Eye Eye, Sir

This Was The Mane Event

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I've shot elephants at close quarters before, during a 1998 trip to Bali, Indonesia - but I've never used a camera in close proximity to horses until recently.

A couple of weeks ago, I was shooting images of a couple of horses in a Melbourne paddock near Churchill National Park, gradually working my way closer since they were not familiar with me.

The thing I was really worried about was that, if I got too close, the sound of the camera might scare them. But it’s hard work trying to shoot close-ups of horses, especially as these two were restless because of the presence of a stranger.

Most of the images I shot were side-on, but this horse suddenly gave me a full-frontal view for a couple of seconds. Grateful for the unusual viewpoint, I composed the shot as quickly as I could, looking down onto the bulge of both eyeballs.

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Bird Brain

Like Life Skills, It’s All A Matter Of Balance

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

About twenty years ago, on one of our visits to Hong Kong, I was fascinated by the pavement vendors and the wide range of objects for sale. One of the toys that caught my eye was a simple plastic bird that balanced at impossibly precarious angles.

Of course, my scientific background was useful when I checked out one of the birds for the first time. I was struck by how unexpectedly heavy it was and I realised that it was a simple matter of allocating mass unevenly but towards a particular point. In this case, the bird’s head was by far the heaviest part, while the tail was extremely light.


Because of its clever design, the bird was able to balance on a pencil – and as you can see in these images, it does so in a strikingly unique attitude. The point of the bird’s beak acts as a perfectly stabilised fulcrum and it actually looks as though it is diving towards its prey.

It’s one bird that cannot shake its tail feather.


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Look Into My Eyes

You Are Feeling Very .... S l e e p y ....

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This moose with the amazing eyes was on a footpath in Whitehorse, in Canada's Yukon. I was just walking around the city centre before leaving for the airport to catch my flight home, and I thought I'd take a few photographs while I soaked up the sun.

All right, if you must know, I shot more than a hundred images.

But when you see a wooden moose, how could you resist take a shot? I think I might have caught him napping!

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Pier Pressure

Wanna See Me Shake My Tail Feather?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Cloudy evening. No chance of a blazing sunset. But I can take a shot of a couple of gulls sitting on the pier.

You have no idea how long I sat there with my lens trained on these two birds. I had a very simple idea in mind. I lined up both gulls on the pier pilings, and wondered if I could possibly get a shot of them looking in the same direction, or just looking synchronised.

But these two were not going to co-operate. They could not have been less in synch if they tried. And no, they didn't even try and shake their tail feathers.

Maybe they were just tired of the paparazzi.

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Is This Puff The Magic Dragon?

There's Only One Way To Find Out

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I was walking through the inner-city suburb of Richmond at lunchtime on Tuesday when I saw some great wall art down a laneway, with a variety of figures and representations.

Then, when I got to the corner, I realised I could use a fairly tight vertical frame to combine a fire-breathing dragon and a street sign to produce an interesting, offbeat result.

This was shot in very murky light in extremely cloudy conditions, even though it was about 2pm.

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Oedipus Rexy

Plight At The Museum

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

You DO recognise this fella, don't you? If you saw the movie "Night At The Museum" and its sequel, then you would remember the antics of the amazing Tyrannosaurus Rex called Rexy.

If you didn't see either of the movies, Rexy was the giant T-Rex skeleton that came alive at night, slaked its thirst at the water fountain and wanted to play "fetch" with the night guard, played by Ben Stiller's character.

Both these shots were taken on a dark table with glass laid over the polished wood - not just because I wanted a contrasting surface to emphasise the skeletal construction of Rexy, but because (as you'll see in the first image) I also wanted an interesting reflection.

Does this bloke really come alive at night? Just ask me tomorrow morning!


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Off The Beaten Track

Dunno About Snowmobiles, Where's That Caribou?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

If you're wondering where this shot was taken, let me give you a clue. Yes, we have snowmobiles in Australia. But no, we don't have caribou. So you're thinking I took this shot when I was in the Yukon last year? Yep, you're right.

This was taken on the picturesque Coal Road outside Whitehorse and even though there was a cool breeze blowing off the mountains that were capped with the previous season's snow, there was brilliant sunshine on the autumn foliage all around me.

But here's a grammatical question. Does the sign apply to the caribou, as in the command "Caribou, stay on trail"? No, it takes a second or two for my brain to realise the command is for us humans, as in "Take it easy, mate, there are caribou here - so it's safer if you stay on the track."

Yup. I knew that.

