Paul Tocatlian Featured in Amateur Photographer

Amateur Photographer showcases Paul Tocatlian‘s photographic journey in Melbourne, Australia, amidst the pandemic. Delving into the city’s dynamic culture, he engaged in over 150 collaborative photoshoots, artfully capturing Melbourne’s creative community’s essence, diversity, and talent.

The Magazine

The Article

In 2019, I decided to travel to Australia. The first trip brought me to Sydney, where I met my daughter while she was studying abroad. I returned later that year to Melbourne and spent the greater part of two years discovering this beautiful city.

Melbourne is considered one of the most liveable cities in the world. Known for its graffiti laneways, aromatic coffee, cultural diversity, nearby beaches and green spaces, year-round cultural and sporting events, Melbourne has something for everyone.

Melbourne became my home during the pandemic. Despite spending 262 days in lockdown – more than any other city in the world – I fell in love with this eclectic metropolis. Its empty streets, Victorian-era skyscrapers, Art Deco buildings, and post-modern landmarks make it a target-rich environment for urban photographers. The streets of Melbourne became my studio.

Beyond its impressive architecture, what makes Melbourne my favorite place for photography is its people. Young. Old. Black. White. From every walk of life. From every corner of the world. A true melting pot that fueled my creativity beyond measure and resulted in over 150 collaborations with other photographers, models, hair and makeup artists, poets, and street artists.

Pia Gould, who is featured in my photo, embodies the talent and kind-heartedness of Melbourne’s creative community. She’s a model. A hair and makeup artist. A photo editor. An entrepreneur. A wife and mother. Working together, we learned how to see beyond the concrete surfaces and expect the unexpected as we embarked on our marathon photoshoot sessions that spanned four seasons in one day.

The April 2022 Premium Travel Issue of Amateur Photographer Magazine is available for sale here.