Category: BLACK AND WHITE
ROYAL ARCADE, MELBOURNE – LOCKDOWN – PART 2
The day before Lockdown (112 days) ended in Melbourne. This is the main northern end of the Royal Arcade where it opens on to the pedestrian-only shopping area and main department stores of Bourke Street.
Hairdressers and the 5km close-to-home limit had been lifted the week before, hence me being in the city for a haircut. Only a minute to take the shot before the lone figure moved on and my appointment were due.
I was surprised at the number of people around on this day compared to the empty ghost-town like images on the TV news some weeks before, but I suppose there were people living in city apartments who had ventured outdoors for a walk.
Melbourne city pre-COVID below.
ROYAL ARCADE, MELBOURNE – LOCKDOWN – PART 1
The Royal Arcade, Melbourne, the day before Lockdown (112 days) ended 28th October 2020.
Hairdressers and the 5km from home restrictions ended the week before, hence me being in the city centre for a haircut. I was surprised to see a few people around, but only had a couple of minutes to take a photo before they moved on…….. and I was due for my appointment.
STORM CLOUDS RISING
THE EIGHTH FLOWER – Peace Lily
BUSKER (Street Musician) & A COUPLE MORE – BURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
LAST LIGHT – #53
PATH TO NOWHERE
LAST LIGHT – #33
STILL LIFE – Gem Squash
LAST LIGHT – THE KITCHEN #23
END OF THE CORRIDOR
THE SHAPE OF WATER
SUMMER SLEEPER
STREET ARTISTS – Union Lane, Melbourne
WINTER – Queen Street, Melbourne
TAKE 2 – Flinders Lane, Melbourne
AUTUMN LIGHT
AUTUMN
PEELING PAPER
MELBOURNE’S OLD GPO CLOCK TOWER
Once upon a time, Melbourne’s General Post Office was the centre of the city’s postal service where thousands of letters were received and sorted. Located on the intersection between Bourke and Elizabeth Street, the GPO building was conveniently positioned in the city’s central business district and its location continues to be used as a point of reference to measure distance from the centre of Melbourne. From the mid-19th Century right up until 1992, Melbournians visited the GPO to post letters, buy stationary, check their PO boxes and pay bills, but these days the building is home to retailers and restaurants.
(note: I didn’t have the right lens to capture the rest of the building when walking through the city earlier this week, but I liked the image all the same).
I THINK ITS A VESPA
MEAT SECTION – QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET, NORTH MELBOURNE
City Building Foyer
LUNCH TIME – Melbourne Laneway
CITY LIVING

In general, I rarely go into the Melbourne City’s CBD (central business district) any more as it’s so crowded in the main Bourke Street pedestrian only shopping mall and I find my senses overwhelmed.
My MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) is super-sensitive to perfumes, chemicals, loud sounds and bright lights.
Yesterday’s visit to my favourite hairdresser, who can tame my wayward hair into some resemblance of style, and my regular Dental appointment (next Wednesday) are about the only reasons for a visit.
Yesterday was hot and airless in the crowd, but one can never predict the weather in Melbourne (when you make appointments the previous week).
MY BEAR WEARS GLASSES
STRIPED DRESS & A PAIR OF THONGS
SOMETIMES A STUMBLE…………….
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL CLOCK TOWER
TAKE 2 – Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
WAITING – tram stop, Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
1 + 2 = 3 (Centre Place, Melbourne)
GIVING THE BIKE A REST
BUSKER (street artist) & AUDIENCE
FERRY ON THE YARRA RIVER – Late afternoon, Winter
LATE AFTERNOON LIGHT – THE WETLANDS
BUSKER (STREET MUSICIAN) – MELBOURNE CBD
WINTER
FEDERATION SQUARE, MELBOURNE
As I was hurrying to catch a tram to the south side of the city, I stopped for a moment to watch the above scene. I’m not sure whether I captured this scene as well as I could have (had I more time), but street photography is often a quick un-composed shot anyway.
I couldn’t help but be highly amused at the sight of 2 women calmly sitting on the step eating their lunch(?) while the cameraman was recording a clip of (perhaps) a journalist or TV weatherman behind them?
Next minute, a man in a velour sort of dressing gown (?), complete with ankle socks and thongs, interrupted them, walked up to the person being filmed and put his arm around him (I missed that shot), so they stopped filming. I couldn’t work out whether he was part of the crew. or a passerby in a rather strange outfit on a cold winter’s day wanting to be photographed with a celebrity of some sort? I was too far away to really see much.
I rarely go in to the city centre to do street photography these days. It’s usually a quick stop, or walk down a lane, on the way to somewhere else.