Mark Strizic, Centreway Arcade, 259 Collins Street, Melbourne, 1960

Here’s a curiosity: Mark Strizic was not long in professional photography when he made this image in Collins St – when there was still a Collins St to photograph.

He had taught himself photography with 35mm cameras, but with architectural commisions, he needed a more adjustable camera with a larger negative. Was he still learning when he produced an under-exposed 5×4 negative with the camera’s flat bed showing at the bottom? He was using an extreme wide angle lens which is racked right back into the body, so I guess the bed could show up in the frame. Did he realize that and intend to crop it out?

I don’t know the answers but I love the picture.

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