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A Fishy Tale

Angling For An Introduction

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This shot was one of a series that I took in Melbourne's most vibrant thoroughfare, Hosier Lane. The narrow laneway, off Flinders Street, is well known for its wall art and murals. It's probably only 300 metres long, but the art is stunning, bold, colourful, intricate and generally very classy.

I spent about ten minutes in the laneway on Thursday afternoon, shortly after heavy rain. A few hours earlier, I had received an email from an old friend who lives overseas, asking me if I'd ever shot images in the lane. Yes, I had, but it was high time I re-visited the place.

It began to drizzle as soon as I walked into the laneway - and this time I noticed there were about seven or eight other people there, each with cameras, walking up and down and shooting scenes along the walls and doorways.

I know you're going to ask me a simple question. You want to know the dimensions of the fish, right? I'm guessing here - but it was more than two metres high. Lucky it wasn't the one that got away.

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Have Teddy, Will Travel

They Couldn't Bear To Leave Him Behind

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I've seen a lot of motorcycles. I've seen a lot of luggage. But I ain't never seen a teddy bear perched so securely on top of the luggage behind a motorcycle. This was such a great sight that I had to get my camera out and take the shot, even though the light was really poor.

I'd say it's a very well-travelled bear - and obviously the chill in the air didn't worry him (or her) in the least. Come to think of it, maybe he (or she) was really hibernating on the back of that big bike.

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You're Right - Black IS Beautiful

But I Didn't Argue About Who Had Right Of Way

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

These shots were taken during my trip to the Yukon late last year. We were just entering Haines Junction when we noticed a black bear crossing the Alaska Highway.

Throughout that trip, I had two camera around my neck. I had to react fairly quickly here, because the bear had already crossed the highway and was walking off into the trees. He was a fair way away from me, so it would probably have been safe to step out of the car.

But I knew that in the few seconds it would have taken me to jump out of the vehicle, walk clear and line up a shot, he would probably have disappeared. So I took the next best option and shot these through the windscreen.

Not great shots, but I'm glad I took them. Because the bear had disappeared a few seconds later.


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Dog Tired

Thereby Hangs A Tail

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Some weeks ago we were at a friend's place when their two dogs took a break, away from the noise and hubbub of a large gathering. They were indoors, but I had to get the camera out to shoot a scene of utter togetherness and tranquillity.

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The Bridle Be Late

It's Not The Annual Free-For-All Street Derby

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Both aspects of this image portray familiar Melbourne sights – a tramcar (trolley, to some of my readers) and a horse and carriage. This is one of the older trams and the interesting thing about this shot is that there is very little to suggest it was shot in Melbourne – apart from the corporate logo on the side of the tram.

And while this was shot several weeks ago, on a warm autumn day, it’s now winter here and business is probably a bit slower for the horse-and-carriage operators. They ply their trade in the city, where it is perfectly legal for them to share the broad thoroughfares with all other vehicles.


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Woolly Nelson

Hopelessly Devoted To Ewe

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Picture this: here I am, scooting along the Olympic Highway. Going bush, we call it. Leaving the bright lights of the city far behind and heading for the wide open spaces, of which there are many in this wide brown land.

I’ve just turned off the busy Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney. I’ve put about 300 kilometres on the clock and I’ve followed instructions to "hang a left" just after Albury. I’m on the grandly-named Olympic Highway, but it’s really only two lanes, one in either direction.

There’s very little traffic, so I use my peripheral vision to check for possible stop-and-shoot spots where I can safely pull off the road, grab the camera, take a few shots and then drive on again. The road is long but the day is even longer. Easy pace. No need to hurry.

I drive round a gentle curve and there is a flock of sheep, grazing right near a perimeter fence. Above them is a dead, bare tree against a largely blue sky mottled with low white cloud to the west.


Brain says "perfect Outback scene" and then a split-second later it tells me "ideal Camera Critters shot". So I slow down, continue round the bend to where it is safe to see traffic in either direction. Nary a vehicle. So I do a clean, efficient U-turn and drive back to where I saw the sheep. One more deft U-turn and I am right beside the boundary fence.

I grab my camera and get out of the car. My heavy-duty hiking boots crunch on the shale. I am looking down to make sure I don’t trip on the uneven ground. The undergrowth is thick but steady. I negotiate about twenty metres of tricky but not dangerous ground.

Then I look up. The sheep, curse their tim'rous hearts, have scarpered. There is now 50 metres between us. So these shots were the best I could do.


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Kung Fu Panda Takes A Stance

Them’s Fighting Words

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

It was after dark in Melbourne, and the lights were being switched off at Casa Authorblog. I was walking through the kitchen when I noticed that someone had left a miniature figure of Po, the Kung Fu Panda, on the island bench.

