Prints - Chinatown Night

CHINATOWN - MELBOURNE. SHOT JUNE 2025

Inspiration hits at the strangest times. I’d had a few drinks with a friend at the Exford Hotel in Melbourne’s CBD, talking photography, business and society. Once we finished up — at a reasonably responsible hour — I slowly and very indirectly wandered back towards my tram, looking for the overlooked elements and spaces I’m usually drawn to in the city.

Photographing Melbourne’s alleyways is a bit of a cliché, but I deliberately avoid places like Centre Place or Hosier Lane. There are still countless alleys throughout the CBD that serve purposes beyond tourism — service corridors, delivery lanes, transitional spaces people move through without really noticing.

Shooting from deep shadow into bright neon light is always a bit hit and miss, and I’m still not entirely sure I nailed this image technically. But I’ve found myself returning to it regularly since taking it nearly a year ago. Something about it captures the feeling at the end of a good night out in Melbourne — the warmth, slight isolation and strange quietness the city takes on late at night.

Night photography is something I probably don’t do as often as I should. I’ve printed this, stay tuned for images of the prin itself when it arrives in the next week or so.

I’m working on a new print store for the website, which will be live in the next week or so, I’ve printed this image as an archival fine art print, and I’ll share photographs of the finished piece once it arrives.

The new print store will launch shortly with a growing selection of works exploring overlooked spaces throughout Melbourne and regional Australia.