The World's Ultimate Theatre

Tarry A While After The Lights Are Turned Down

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes a photographer is rewarded for patience. Actually, let me amend that advice. More often than not, there is great reward for patience. Long after the main event has come and gone, there will always be an unusual image worth capturing.

A few months ago I was in Dawson City at the invitation of Yukon Tourism and I was lucky enough to be atop The Dome during a memorable sunset. The images of that evening, as the sun sank slowly and unhurriedly over the surrounding hills, can be seen at Sunset Over The Klondike.

But long after the golden orb had finally slipped into the embrace of the horizon far below me, I remained at The Dome, completely entranced by the 360-degree view.

After the liquid gold tones had vanished from the sky, they were replaced by a new range of pastel colours. Combined with the blue-azure of the hills in the west, they made an irresistible sight. In other words, never hurry away from a sunset. Chances are the aftermath will be just a memorable.


For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

Soldiering On

Commemoration Of A Short But Treasured Life

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Making the most of the photo opportunities during a trip to the west coast, I took this shot just as I was leaving Kings Park in Perth, last Sunday. It was a scorching hot day with the mercury hovering close to the 100 Fahrenheit mark and after spending about an hour in the sprawling 400-hectare park (that’s about 1000 acres) I was keen to find some shade when I spotted this sight.

Commemorative trees for soldiers have an interesting history here in Australia. About 20 years ago, while driving from Melbourne to Adelaide, we passed through Ballarat and I noticed little plaques beside a long row of trees on each side of the Western Highway.

The next time we did the trip, I measured the distance and was surprised to discover that the Avenue of Honour, as it is called, stretched for more than 20 kilometres. It is by far the longest of its kind in any Australian city or town.

Each tree was planted in honour of a Ballarat citizen who volunteered for active service, with a plaque bearing a cross for each one killed in action. I did a rough calculation based on the estimated distance between each tree and I have to admit that I was astounded by the result.

I estimated about 3500 trees, but I researched this calculation yesterday and found that the official figure is almost 3800 trees.

This solitary tree, on the other side of the country, is living testament to a much-loved son killed in 1918, in the last months of World War I. He was not just a son of the family whose surname he shared, but a son of this nation as well.

Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Aftermath".