A Photographer's Paradise

The Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip is a photographer’s paradise. There are endless photo opportunities with the building’s stunning architecture and exhibits. On Sunday I visited the museum with a group of like-minded photographers. It was my third visit since the museum opened in late November.

Like children at a fun fair, we couldn’t contain our excitement as we entered the museum. One of our first stops was a gigantic dinosaur in the corridor. It didn’t take long before a museum worker remarked, “You must be in a photography group.” I replied, “Yes, we’re the weirdos.” I wasn’t joking, we really were. While the other museum visitors strolled around the displays, we were positioned in weird places; on the floor, in the corridors, on the balconies and in the corners, patiently waiting for the right photo opportunity. One of our challenges was to take photographs without being photobombed.

The photographers wandered around until we entered the exhibition entitled Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters. It was the first exhibition that I saw on my first visit, and it is still my favourite. The exhibition tells the Aboriginal story of the Seven Sisters, taking you a multisensory journey incorporating arts and crafts, videos, sounds and stunning light displays. It is impressive. ​​

A very scary dinosaur.

The Seven Sisters.

We covered a lot of ground exploring all the floors of the museum, focusing on the architecture while remaining weird for the entire time. Ironically, we were so focused on taking our photographs that we weren’t so focused on each other. The museum is enormous and we lost each other numerous times during the visit. It was a bit like Where’s Wally with photographers. The only thing is that we weren’t wearing red and white stripes, or glasses like Wally. It’s definitely something to remember for next time. 
 
The museum is a playground for both children and adults, not just for photographers. There are different exhibits over five floors, engaging all the senses including sight, touch, sound and smell. The museum is very accessible. While there are plenty of stairs, there are also escalators and elevators. Additionally, the museum has a café for those who want to take a break.
 
Before we knew it, a few hours flew by and we still had lots to see. At that point, the photographers decided to go on an adventure to find the cafe. It is tucked away in the corner of the museum and like hungry bloodhounds, we successfully sniffed our way there.  The cafe was packed, therefore it was a challenge to find a table.  However, we did find a table and had an enjoyable time. 
 
Things changed suddenly when one of the photographers got a text message saying that Western Australia will be in lockdown due to COVID. Initially I didn’t believe it. We stayed at the cafe for a while and watched it become empty very quickly. We were probably among the last people to leave.  At that point we farewelled each other, not knowing how much time the lockdown will last. I personally didn’t let that lower my spirits though. I was on a high from the adventure and also from the coffee.
 
Overall, it was an enjoyable day at the museum with an awesome group of people. It was also a very good photography day for me, with lots of photographs that I’m pleased with. The WA Museum Boola Bardip is definitely a photographer's paradise. It's an incredible place to visit and a must-see when you’re in Perth.

Favourite Photographs from WA Museum Boola Bardip