Wildflowers around Melbourne

Good day,

Hope everyone is doing well. Now that the lockdown restrictions are mostly gone, I would like to put my new (old stock) macro equipment (Novoflex bellows BAL-S with Schneider-Kreuznach M-Componon 4/80mm) to good use and take shots of wildflowers. Has anyone recommendations for a good spot around Melbourne they are willing to share (here or per private message)? Thanks a lot!

Cheers,
Joachim

Joachim, a native-orchid wonderland is Baluk Willam Flora Reserve in Belgrave - always something interesting, once your eyes 'tune-in'!!

Hope you and your family are well!!

Marc!

Thanks a lot, Marc! That's exactly what I was looking for.
All good here, thanks. Keen to get out again after the lockdown.
Best regards, Joachim

Joachim, another one, which is quite close to us is R E Grey (Gray?) reserve in Springvale road Nunawading. Pretty much the same deal as the one Marc has referred to, just rock up and walk in, free as well.

Good to hear that you and your family got through lockdown unscathed, we too made it as well.

If you are still living on the western side of Melbourne, although a bit sparse at certain times of the year, Brisbane ranges NP is pretty good for native stuff as well.

Just loaded up a whole lot of film holders in anticipation of a couple of short trips in which photography will be centre stage.

Mick.

Went to Baluk William Flora Reserve today... and met Marc! Was good to meet you and C. again, Marc.

Lovely spot, we will certainly be back! I am still struggling with my technique for true macro shorts, i.e. larger than life size. I am afraid, the photo below of the Common Fringe Lily is the best I got today. Slightly larger than life size (about 1.02:1). Leica CL (digital) with Novoflex bellows BAL-S and Schneider-Kreuznach M-Componon 4.0/80mm. I used a monopod and a flash. Still just borderline sharp and it was not even particularly windy today. Not sure if a tripod would have helped at all because it does not stop the wind.

Hi Mick,

Thanks for your suggestions! We still live at the old place, so the Brisbane Ranges are not too far away. We will certainly give them a try.

Have fun with your photography trips. I really enjoyed our short trip today. So good to get out again. Meanwhile our son also took up photography, which makes it even more interesting for me.

Good to see that you and Marc are still using film. I still enjoy film as well but also shoot digital.

Best regards, and say hi to B.
Joachim

Joachim, last night we were wondering how old your lad is, we figured somewhere around 10, but we could be very wrong as our memory of when we last met is fading. Photography eh, good on him.

For what you are doing, I pretty much think a tripod with your camera and bellows set mounted on a focusing rail, is about the only way to go. I helped with a project around 25 years ago using a Hasselblad with their makro lens. Once the correct subject magnification was realised, everything became locked, then you simply focused with a simple focusing rail. really rock steady tripod and either waiting for the wind to drop, or bring along your own wind shields.

The winds of late have been reasonably consistent between 5m/s through to 17m/s gusts, which is a bit of an ask once above 8m/s.

Mick.

Mick Fagan said:

Joachim, last night we were wondering how old your lad is, we figured somewhere around 10, but we could be very wrong as our memory of when we last met is fading. Photography eh, good on him.Mick.

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Not yet 10, he is only in year one. I gave him my first digital camera, a Nikon D7000 with standard zoom. Some day, I also will introduce him to film, but at the moment, this camera is ideal for him. He loves it. I always read suggestions like "start with a Pentax K1000 and film to learn the basics first." I think it is more important to become enthusiastic first. The basics of photography then will come in no time.

Mick Fagan said:

For what you are doing, I pretty much think a tripod with your camera and bellows set mounted on a focusing rail, is about the only way to go. I helped with a project around 25 years ago using a Hasselblad with their makro lens. Once the correct subject magnification was realised, everything became locked, then you simply focused with a simple focusing rail. really rock steady tripod and either waiting for the wind to drop, or bring along your own wind shields.

Click to expand...

Yes, normally I use a sturdy tripod but no flash. I thought I could get away with the monopod when used with a flash. I was wrong. Macro is probably the least family-friendly form of photography. One needs lots of patience per shot. Not easily combined with a weekend family trip.

Would be great to have another Apug (sorry, Photrio) meeting some day. Hopefully next year will be better for this.

Joachim

I'm in full agreement with you in regard to young people learning photography that way. I have a niece still in primary school, she has been doing photography since around 7 years of age with cast off electronic point and shoot cameras from her parents. She machine gun shot when she started after she realised she could, today she is quite reserved and more or less knows what she is trying to achieve so gets there with minimal shutter firings. Another big factor is keeping the enthusiasm alive with so many other things she can do and sort of wishes to do. Last time we were together she was lent a high end DSLR for the day; she has a photographic eye.

Last time they visited, January this year, I took a group family portrait with the 4x5" camera in the backyard. She expressed a desire to see how this film process thing works; as she called it. Maybe over the summer holidays when we are more free in Melbourne, I may be able to show her the full film experience. She went bananas with the upside down image on the GG and thought it was tremendously cool to get the camera level then focus in reverse; we'll see.

Yep, another get together could be interesting, April is when the weather should start being cooler...........................?

Mick.

I gave my nieces (8&9) a Minox GT and Ricoh FF-S and have been processing their various rolls of film (the younger one is desperate to photograph a wild brumby)... Additionally, every x-mas since before their birth I've been doing 'the family portrait' on 4x5", so they're completely used to that now - whether they stay interested remains to be seen, but the seeds are sewn ;-)

Marc!