I took a minimalist approach on my trip to a street organ festival. An FM2n loaded with Portra 160, a Voigtländer 40mm f/2 and a Nikon 135mm f/2.8 Ai-S. Despite having to set aperture, shutter and focus manually (or perhaps because of all that) this camera always returns a large number of keepers.
Taking my time helps the quality of my images. For subjects that don’t move much the FM2n is a fine camera. Exposures were consistent and focusing was easy in the bright viewfinder.
My drive took me through the hills between Yackandandah and Beechworth, historic gold mining towns in Victoria’s north east. The 1857 bridge leading to Yackandanda’s main street was strengthened in 2015 to handle large trucks. As I stopped to take in the scenery on the way to Beechworth I noticed an abandoned railway cutting, the line having been closed in 1954.
 |
|
 |
 |
Beechworth was built on the fortunes made in gold and it shows in the quality of the public buildings, hotels, shops and parks. The town council have made quite an effort to maintain the town as it was in the 1850s.
 |
 |
Even small street organs are loud so the various exhibitors had set up at different locations out of range of each other. Hand cranked barrel organs suddenly burst into a march or popular song as visitors approached.
The large trailer mounted organs were extraordinarily detailed with paintings and miniature statues. Mechanical drums, cymbals and glockenspiel supported multiple ranks of flutes and trumpets. It was an amazing experience, full of colourful sights and a constant supply of wonderful music.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|