Top 3 Reasons to VISIT MELBOURNE as a Photographer [Part 1]

Already voted World's Most Liveable City; World's Friendliest City; and Australia's Best City for Students - But is one accolade still being overlooked?

It's difficult to think of a more Melburnian sight than Flinders Street Station

As a photographer who has shot in more cities and countries than I can remember, I can say with absolute confidence that Melbourne's fantastic diversity should earn it the award for being the Best City in the World for Photographers.

Here are my Top 3 reasons why:

1 - Melbourne's amazing photographic community

Melbourne's scenic views are always full of photographers

If there is one thing that makes a photographer feel safe and welcome in a new city, it's that city's overall attitude towards photographers themselves.

I have been to several parts of the world which while absolutely stunning to photograph, made me feel very uneasy about using my camera in public, let alone setting it up for some relaxing evening photography.

Melbourne on the other hand, is one of those cities that feels built to be photographed from every possible angle, and at all times of the day.

This quality has already caught the attention of many local photographers, creating a rich photographic community eager to come up to you and help you get the best shot that a location has to offer.

On top of that, there are numerous photowalks organised via local camera stores as well as on social media, which anyone can join. It's a great way to learn how to shoot awesome street photography, as well as get a unique tour of the city itself.

Speaking of social media, there are very few cities that have such a strong social media presence, and so many hashtags dedicated only to them. Along with Tokyo, Chicago, New York, London and Paris, Melbourne easily ranks among the best of them.

2 - Melbourne's Weather

Rain, leaves, and Flinders Street Station - it must be Melbourne!

Ah, yes. Melbourne's famous weather.

Four seasons in one day; Too cold for shorts, but too warm for trackies; Don't like the weather? Wait five minutes... the list goes on, and it's safe to say that as Melburnians, we've heard them all.

Firstly, Melbourne's weather is definitely not that bad. However, unpredictably inclement weather does have a fantastic upside - it's great for photography.

It's like "a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get", and that's a good thing, because it means that you'll always come away with some fantastic (and often unexpected) photographs. Just make sure to pack a spare jacket, hat, sunscreen, scarf, and an umbrella, just in case!

3 - All of the Architecture

Touching the sky in Melbourne

Love modern skyscrapers? Melbourne has them in abundance.

What about classic Victorian-era buildings? Yep, they're everywhere as well.

How about a bit of Europe, with cafes, restaurants, and hidden alleyways bustling with exotic shops and culture? Of course! That's what Melbourne is all about - and that's just within the CBD.

One of the things that blows my mind to this day, is just how easy it is to change the scenery in Melbourne. It's like a movie set, where you walk from one studio to another and realise that you are no longer in some 18th century European town, but are now in a futuristic, 23rd century Blade Runner-esque metropolis.

On top of that, Many Melburnians themselves are more than happy to pose for you - just make sure to return the favour, and ask them for their email and social media tag.

If you'd like to explore the city on your own, a good place to start is in front of Flinders Street Station.

Then, walk about a hundred meters west along Flinders Street itself, until you reach the awesome Degraves Street, which is the entry point into Melbourne's awesome underground and alleyway culture.

From there, go as far north as you like, until you end up on one of the many east-west streets cutting through the CBD. Catch any tram going in either direction (they're all free!) and get off whenever you see something awesome - which will be at pretty much every tram stop.

Melbourne allows you to create your own adventure each time you visit.

There are many more reasons why I think Melbourne is the world's best city for photographers, which I'll be covering in future articles.

For the time being, however, I think these three alone should be more than enough reason for you to consider adding Melbourne to your next travel stopover itinerary.

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Happy shooting!