FOUNTAIN, EXHIBITION GARDENS
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
IMAGE NUMBER 636
Josef Hochgurtel was born in Cologne and trained under Herr Fuels, who modelled the Cologne Cathedral.
His colossal fountain stands some ten metres high on the south side of the Royal Exhibition Building.. It was constructed in 1880 for the first of Melbourne's two grand international world fairs. The fountain's visual elements were designed to display the young colony's confidence and advancement, simultaneously signalling the purpose of world fairs to display the produce and industry of nations. Built during Victoria's boom years, the fountain's spouting water, it was thought, would demonstrate the power and success of the recently established Yan Yean project, which brought potable water to the city.
Hochgurtel's fountain remains a great reminder of the glorious days of Marvellous Melbourne.
Technical Notes
The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 3/5th of a second and at aperture F22. 80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter. The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.