The NGV’s French Impressionism exhibition was truly inspiring. Walking through those carefully curated rooms felt like stepping into another world—one bathed in the soft glow of colour, brushstroke, and history. Each gallery had its own carefully chosen palette that didn’t just display the works but complemented them. It heightened the atmosphere and made the exhibition truly immersive.

French Impressionism

French Impressionism

French Impressionism

French Impressionism

For this visit, I brought my Lensbaby Burnside 35 and leaned into the impressionistic spirit that these masters championed. I shot with the aperture wide open to invite softness and light, dialling back the vignetting to keep the scenes open and airy. I also experimented with the camera’s multiple exposure mode, layering scenes of moving visitors, shifting light, and the artworks themselves into single frames. It was my way of making photography feel more like painting. Some images revealed subtle texture that I didn’t even fully notice until reviewing them—a happy discovery that reminded me how embracing chance can lead to authentic, expressive results.

French Impressionism

French Impressionism

French Impressionism

One thing I’ve realised about shooting in exhibitions is that no matter which show it is, the underlying concept of photographing people as they explore art doesn’t really change. It’s the visitors who bring the space to life, adding human scale and context, and creating a living narrative around the static works on the walls. While most people were there to capture the masterpieces themselves, I was drawn to something else: the feeling of being there. The hush of contemplation, the soft murmur of conversation, the slow drift of people from one room to another—all of that felt worth preserving.

French Impressionism

French Impressionism

French Impressionism

Standing there reminded me why I love photography in the first place. Overall, it was a truly rewarding experience, and I loved being surrounded by these timeless masterpieces while making images of my own.

French Impressionism

French Impressionism French Impressionism

Check out the full gallery, French Impressionist Exhibition, to see all the images—best enjoyed with the Slideshow feature.