Showing posts with label Locations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Locations. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

VIC Summary

Just got back from a week in Victoria shooting background plates and stock images for my composites. Overall the trip went well, but I had a couple speed bumps along the way.


Highlights
  • Exploring the city of Melbourne
  • Driving along the Great Ocean Road

Lowlights
Road closure - I drove the 4 hours from Port Campbell to Halls Gap (Grampians National Park), only to find when I neared that the road was closed, which was rather annoying, so I took a 2 hour detour in order to get to Halls Gap and I finally made it. It was rather late when I arrived so I stayed the night, and I awoke at 5:30am to catch the sunrise only to find that all roads into The Balconies lookout were closed due to flood damage. So I got no photos at The Grampians, which was very disappointing because it looks like such a beautiful place.

So I wasn't able to get the image I wanted for one of my composites, and as the premise of this composite was basically an excuse to go to that specific location, I can't shoot it anywhere else. Therefore I have decided to replace this composite with my UN competition images.


What I could improve
I did extensive research before I left and found no road closure information about the Grampians, despite going on the official visitors center website. Even when I got there I went to the visitors center; it was closed but there was absolutely no signage. The man at the place I stayed didn't mention anything either. Only after I got there and searched the internet 'Road Closure at Grampians' did I find any information, and even then they made it difficult. So as far as improving goes, I think I took the required precautionary action, however I will probably now be paranoid about future road trips so I will specifically check for road closures next time.


Friday, March 25, 2011

VIC Itinerary


Dates: Wed 30th March - Sun 10th April (TBC)
I am preparing for bad weather so I have not booked any accommodation anywhere except Melbourne. I have bought a tent and decided to camp instead, this way I am able to stay as long as I want in any given location to make sure I get the shots I need.

Stop1: Melbourne
Stop2: Port Campbell
Stop3: Grampians National Park
Stop4: Mildura

Estimated driving time: 25 hours

Costs:
Accommodation: $150
Petrol: $250
Food: $400
Tent: $150
Total: $950


Stop1 - Melbourne
I will leave Canberra around 10am to arrive in Melbourne at about 7pm. I will be staying at a YHA hostel for 4 nights from Wednesday to Sunday.

Shots:
  • Botanic Gardens - gazebo
  • City at night
  • Stock city shots, including alleyways
  • Circus tents - Silvers Circus, Manningham club, Bulleen / Moscow Circus, Cranbourne road, Frankston


Stop2 - Port Campbell
After Melbourne I will be travelling down the Great Ocean Road towards Port Campbell to get photos of the 12 apostles, I will find an appropriate camping area and stay as long as necessary. I am mainly doing this as I have only seen them when I was very little so I am interested in doing some sight seeing just for the enjoyment factor, but I may use shots I take along the way as stock later down the track.

Shots:
  • 12 apostles
  • Any landscapes I find interesting along the Great Ocean Road


Stop3 - Grampians National Park
I will then drive up to the Grampians National Park to get some great landscape shots, including cliffs, waterfalls and forests. Camping is allowed throughout the national park so I will have no problem there. I found a useful sight listing suggested walks which I will be looking into:
http://www.grampiansnationalpark.com/grampians/national/park/walks.asp#w_balconies

Shots:
  • Balconies Lookout
  • Waterfalls
  • Forests


Stop4 - Mildura
My final stop is right up to Mildura, which is the main city near the Perry Sand Dunes, which will form the basis of my desert composite.

Shots:
  • Sand Dunes