"Street appeal" is realtor drivel used to nickel-and-dime any first home-buyer fighting to keep up with the Joneses. It's not a phrase you hear circulating in photography circles nearly as often – and rightfully so. Charm, to you and me, is likely overdue for paint, rough around the edges, and, well, honest. At the southern end of Australia's sugar cane belt, gateway to the Tweed hinterland, you'll find Murwillumbah, or Mur'bah, honest as they come.
Words: Morgan Rudolph. Videography: Will Vallender.
Set against the backdrop of the Tweed Volcano, Mur'bah's main drag is punctuated with historic art deco and federation style buildings, the Imperial Hotel, the Regent Theatre, the posty, the cop shop, and the bank. The latter gaining notoriety in 1978 for a $2 million bank heist [witnesses are still urged to contact Crime Stoppers].
I couldn't think of a more photogenic setting for Alt Major's Looking Tapes, our maiden community photowalk during LAVA Arts Festival. Convening late Friday at the Impy, Hung Supply crew Lincoln, Will V and myself, alongside Alt Major co-conspirators Chris Bradley and Steve Murphy got a head start bending elbows.
Lincoln James
Camera: Canon EOS 650
IG: @offlinelinc
Wind forward to Saturday afternoon, host Ryan Heywood, and Lazarus Film Lab's Morgan Wagstaff and Blake Pace helped usher in a crowd of thirty trigger-happy photographers into Alt Major. After rubbing shoulders with the crowd, Ryan spoke on observation. With our sites set on Proudfoots Lane and Murwillumbah Street, we loaded our cameras and made tracks.
Some two hours later, we returned to Alt Major to rip the lid off the esky and draw prizes. In the absence of a meat tray, our charitable sponsors donated to a healthy prize pool, including camera bags, film stock, and vouchers. We took advantage of the studio lighting to shoot group portraits and burn through any remaining film before calling it a night.
To all participants, we can't thank you enough for showing up. Your photos tell the story better than I ever could. And to anyone who missed out, this is likely the start of something new; we'll catch you at the next one.
Morgan Wagstaff
Camera: Contax G2
IG: @hotbokchoy
Luke Kerr
Camera: Mamiya 6 & Nikon FM2
IG: @lukekerr_photography
Gwencyphen Paull
Camera: Canon A-1
IG: @gwencyphen
Neo MacDonald
Camera: Mamiya RB67
IG: @abloomfilms
Richard Scott
Camera: Minolta x300
IG: @richard.scott.draws
Cristina Venables
Camera: Pentax K1000
Ryan Heywood
Camera: Pentax 17
IG: @ryanheywood
Sophie Breckenridge
Camera: Minolta X-300
IG: @sophbreckophotography
Tracey Ireland
Camera: Canon EOS
IG: @goldensundaysphotography
Sabine Bannard
Camera: Leica M2
IG: @sabinebannard
Chris Bradley
Camera: Contax G1
IG: @chris_bradley38
Lincoln James
Camera: Canon EOS 650
IG: @offlinelinc
View more Hung Supply Photo Diaries, here.
