To commemorate a new project, many construction sites across Melbourne engage with Indigenous Elders for a smoking ceremony. Everyone involved is invited to walk through the smoking leaves for cleansing and to acknowledge country and tradition.
We’ve been capturing these ceremonies for years and they’re always a milestone highlight. It’s a great opportunity for our team to connect with the construction site community we are about to start work with, as well as take a step back and connect with country.
When filming smoke in this way, we tend to expose for the smoke so the final video doesn’t lose detail within or behind it. White balance is also important because you want the smoke to stay a neutral grey. In natural light, it can easily shift cooler and take away from the warmth of the ceremony we aim to capture.
Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
https://www.aboriginalculturalimmersions.com.au/smoking-ceremony-aboriginal-dreaming
https://www.wurundjeri.com.au/services/cultural-practices-for-events/smoking/