![Shop window of Angus & Celeste Ceramics in Olinda after dark](https://katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-10-1024x684.jpg)
A Winter Solstice Celebration
As the winter solstice approaches, the longest night of the year holds a special allure. It’s a time when darkness envelops the landscape. Here in the Dandenongs many of us associate the solstice with the Belgrave Lantern Parade. It is a truly magical evening when community come together and light up the main street of Belgrave with lanterns, both large and small.
![Window of Storehouse Roastery in Olinda photographed at dusk](https://katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-1-1024x684.jpg)
This year I decided to take on a personal solstice photography passion project. I chose to photograph a number of shop windows in Olinda, Sassafras and Kallista after dark. I chose these towns as they aren’t the epicentre of the Hills’ solstice celebrations. They are also home to many small businesses and I wanted to shine a light on these.
![Window of Sohum in Sassafras taken at night with neon sign lit up](https://katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-22-1024x684.jpg)
I took the images on a freezing and very windy Saturday night 5 days before the 2023 solstice. I had just completed an extended family session at RJ Hamer Arboretum and was already chilled to the bone. I rugged up, took my cameras and went walking.
![Window of Clementine By Design in Kallista taken at night](https://katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-31-1024x684.jpg)
This was an opportunity to capture the essence of local community through their shop windows. Each window tells a story, exuding warmth and creativity. The lights, displays and decorations create a visual feast that captures the spirit of hygge and the solstice.
![Window of Truffaux in Olinda lit up at night](https://katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-13-1024x684.jpg)
As I walked the streets on this cold, dark night I was taken back. It reminded me of the time I spent in Europe as an exchange student and later while studying at the University of Essen in Germany. There, in winter, there is barely 6 hours of a daylight so it was not unusual to be shopping by artificial light only.
![Butlers Vintage Depot in Olinda at night](https://katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-7-1024x684.jpg)
Photographing in these conditions was a unique challenge. It was a chance to embrace the warm yellow hues of the lights, rather than fighting to balance them like in portrait photography. I had to balance the surrounding darkness. I had to time the shots to avoid headlights obscuring them or lighting up and reflecting whatever lay opposite.
![Window of Angus Ceramics in Olinda at night](https://katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-11-1024x684.jpg)
I hope these images inspire you to rug up, get outdoors and explore despite the pending inclement weather.
![Gepetto's Workshop at night](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-19-684x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![Window of Storehouse Roastery Olinda after dark](https://i2.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-2-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![Truffaux Hats Olinda at night](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-12-684x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![Windows of Lennox Sassafras after dark](https://i0.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-14-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-4-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-21-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-5-684x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![Windows of Butler's Vintage Depot at night](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-6-684x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-8-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-9-684x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-24-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-29-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-15-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-16-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-17-684x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-28-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-18-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![Epoche and Leaf Studios Kallista at night](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-30-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-20-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-23-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![Coffee machine lit up my own lights at night](https://i2.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-25-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-27-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-32-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
![Wilga Clothing in Kallista at night](https://i0.wp.com/katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hills_By-Night-33-1024x684.jpg?ssl=1)
Businesses Photographed
- Storehouse Roastery, Olinda
- Butlers Vintage Depot, Olinda
- Mangana, Olinda
- Truffaux Hat Store, Olinda
- Angus & Celeste Ceramics, Olinda
- Lennox of Sassafras
- Through The Looking Glass, Sassafras
- Gepetto’s Workshop, Sassafras
- Chojo Feature Trees, Sassafras
- From Dust, Sassafras
- Storehouse, Sassafras
- Sohum, Sassafras
- Tea Leaves, Sassafras
- Wilga, Kallista
- Clementine By Design, Kallista
- Epoche, Kallista
- Leaf Studios, Kallista
I ACKNOWLEDGE THE BUNURONG AND WURUNDJERI PEOPLE WHO ARE THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE LAND ON WHICH I PHOTOGRAPH.
I PAY MY RESPECTS TO THEIR ELDERS; PAST, PRESENT AND EMERGING.
![](https://katecashinphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Supporting-Local-Small-Business-300x300.jpg)
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