Australia/New Zealand HCB in Brisbane

[parasko]

I did end up going and I can tell you it is seriously worth the trip to 'Vegas! It was great to see his images up close, with a great mix of his iconic images and his lesser-known 'on assignment' images. I must admit I am a big fan of HCB and when I came to the end of the exhibition, I stayed for another half-hour and went back through the exhibition to see (and study) some of my favourites. I ended up going early on the Sunday and there weren't many people at the exhibition...highly recommended!

There is also a Matisse exhibition travelling to Brisbane soon and this also looks worthwhile. What's happening to 'Vegas...it's getting all cultured on us!

Have a splendid time, and let us know how it goes!

I was planning to go today, but I've been held up with other commitments. I've never been to Brisbane either, and I would be interested in your travel itinerary--especially in regards to street shooting.

 

[deerstalkr]

I did end up going and I can tell you it is seriously worth the trip to 'Vegas! It was great to see his images up close, with a great mix of his iconic images and his lesser-known 'on assignment' images. I must admit I am a big fan of HCB and when I came to the end of the exhibition, I stayed for another half-hour and went back through the exhibition to see (and study) some of my favourites. I ended up going early on the Sunday and there weren't many people at the exhibition...highly recommended!

There is also a Matisse exhibition travelling to Brisbane soon and this also looks worthwhile. What's happening to 'Vegas...it's getting all cultured on us!

That sounds fantastic! I can't wait. Did you find some time to enter the theatre and watch any of his documentaries? Did you also manage to find great locations to shoot?

I've just booked my flight to Brisbane; I'll be seeing it in three weeks. I fear I might not be able to go through the exhibition properly and go out street shooting within the same day.

 

[parasko]

I didn't stay to watch either of the films, but they did have some HCB books on display and I had a look at those, realising what a prolific photographer he was. He has so many great shots which were not part of the exhibition.

I took some photos around South Brisbane before going in to the exhibition (I will upload a couple soon) but I generally walked around Brisbane (Central, Fortitude Valley, West End) to get a sense of the place before I go back for the Matisse exhibtion and a longer stay to take photos.

Let us know what you thought of the exhibition when you return.

That sounds fantastic! I can't wait. Did you find some time to enter the theatre and watch any of his documentaries? Did you also manage to find great locations to shoot?

I've just booked my flight to Brisbane; I'll be seeing it in three weeks. I fear I might not be able to go through the exhibition properly and go out street shooting within the same day.

 

[peterm1]

That sounds fantastic! I can't wait. Did you find some time to enter the theatre and watch any of his documentaries? Did you also manage to find great locations to shoot?

I've just booked my flight to Brisbane; I'll be seeing it in three weeks. I fear I might not be able to go through the exhibition properly and go out street shooting within the same day.

Brisbane sure is a go ahead city. I had not been there for a few years - being based in Adelaide, myself and I can only say that in the time since I was there last (which was only around 5 years ago) its seems to have burgeoned. I did not find much in the way of good street shooting spots - apart perhaps from Fortitude Valley and Brunswick Street although I am sure there are some. But the river is beautiful. On the day I went to the HCB exhibition I took a river cat from New Farm. It was particularly nice way to view the city. Which incidentally seems to have largely recovered from the floods at least in terms of public infrastructure.

Here is an early morning shot taken with my M8 and I think the v4 35mm Summicron from my hotel balcony.


L1042252a by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

And the Art Gallery environs itself offers some good opportunities


L1042283a1 by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

 

[nighstar]

......wow. i really love that first shot. 🙂

i still haven't made it because my bf, who says he'll come with me, keeps saying "later, sorry". i may just go without him.

 

[deerstalkr]

I went to see the exhibition last Saturday. I had a very interesting time in Brisbane, I was overwhelmed by the activities that I had planned to do that day. I found myself pacing back and fourth and studying the photographs, and trying to watch both of the documentaries at the same time by walking to and from the theatre (not a good idea. haha).

If I were to return to the exhibition I would spend more time looking through the books on display, and I would sit down to watch the documentaries that were being screened. There were quite a few images that I have never seen before in the books. I plan to purchase a few of them when I have the money. I'm currently trying to fit another trip to Brisbane into my schedule. It doesn't seem likely, but I hope anyone else who has the time to visit enjoys it as much as I did.

@ peterm1

I've never been to Brisbane before, but that shot encapsulates my memory of Brisbane this past Saturday. It's wonderful--in hindsight I think I should have slowed down a bit and taken a ride on the ferry.

@ parasko

I'm looking forward to seeing your shots too! I took a few shots while I was walking up and down Queen Street Mall, however I've ruined the entire roll. 🙁 I don't think there was anything spectacular on the roll, but I'm still quite disappointed and upset.

 

[Murray Kelly]

I hope all who visited had a great time in the city.

I bought the $65 book with 300+ images in it. Some are small so that viewing from a diagonal away is somewhat difficult for someone with poor eyes like myself.

I have learned a lot.

He always (well, almost always) has someone in the frame.
His main focus is not on the obvious such as I would take it - the focus is on someone behind the main action in a crowd scene. The face in the crowd, so to speak.
He was frugal with the film usage. Several rolls have the sprocket holes in the image, indicating to me they were on the same roll and the scenes are well apart geographically. Those damned bottom loaders!
From that I gather (and from the text) he wasn't a D&P man, but left that to others. Maybe I'm wrong here but after Magnum, why would you bother?
There is, as said, a lot of geometrical balance - his training with the artists shows up here, very obviously.

Just a few thoughts.
Murray

 

[heartattackandvine]

I plan to go. It's fair bit of drive from here in Wagga NSW, but hey, it's HCB! Hopefully my old Kia clunker will survive the trip. Can't afford the plane, there being no direct flight from here. It'll be another opportunity to take some photos of the numerous "historic" towns along the (inland) way.

Anytime I've seen the "real" prints (goes for paintings, too) of masters, I remembered that forever... it started with Ansel Adams sometime in the 80s. More recently I've been to see Bill Brandt in Canberra 10 years ago. Still dreaming of those dense blacks... they're nothing like they appear on the screen (or even in books).