By Tanya Steele
Photo walks in the Yarra Ranges are a great way to get active and be creative at the same time.
From Olinda to Healesville, a local photographer has been running free monthly photo walks for the general public to join in and snap a photo of the local scenery.
Novice to professional photography lovers from locals and tourists alike have been joining seasoned photographer Steve to take in nature and practice their art form.
On Sunday 4 August, a group of 13 met at the artist’s base studio Loop in Olinda and from there went to the Dandenong Ranges Botanical Gardens to capture the scenery at the famous gardens.
“Most of the walks have been focused around the Dandenongs, which has been very well received,” Steve said.
“We walked down there and walked down to that Serenity Point Lookout up back by the lake, and then back around – it was a good little bit of exercise,” he said.
“A couple of months ago, he went down to Sherbrooke Falls, and did a bit of a quiet loop around there.”
People came from as far as Altona for the day and Steve said he began the photo walks after lockdown.
“I heard one was happening in Sydney so I went searching for one in Melbourne and I couldn’t find one,” he said.
“I figured, well I’ll make one,” he said.
The Melbourne Photo Walks officially began in 2023 and Steve said once he put it out there people began attending straight away.
“It sort of naturally grew and every month, we’d go out for a walk somewhere different,” Steve said.
The attendees have ranged from novice to professional large-format film photographers.
“It’s everyone – people are shooting with iPhones and it’s about getting more people into it, shooting photos, having fun and sharing some knowledge as well,” Steve said.
“Everything I do now is about including people and bringing people together,” he said.
A photographer for over 20 years and specialising in film and portraiture, Steve now has a permanent studio in Olinda where the walks are based. The casual strolls range in length and typically begin around 9am on the first Sunday of most months.
“It’s really about finding your people that share an interest in photography – there’s absolutely no pressure to ‘be’ anything’ Steve said.
“There’s no expectation but the walks do provide an avenue for people to explore photography,” he said.
The Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley have so far provided an accessible way for people to practice their art – setting the stunning forest and valley scenery as the backdrop to any artist’s wandering eye.
Steve said by popular request they will soon head to the Maroondah Dam on Father’s Day for their next walk on 1 September.
People can find out more at the “What’s on” space of his website at:
www.loopartphotospace.com/whats-on-at-loop-art-photo-space-olinda/free-melbourne-photo-walk/
“We always have a really positive vibe,” he said.
