The Street is My Studio
Melbourne became the studio.
The Street is My Studio is Paul Tocatlian’s first photography zine, a printed sequence of portraits made across Melbourne when the city grew unusually quiet.
Sidewalks, facades, and overlooked corners became open-air sets. The result is a study of place, identity, and improvisation, and an early glimpse of The Melbourne Portraits Project.
Melbourne
Setting
Street portraits
Focus
Kisau Press
Publisher
First zine
Publication
A City Reframed
The street offered the set.
Melbourne’s quieter streets made room for a different kind of portrait. Architecture, graffiti, glass, and available light became part of each sitter’s character.
Some photographs feel still and intimate. Others hold movement, color, and the energy of a city waiting to return.
First Look
Portraits made for the page.
The edit moves between street scenes, studio-like stillness, bold color, and quiet observation. Printed together, the portraits find a rhythm that a screen cannot reproduce.
Made for Print
Sequence changed the photographs.
The zine was built by pairing portraits, testing pace, and letting blank space shape the experience. A vintage camera appears beside the finished spreads as a quiet link between making and holding photographs.
View production notes
The portraits were photographed by Paul Tocatlian with a Sony Alpha 7R III and a Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art lens. The photographs were edited in Adobe Lightroom, sequenced in Affinity Publisher, and printed through Mixam.
The Art of Photography
The zine found a wider conversation.
Ted Forbes featured The Street is My Studio through The Art of Photography, placing the project in a conversation about editing, sequence, and the lasting value of photographs in print.
Shot with Sony Alpha
Whether I am working on location or in the studio, I rely on the Sony Alpha 7R series for its high-resolution sensor, fast and accurate autofocus, and exceptional range of high-quality lenses. Together, these tools help me stay connected to the subject, follow movement, and weave the surrounding environment into a richer visual narrative.
Questions
What is The Street is My Studio?
It is Paul Tocatlian’s first photography zine, a curated sequence of Melbourne portraits made in streets and public spaces that became open-air studios.
Where was the zine photographed?
The portraits were made across Melbourne, Australia, during a period when the city was unusually quiet.
What do the prices include?
The United States price includes USPS First Class Mail. The worldwide price includes standard international mail.
Can I request a signed copy?
Yes. Use the shipping information form after payment and mention that you would like the zine signed.
How does it relate to The Melbourne Portraits Project?
The zine is an early printed glimpse of The Melbourne Portraits Project, which expands the story into a larger portrait collection.
Bring the street home.
Choose the destination below, then send the mailing name and address through the shipping form. You can also request a signed copy.
United States
$15
Includes USPS First Class Mail.
Worldwide
$20
Includes standard international mail.