Vanishing points at the Old Melbourne Gaol

When you are learning to draw one of the things you are taught is about vanishing points. How everything can lead to one vanishing point in the distance. All lines lead to them.

Using vanishing points in photography is a lot easier than when you are drawing, but the theory is still the same. Most of us refer to them as images with perspective.

I love images with vanishing points and using perspective as much as I can. They are not easy to get and it can be hard to find images with it. Of course, any straight road will give it to you as well. However, getting everything lined up can be really hard.

Perfection with a vanishing point is something I try to achieve, but never seem to pull off perfectly. Still this image below is one of my favourites for this.

The image was taken at the Old Melbourne Gaol (jail). I was standing at the end and knew to get a really good shot I should use a tripod, but I didn’t have time for it. I put my camera on the railing and hoped I could get a good shot. Especially one with no people in it.

This place is a very popular tourist destination. It is known for the place where Ned Kelly was hanged. He was a bushranger, that is what we call them. The American equivalents were probably Jesse James and Billy the Kid. Ned Kelly was famous for a suit of armour that he made so he couldn’t be shot and killed. If you are interested in learning more about him click here.

This is the only time I have been to the gaol. I have always meant to go back, but well, it just hasn’t happened at this point. It is a creepy place. Lots of death masks are there.

So this is my vanishing point image. The windows at the back of the place are where all the lines go and that is my vanishing point. Do you agree?

On another point, I cropped the image for the header, I think I like it more, what do you think?

You might be interested in …

26 Comments

  1. Definitely illustrates the vanishing points. I prefer the photo that is not cropped because more of the detail is visible. It gives a longer view to the windows, which feels like you are physically being moved towards the windows. Great details and great photo – as always, your work is inspiring.

    1. Sorry Mark, there is contact info on my site so I don’t understand what is happening or why you would want to send me a photo.

  2. I think this is a fabulous shot. The composition is really strong and I love the way you have handled the lighting. It’s a really evocative image. And I am super impressed that you were able to grab an opportunity when there were no people in the shot.

  3. I prefer the uncropped version. The long walk to the windows looks just a tad creepier…in a good way, though.

  4. I was amused with “(jail)”.
    Over the last couple of years since the release of Elden Ring, I’ve been watching reviews with people who cannot pronounce “Evergaol”…

    I guess I shouldn’t be surprised: there’ve been some really interesting interpretations of “vicar” from Bloodborne too.

    Sorry the comment has nothing to do with the image.

    1. but it does have to do with the post. We spell jail as gaol, and I didn’t want to confuse people. I’ve had people in the past say I can’t spell, but not realising that we spell stuff differently and I refuse to give up my Australia vocabulary.
      I don’t know those shows, but the way things get pronounced can be funny. I don’t know how many times I get asked how to say Melbourne.

    2. I wouldn’t give up your Australian vocab either; there’s no reason to.

      When I think about it and I’m writing to a Brit, I usually spell realize ‘realise’ and the like when I know the English spellings. Sometimes, I like the way it looks with the English spelling: the ‘s’ has a softer appearance than the ‘z’ does. But now we’re getting into one of those things I think way too much about.

    3. That’s what I think, I’m Australian, so I go with it.
      I have to admit we are very English with it all and I like the way it looks too. I love the u in words like colour and favourite. I think a lot about it too.

Chat with me

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from LEANNE COLE

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading