‘Share an image of a Wall that reveals something about a place, people, or you’ is the photo challenge for this week.
This photo was taken in Union Lane, which runs off the Bourke Street Mall right in the heart of the city. The mall is constantly abuzz with trams, shoppers, workers and tourists but just a few steps away is a dark lane where spray cans litter the ground and the air is heady with the smell of paint. Young people gather there to make their mark on the city’s walls knowing that another street-artist will soon replace their work.
There are many reasons why I’m drawn to Union Lane. I like that it provides a quiet space away from the noise of the mall. When walking between the two buildings I like to look for new and interesting pieces to photograph. I like that the walls provide emerging street-artists a prominent (and legal) canvas for their work. Most of all I like that this dark and somewhat gritty lane sits adjacant to a bright, busy shopping mall and nobody cares.
This Melbourne Life 
Great photo with a different take on ‘walls’. 🙂
A different side of Melbourne.
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Thanks Debbie. I’ve just taken a look at your blog – it’s great. I’m visiting China soon for the first time and very keen to learn more about the people and their culture.
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HI Michelle – which particular places are you going to visit? Like Australia, China is huge and unless you have heaps of time, you have to decide which parts you want to see. The fast speed trains now make it so much easier – only five hours from Beijing to Shanghai.
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I’ll have about 10 days so was only planning to go to Shanghai and perhaps do some day trips to a few nearby villages, but now that I know I can get to Beijing in 5 hours I think I might try and spend a few days there as well. Thanks!
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you’re welcome. if you are going to shanghai you should go to suzhou and hangzhou. they are both very close to shanghai and beautiful cities. well, the older ares are anyhow. suzhou is 20 minutes away on the fast train -you can go and back in a day – and hangzhou about an hour. you can find pictures of both those places on my blog. good luck!
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Thanks again Debbie – I’ll check them out on your blog. I’ve been told I should go with a guide to the smaller towns if I can only speak English. What’s your advice on this?
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hi Michelle, the bigger cities like Shanghai and Beijing you can get by – the metro system has announcements in English, you can always find some people who speak some English. the smaller towns, not so. it really depends on two factors for the more out of the way areas – 1) how much you do your homework, in terms of finding out what transport routes to take, booking hotels in advance etc and 2) how adventurous you are in terms of simply going there and trying.
China can be difficult if you don’t speak the language sometimes.
Getting a guide can be helpful but it has its down side too – you get taken to touristy places and don’t necessarily see the more authentic spots.
let me know if you need any more advice. happy to help.
Debbie
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Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.
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Fantastic walls and great capture Michelle. I would love to check those lanes out with my camera.
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Thanks DJ. You’ll have to go for a wander next time you’re in Melbourne. There are a few in the CBD and then heaps of street art in nearby Collingwood and Fitzroy.
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Excellent, thanks, i will see if I get time next time 🙂
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You’ll have a great time
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Michelle, you are really enjoying street photography and I’m delighted with what I see. Thanks.
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Thanks Lucile. I’m finding it a bit addictive actually. I’m always on the lookout for interesting people to photograph. Do you find the same?
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[…] This Melbourne LifeWeekly Photo Challenge – Wall […]
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[…] mentoring programs for young street artists, providing public spaces for them to paint, including Union Lane. Now, many of the laneways that criss-cross Melbourne’s central business district are filled […]
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