There was only one light on, about ten metres away – and the shadow was sufficiently interesting for me to get my camera out. Po by himself was not a great shot, especially since I never use a tripod.

But when I moved back a bit and included the sharper image of the handle of a coffee mug, things got far more interesting!

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Dog Day Afternoon

It Ain't Over Till It's Rover

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I reckon animals with droopy eyelids are irresistible. So when I saw this one, I had to get out my camera and shoot a close-up immediately.

No, he's not a real dog, but he still looks like he has personality. And yes, he has a woof over his head.

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Bridle Waltz

It's The Pre-Race Favourite

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

You know when you have one of those lightbulb moments, when something throws a switch and a little light illuminates your brain? I’ve often driven past this Melbourne landmark and it suddenly struck me that it would be perfect for this week’s representation of Camera Critters.

The horse that stands proud and tall above this old store has obviously been there for years. The shop is called Horse Torque And Lollies and I just thought it took its name from nearby Caulfield racecourse.

But then I did a little reading around the subject and found out that I was wrong. In its earliest guise, the place sold a wide variety of equine products and – judging by its location – must have done a roaring trade.

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Happy Feathers Day

Pretty Fly For A White Guy

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I was on the wooden pier at Milsons Point in Sydney a few weeks ago, shooting some frames of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, when this gull swooped in. He was probably wondering if I would toss him some bread crumbs, but I was busy with my camera.

It was a few seconds before I realised that he was in a perfect position for a wry shot that included the bird as well as the prominent sign.

I guess telling a gull not to go fishing would be akin to telling a fish not to go swimming. But not this gull. He wasn’t going anywhere near the surface of the water to find his lunch. I could have gone and bought him a doughnut, but it might have left him a bit green around the gills, er, gulls.


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Ram Beau

No Reason To Feel Sheepish

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

You reckon I've been rolling around in the slush, photographing livestock, right? Er, not quite. Yes, this is a merino, the famous drought-resistant breed of Australian sheep that is synonymous with top-grade wool. But there's more to it than meets the eye .....

I’m pretty observant, for a bloke. But don’t let that mislead you. It’s a well established fact among members of my clan that I cannot find things in a drawer, on a desk, on a table, in a cupboard, on a shelf, in a shopping bag, in a suitcase or in a supermarket aisle. But let me loose with a camera and I’ll see things that no one else can see.

Ya get my drift, right?


So when we recently went to Sydney for Easter, I had a bit of explaining to do. We pulled into a service station at Goulburn, a picturesque New South Wales town. Apart from the fact that the service station has plenty of bowsers, there is also a bakery across the street and plenty of other restaurants and outlets in a tight radius.

But as I drove towards the service station, we all noticed (some of us, ahem, more quickly than others) the huge merino that dominated the horizon. Yes, it’s the well-known Big Merino, a famous Australian tourist attraction. But here’s the problem. How come none of us had noticed it on previous trips, when we pulled in for a quick refuelling stop at the same place?

I went for the obvious option and said I must have been concentrating on a) traffic, b) pedestrians and c) speed limit signs. Spotting big merinos, I stuttered, was surely the responsibility of Mrs Authorblog and the Authorbloglets. Especially a merino that stands more than 15 metres tall.


Then, as I sat down to write this post, I did a bit of research and discovered that there’s nothing wrong with my eyesight. The mammoth figure of the Big Merino was actually constructed elsewhere in Goulburn. Then, when a highway bypass was built and the tourist traffic to the merino took a huge dip, the giant figure was moved, lock, stock and barrel to its present location.

I’m so clever I should take my bar exam. Or my baaaaa exam.


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Tea, Rex?

Must Be A Friend Of Michael Crichton's

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Picture this: you’re driving in a city that is not your hometown. You’re concentrating very hard on sticking to the rear bumper of your friend, who is shepherding you from one point to another.

You come to a downhill traffic intersection in the heart of the city. You look around, admiring the autumn weather. Then you notice the huge tail sticking out of the large building beside you.

You point it out to the kids. You say: "Look at that – is that the tail of a whale?"

You know you’ve got it wrong. The kids point out that it’s not the tail of the whale. Wrong colour. Wrong shape. Wrong construction totally. Then one of them spots the head that is protruding through another window of the museum, further back up the hill.

Did I say whale? I meant to say dinosaur. Honest.

If the tail curving out of the left-hand window (see photograph below) is not immediately apparent, I apologise because I only had time for two shots before the lights changed. Huh, you try shooting backwards over your right shoulder and get a frame unimpeded by the car window or your seatbelt!

It was a brief spark of belated inspiration. Must have been a Jurassic spark.


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