OzJohn

 

[SMBooth]

Its a "inner city" thing....

 

[wotalegend]

It's definitely an inner city thing and it's also a Gen Y thing. I work in the CBD with a group of younger people. Our office is above a coffee shop and there are at least half a dozen others within 100 metres. My colleagues are always popping out for coffee, and have spirited discussions about which shop makes the better coffee. Me - I'd much rather boil the kettle in the kitchen and enjoy a nice hot cup of Earl Grey or green tea, but then I am an old fart baby boomer.

 

[Wyno]

If you make your minds early enough I might come down from Canberra and join you, with the camera of course.

 

[Oxleyroad]

I am definitely in.

Don't care where. Needs to be within 400k of Melbourne. I might even have my new (old) Mamiya 645 by March to play with. I will of course bring along one or two really old toys as well.

I have labour day weekend down as 10, 11 and 12.

If possible can we lock in a day sooner rather than later so I can book a leave pass. Saturday mornings will be a bit hard due to school sports, but I could meet up about lunch time if things are still kicking along.

 

[wotalegend]

I am definitely in.

Don't care where. Needs to be within 400k of Melbourne. I might even have my new (old) Mamiya 645 by March to play with. I will of course bring along one or two really old toys as well.

I have labour day weekend down as 10, 11 and 12.

If possible can we lock in a day sooner rather than later so I can book a leave pass. Saturday mornings will be a bit hard due to school sports, but I could meet up about lunch time if things are still kicking along.

Surely you will have your M645 by March, Andy. I'll make sure I bring a couple of lenses to make your GAS worse - like the 80/1.9 and the 35/3.5.

You are correct about Labour Day. I just checked it on the vic.gov web site. It is on March 10 - 12. I must have mis-read from WA Labour Day which is on the previous weekend.

Cheers, Peter.

 

[munz6869]

Whatabout Sunday 18th March - Hanging Rock or Noojee? (so far) Noojee is sort of closer to Canberra

Marc!

 

[w9cae]

Yea a get out & take some pictures. Count me in, been really slack lately. The Ford Focus shit it's transmission & Ford told me to shove the beast. So I will have to come by bike or scooter. Depending on the location you choose.

 

[munz6869]

I'm going to take a leap and propose Sunday 18th March at Hanging Rock - which is both picturesque, AND close to Woodend for us Gen Y coffee-obsessed folk....

Who can come along?

Marc!

 

[Joachim_I]

I would join.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Hanging Rock is a good choice. I'll make plans to be there.

I was going to add: Noojee has Toorongo River: very scenic, especially the bridge over the Toorongo, two waterfalls, lush rainforest with a stream trickling through it and a great place to have a picnic. Excellent coffee from the Red Parrot café in town, or brew your own, camp-style.

But please: let's not just stand around idly talking non-stop. This should be about photography, exchanging skills and eyeballing bodies — ahem, cameras, I mean! Coffee and munchies later!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

If you make your minds early enough I might come down from Canberra and join you, with the camera of course.

I can hear the mysterious echoes, "Wyno, Wyno, where are you?" as he expires half-way up carrying the Tachihara...