Friday 8 May 2009

Hyde Park, Heart of the City (1)


If Hyde Park is the heart of this City, then the pulse of HP is the Archibald Fountain, seen here belting out a solo with St Mary's Cathedral performing back-up. This park is very much what is known as "built environment" with no unstructured areas as occur in Hyde Park in London or Central Park In New York. It is more like the Tuileries - I hasten to add though that I would never be so gauche as to make that direct comparison! Suffice to say, there are no unkempt areas; it is all manicured. For unkempt, we need to visit either Centennial or Bicentennial Parks.

St Mary's is located on College Street which runs along the eastern edge of the Park. It is the focus of Roman Catholicism in this city.

Here is an aerial photograph of the northern section of Hyde Park in 1929. It is quite ravaged-looking having just been gouged to enable the underground railway to "grow" a station beneath it: St James, which is very close to the Top LHS of the park fronting onto Elizbeth Street. St Mary's can be seen on the RHS of the photograph. In the background can be seen the abutments of a growing harbour bridge. Sydneysiders will gleefully locate Circular Quay, Government House and the Tramways on Point Bennelong. The Archibald Fountain is located in the middle of the bullseye formed by the intersecting walkways.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

What an amazing photo, Julie! Absolutely gorgeous!
Also like the b&w 1929 shot of the park; I wonder what it looks like today seen from the same angle...

Clueless in Boston said...

Beautiful shot and especially at night. The fountain looks beautiful with that spraying water.

My favorite fountain in Boston does not have any water anymore. I guess it is too expensive to fix.

cara said...

Wow! Doesn't look like you need much practice, Julie. Your pictures are great.

No sign of the tripod yet (it's coming via a friend of a friend so could be a while)

Looking forward to some more night shots - when you don't do many they really stand out.

Julie said...

Let me tell you: the tripod makes the difference! Just wait ...

Sarah Lulu said...

I took my own photo of that fountain earlier this year ..so special.

Thank you for featuring it.

Love your blog.

Lois said...

That first picture is absolutely stunning Julie! I also like the old aerial shot.

Lowell said...

That first shot is striking...frame it and hang it!

Ann said...

I have dozens and dozens of day time and sunset shots but no nighttime ones - I really do need to get a tripod. Great shot.

Coskunca said...

Hi Julie,
Thanks for sharing these nice photos especially old b&w photo.

Hilda said...

Your evening shots of the fountain and the cathedral are glorious!

brattcat said...

These are stunning, Julie. Composition on the first could not be improved. And you had such dramatic light which you turned into pure photographic magic.

AB said...

It is nice to get to know Sydney this way. The first photo is charming as it seems the statue is grabbing hold of the church spire with his right hand.

B SQUARED said...

Be gauche. You don't have to take a back-seat to anyplace.

Tash said...

this is the best! I'm waiting for you to publish a book on Sydney with the 1st photo on the cover.
Love the old aerial view.

Virginia said...

I hear that tripod advice loud and clear. I have GOT to get over hating mine so much. We must kiss and make up so I can have some shots like your fabulous ones today.
V

Julie said...

Virginia, play with your tripod in the privacy of your house and garden. I have some lovely evening shots of my house all lit up. The setup can be time-consuming and embarrassing; but made moreso by clumsiness. Before you go, just take some time every other day to train yourself in the setup of the legs and in the swing of the head. Night shots are really good because everyone just ignores you!

Just picture yourself on Pont Neuf, a balmy summer's evening, young lovers strolling hand-in-hand ... and you get camera-shake sans tripod ... shot ruined ...

You go, girl!