Short trip to Launceston

It’s been a year since my last blog and, as you might exepct, a lot has happened in that time. The biggest lifestyle change is that Jenni and I both have left work and are now on a work break/sabbatical for a few months. Having a lot more free time gave us the opportunity to visit Launceston for a couple of days mid-week.

We were here for two nights primarily to visit two photography exhibits but also for a couple of other reasons. The photography exhibits are the “Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025” and “The Vanishing World” the works of Olegas Truchanas, Lithuanian-Australian conservationist and nature photographer from the 60’s and early 70’s.

The other reasons, for me anyway, are less tangible. We’ve booked a big European trip later in the year. We’re visiting 6 countries over 3 months. The trip is not a photography trip but I will likely be taking many photographs. This trip to Launceston was for me to test my new camera bag, my camera gear packing, hone my very limited street photography skills and also to try out (again) an old 20 year old digicam I’ve owned and loved since 2005.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

The exhibition was being held in the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and as we’d booked a city centre hotel we were a short, 10 minute walk away. After breakfast we made the short walk to the exhibition.

I won’t be showing any of the photo in the exhibit but you can see them all here. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery

Every picture was a delight and some were breathtaking. We made a pact to visit this next year if it comes back to Tasmania.

Launceston Street Photography

After the exhibition Jenni andI had lunch and parted ways for the afternoon. I went for a wander round Launceston to see if I could get any interesting “street” style images.

James Boag’s Brewery Tour

After the walk around town I went on a tour of the Boag’s Brewery.

Photography was prohibited on the factory part of the tour so I only got images from other parts.

After the tour I went back to the hotel and changed and Jenni and I went for a very average dinner in a local pub.

Olegas Truchanas Exhibition

We checked out of our hotel after breakfast the next day and wen the the other QVMAG site to see the Olegas Truchanas Vanishing World phot exhibition.

Olegas Truchanas was a very influential conservationist and photographer in the 1960’s and early 70’s. His images show parts of Tasmania before they were destroyed by the hydro dams.

Olegas was a great adventurer, he canoed solo, 250kms down the Gordon River from Lake Pedder to Strahan. The first person ever to achieve this deadly trip.

The rest of the museum held some other interesting stuff

Home

We left the museum and drove home, it took about 2 and a half hours. Not far at all. We finished off this very enjoyable few days adventure with a calming walk on the local beach at (almost) sunset. A perfect end to a great two days break.

Till next time, it won’t be as long I promise.

PS (almost) all images in this blog are straight out of camera and were taken on the Fujifilm F10, a 20 year old digicam.