"The lake and the mountains have become my landscape, my real world."
I haven't spent nearly as much time in Ballarat as I would like to over the years, but every time I've driven past these adorable little boathouses on Lake Wendouree, I've thought about how much I'd love to shoot them. And now I can finally say that I have! I found myself here a week or so ago, and only had a couple of hours to myself, but it was enough time to sneak in a few long exposure shots, and leave me wanting to go back again, just as soon as I can. After spending a considerable amount of time on the editing, I couldn't decide whether I preferred the colour versions, or the softer, muted tones, so I decided I wasn't going to choose one or the other - instead, I created separate galleries for them and uploaded both.
I definitely need to spend more time in this city. There's so much exploring to do here, and not just around the lake. I've determined that I WILL come back next Winter and shoot Wendouree in the fog - and if I'm really, really lucky, I might even get to see a snowflake or three. I rather think that would be quite magical.
But I want to come back for the architecture as well. I would love to have seen Ballarat at the height of the gold era. There are so many fine and fabulous examples of heritage architecture to be found here, it isn't difficult to imagine what a booming town it must have been back in the heady days of the Victorian gold rush. One needs only to study the wonderful paintings and lithographs of renowned Australian artist Samuel Thomas Gill to get a strong sense of what life would have been like in Ballarat and on the diggings in those days. And with so many of it's beautiful heritage buildings and houses still standing, a quick wander around the city streets today, gives more than a glimpse into the distant past.
Ballarat is blessed to have such a jewell as this lake is. It's a peaceful and serene escape from the day-to-day. It is teeming with birdlife. It's Spring, and with the number of black swans I have seen on this lake, there will soon be no shortage of fluffy, cute-as-a-button cygnets paddling about. I've had some pretty special up-close and personal encounters with dragonflies here in the past too. The magical, mystical dragonfly. And it's cute little boathouses, with their rickety wooden walkways, and painted weatherboard walls, and rusty tin roofs, definitely add an extra element of magic to this part of Victoria. I can't wait to come back.
Colour version HERE. Muted tones version HERE.