When Melbourne-based photographer Tom Blachford first travelled to Palm Springs more than 10 years ago, he fell in love with the city’s famous architecture and desert landscapes.

He decided to take his camera out one night and experiment with some long-exposure photographs of moonlit homes and tree-lined streets. Little did he know this would inspire his decade-long series of fine-art photographs taken around Palm Springs at night called Midnight Modern.

Now Tom’s gearing up to reveal the sixth chapter, Midnight Modern VI, opening at Armadale’s Compendium Gallery this Friday September 20.

The new large-scale prints showcase some incredible and iconic settings, including more than $10m worth of classic cars, snow-capped mountains, and visibly starry skies — which has become a signature in Tom’s series.

One of the most spectacular works features American actor and racing car driver Steve McQueen’s own former home, alongside his Meyers Manx car, as seen in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair.

Tom says the shoot had some ‘pretty epic moments’, from photographing the House of Tomorrow (also known as the home where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon) to visiting some of the homes featured in his earlier series.

The magic of the photos is all in the long exposure shots, with Tom revealing that there’s very little post-production in bringing these captivating scenes to life. Each print is available to purchase in three sizes.

See Midnight Modern VI by Tom Blachford from September 20 – October 5. 

Compendium Gallery
909A High Street
Armadale, VIC