As you know I am in a group of Digital Artists from all over of the world, we all met via a Photoshop Artistry course run by Sebastian Michaels . When I started this course I, possibly like many others, did not realize the friendships I would forge and just how many people were relatively local; in fact there are many in Melbourne. We have arranged a few meetups and photo shoots over the last year or so. An idea for an expanded get together was formed and many people have been involved. We had just over 20 people from all over Australia and New Zealand come together in Melbourne for our first get together.
Day One was eagerly awaited with great excitement to meet in person, people we have only ever spoken with online and at times never spoken with, but have admired their work. We all met at Federation Square overlooking the famous Flinders Street Station for our official start of five days of fun and activities; lots of coffee (and cake for some) and so much fun and laughter, cementing many lifelong friendships as well.
Day 1 – Iconic Melbourne
We split into two groups lead by Mary Knaggs and Andrew Haysom and were given a guided walk and talk about Street Art and Iconic Laneways and attractions of Melbourne’s inner CDB. I was a tourist in my own city. I have lived on the outskirts of Melbourne my whole life, but there were places I don’t think I have ever been. The Block Arcade, Degraves Street, Collins Place, the Street art; Hosier Lane and AC/DC lane I had done but not some of the others……sorry I really cannot remember all the names.
We stopped in Chinatown for a lovely lunch and then we swapped guides and did the reverse of what the other group had done in the morning. We all met back at Fed Square for coffee (and yes cake again by some) and then caught our trains home.
Day 2 – Melbourne Zoo
I will be honest……….I never actually went to the Zoo this day, we did so much walking from the day before I had pulled up very sore. I had been to the Zoo not so long ago, so I was not really missing anything, apart from the company. They also met up back in the city that evening, due to unforseen circumstances I was not able to attend that either, but perhaps just as well, all complaints the next day were HOW much walking they all did that night as well.
I will leave the next 2 days for another post.
~ Julz
Julie Powell - Photographer & Graphic Artist 
That’s such a neat idea and the photos you captured are really cool. I look forward to your next posts. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks Erin, it was wonderful to meet so many friends in person
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. That sounds like an added perk 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos, as always. That photography group sounds like a fantastic idea 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was fantastic
LikeLiked by 1 person
The last time I had a free afternoon in Melbourne I went for a fabulous but exhausting walk from Southern Cross to to Fed Square via Southbank and took a lot of photos. I had not been in Melbourne for a few years so a lot was new to me. I really want to do the laneways one day but won’t have time on my next trip over for a friends birthday. We are going up to Puffing Billy which I haven’t been on for more than 20 years so looking forward to that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Puffing Billy is wonderful, the laneways are cool but the usual ones, Hosier Lane and AC/DC are more tagging than art these days. Fitzroy and Brunswick are wonderful street art
LikeLike
As a former railcar cleaner I’m not a fan of tagging but I’ll check out Fitzroy and Brunswick one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ni O don’t like tagging either it’s brainless violence over otherwise beautiful art
LikeLiked by 1 person