Rodney Campbell's Blog

There was an area just in front of and especially behind the first major pile of rocks here at Cape Banks which was just sooo green.

De Greens

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 19 mm, 15 sec at f/14, ISO 50

A vibrant – some may even say unnatural – green, that just popped out of the landscape.

Jelly Bean

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 18 mm, 13 sec at f/13, ISO 50

I was trying to make use of the green covered rocks, the huge mass of varied seaweed and the lighthouse in various compositions but invariably the rocks or something just got in my way. I really couldn’t find a composition I liked…

Pink and Green in the Weeds

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 18 mm, 6 sec at f/13, ISO 50

Axiom combines light, music, geometrics, animation and space to blur the distinction between what is “illumination” and what is “form”.

Axiom

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/8 sec at f/8, ISO 100

The cutting edge LED panels act as a canvas for a sequence of custom animations and lighting movements that are specifically designed for this very angular design.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Mystic Revolutions

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 35 mm, 1/40 sec at f/5, ISO 400

Axiom is placed in the large open area next to the MCA at the Rocks near Circular Quay. It’s a very popular spot during Vivid and I expect to see many a family wandering in and out of the arches of the display.

Organic

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 35 mm, 1/100 sec at f/5, ISO 400

The artist Kit Webster was on site when I went back later in the evening. He was testing some potential future animations and content so we had a good chat about the technology in use and what content we thought worked and what didn’t.

Flaming Arrows

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/15 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

One of the hidden gems of Vivid Sydney is an installation titled “Tidal”. It’s tucked away in Loftus Lane – one of the back streets near Circular Quay.

First Contact

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 16 mm, 1/4 sec at f/5, ISO 1600

It’s not obvious or even visible from any of the main streets in the area – but if you venture into the dark alleyways you’ll be rewarded for your effort.

A Symphony of Light

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 16 mm, 1/8 sec at f/5, ISO 1600

The installation is about a thirty metre long translucent fabric strung up high in the street with speakers all along both sides.

Slash and Weave

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 16 mm, 1/5 sec at f/5, ISO 1600

Tidal charts Sydney’s evolution from before First Contact to the present day. It creates a narrative of sound and light that weaves above the city streets and captures the tides of change that have so relentlessly transformed the city.

Flight’s of Fancy

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/8 sec at f/4, ISO 1600

Woven

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/6 sec at f/4, ISO 1600

Tidal

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/10 sec at f/4, ISO 1600

There are a number of interactive installations at Vivid Sydney. Possibly none more so than MUSIC|box located at historic Cadman’s Cottage at the Rocks.

Cadman’s Interactive

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 16 mm, 1/15 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600

Here participants can see their own musical compositions translated into unique displays of colour and fantasy.

You step into one of four themed 3D spaces, each acting as a stage on which a virtual keyboard is projected onto the ground.

Play a Chord

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 16 mm, 1/13 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600

By playing your particular instrument you get to create a unique soundscape with every note represented both as an audio and visual element. Together they combine to produce a constantly changing performance. The kids will love this stuff so be sure to venture down here to give it a try.

Interactive Dancing

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 16 mm, 1/40 sec at f/4, ISO 1600

Another very popular spot with kids and adults alike will be Trapdoor down at Barangaroo.

Well Vivid Sydney begins tonight! Here’s a little preview of what you’ll see at one of the premiere Circular Quay locations – the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (or MCA).

Squiggles

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/13 sec at f/4, ISO 1000

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Boom

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/15 sec at f/4, ISO 1600

For this year’s installation on the heritage-listed façade of the MCA inspiration is drawn from shapes and colours in the natural world.

Organic Vibrations is a collaboration between Julia Gorman, a Melbourne-based artist, and Paris-based collective, Danny Rose.

Painted City

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/25 sec at f/4, ISO 1600

Inside on the grass at the front of the building only shots angled from the side allowed you to fit the majority of the building in. The projections are brighter and more vibrant this year – courtesy of some handy new projection technology.

Stacked

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/20 sec at f/4, ISO 1600

The side projectors and the media area was set quite a bit more forward (closer to the building) this year. This meant that fitting the entire building in front on in one shot was only possible by shooting at the rear of the second media area. This meant you get to see all that “nice” Vivid fencing inbetween. Even with my extremely wide 12mm lens it wasn’t quite possible to fit the entire building in from just in front of that fence.

Draped

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/13 sec at f/4, ISO 1600

Envelop

NIKON D750 + 12.0 mm f/2.8 @ 12 mm, 1/20 sec at f/4, ISO 1600