Hey There from the Air

Early March I had the opportunity to shoot a great little house for my talented mates of Architecture Architecture.

They refer to it as the ‘Hey There House’  If you’d like to read a little more about it, it was featured in a recent newsletter.  Go here and don’t forget to sign up to keep an eye on the great work these guys keep dishing out!

The morning before the shoot, my father and I were lucky enough to spend a couple of hours viewing the city we grew up in from the air…hot air balloon style. Perfect weather for flying and perfect weather for photography…all day!

Every architect should view their city from the air at some point in their life.

The perspective you gather is unlike anything else you’ll experience from another vantage point in the city…it’s so quiet and you’re watching the city wake up.

The lines and ribbons of the road system vanishes towards the horizon, ants scurrying along to their day’s tasks, you see clusters of building types interspersed within the urban sprawl like irregular clumps of wet sand – you wonder what some of them are…individuals you recognise and realise you’ve passed it by 100 times in the last 3 months.

Then mist drifts over the city hinterlands and finally the warmth of the sun peeks over and glints off first the skyscrapers before transforming the drab green of the trees to a glowing iridescent smile.

 

Hot air creating form, light and shade defining it.

Hot air creating form, light and shade defining it.

More hot air and we are off

More hot air and we are off

The grain of the city begins to take shape

The grain of the city begins to take shape

and we see remnants of previous structures

and we see remnants of previous structures

How many cars can you fit in a backyard?

How many cars can you fit in a backyard?

Grain size begins to vary

Grain size begins to vary

and light begins to define form and volume...

as light begins to define form and volume…

when the sun pokes it's head over the dandenongs

The sun pokes its head over the dandenongs

before stretching over suburbia....

before stretching over suburbia….

to highlight the city...

to highlight the city…

and our modes of transit

and our modes of transit

One more breath..

One more breath..

let it out...

let it out…

with our last view from high above

with our last view from high above

and down we go....

and down we go….

Our companions land with us....

Our companions land with us….

and we pack up our vehicle.

and we pack up our vehicle.

Off to the North of the city to Hey There House

Victorian Row Housing....

Victorian Row Housing….

A small and detailed addition, bringing light and life into the rear of the property

A small and detailed addition, bringing light and life into the rear of the property

That opens up to the laneway to extend the owners exterior space.

That opens up to the laneway to extend the owners exterior space.

The play of light in the space was wonderful

The play of light in the space was wonderful

and we imagine an evening BBQ....

and we imagine an evening BBQ….

Thanks to my sister for the Ballooning idea with Dad and to Balloon Man Chris of Hot Air Ballooning over Melbourne for the amazing time and absolutely professional service. I’ll be back when we need some more aerial photography…