Thank you

Thank you for taking a moment to look a little deeper.

Every photograph on display has its own story. Some were years in the making, others lasted only a fraction of a second. Together they represent moments that caught my eye, places that moved me, and pieces of Melbourne and beyond that I felt were worth preserving.

Rather than simply displaying the finished image, I wanted to share the story behind it. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I enjoyed creating it.

— David Pleydell

Where no one sat

The Story

Some nights I head out with no destination in mind.

When the fog rolls in, I know there's a good chance I'll find something worth photographing. On this particular night, I drove through different parts of Craigieburn, parking the car whenever something caught my attention and simply walking to see what I might discover.

Photography isn't always about knowing where the photograph is. Sometimes it's about giving yourself the chance to find it.

As I approached Highlands Lake from one of the back streets, this solitary bench immediately caught my eye. Surrounded by fog and illuminated by the warm orange glow of the streetlights, it felt completely isolated. There was nothing dramatic happening, yet it was impossible to ignore.

I titled this photograph Where No One Sat because that's exactly how it felt. A place that would normally invite people to pause had become silent and empty. The fog hid what lay beyond, leaving only the bench and an overwhelming sense of stillness.

For me, it almost feels like looking into the unknown. It's a simple scene, but one that invites you to stop for a moment and wonder what lies beyond the mist.