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Showing posts with label Cecily. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cecily. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Post Of The Day
You can nominate a post too. Just leave a comment here with the URL or link - and tell us the name of the blogger you are nominating. Righty-o, then, it's over to you ....
See my photography at Images Sans Frontiers and Red Bubble.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Bright Idea
Ray, A Drop Of Golden Sun
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Sometimes, Nature inspires us when we least expect it. The study in our home is a warm, inviting place, blessed by the sun right through the day, from sun-up to sundown.
There are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with a treasure trove of literature from around the world. There are comfortable chairs. There are musical instruments. Sometimes, when I’m not looking, there is even an errant school bag tossed on the carpet.
More than anything else, it is an inviting place. It is an all-inclusive place. It is an embracing place where (frequently loud) music exists in harmony with time for reflection and creativity.
I have always been an early riser and I am frequently in the study before first light has crept across the vast Australian sky. Recently, I was working at my desk as the clouds teased the horizon, bringing gentle rain to a parched land.
Then, a solitary sunbeam broke through the moody sky, shining straight through the study windows. Despite the early hour, it was a strong burst of light and the shallow angle created this wonderful shadow across my desk. I quickly leapt up, strode into the next room and snatched my camera from its bag.
Sometimes you just have to seize the moment. Which moment? The moment at which images become more important than words.
Visit Mama Geek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Sometimes, Nature inspires us when we least expect it. The study in our home is a warm, inviting place, blessed by the sun right through the day, from sun-up to sundown.
There are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with a treasure trove of literature from around the world. There are comfortable chairs. There are musical instruments. Sometimes, when I’m not looking, there is even an errant school bag tossed on the carpet.
More than anything else, it is an inviting place. It is an all-inclusive place. It is an embracing place where (frequently loud) music exists in harmony with time for reflection and creativity.
I have always been an early riser and I am frequently in the study before first light has crept across the vast Australian sky. Recently, I was working at my desk as the clouds teased the horizon, bringing gentle rain to a parched land.
Then, a solitary sunbeam broke through the moody sky, shining straight through the study windows. Despite the early hour, it was a strong burst of light and the shallow angle created this wonderful shadow across my desk. I quickly leapt up, strode into the next room and snatched my camera from its bag.
Sometimes you just have to seize the moment. Which moment? The moment at which images become more important than words.
Visit Mama Geek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, May 22, 2009
All Hands On Deck
Michael Rowed The Boat Ashore
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Maybe the captain of this vessel found himself in the doldrums. No, look carefully at the image and you’ll see that this was not shot in some exotic marina, or some lagoon in the Caribbean. It was shot on a city street.
Yes, you read that correctly. On a city street.
We were in Kuala Lumpur last July and decided to walk from our hotel, the Shangri-La, to the nearby Petronas Towers. As always, I was lagging several yards behind the rest of the family because I kept stopping to take shots of objects or sights that caught my eye.
This boat is just a great advertisement for a local restaurant. Don’t worry, there won’t be a mutiny on the bountiful.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Maybe the captain of this vessel found himself in the doldrums. No, look carefully at the image and you’ll see that this was not shot in some exotic marina, or some lagoon in the Caribbean. It was shot on a city street.
Yes, you read that correctly. On a city street.
We were in Kuala Lumpur last July and decided to walk from our hotel, the Shangri-La, to the nearby Petronas Towers. As always, I was lagging several yards behind the rest of the family because I kept stopping to take shots of objects or sights that caught my eye.
This boat is just a great advertisement for a local restaurant. Don’t worry, there won’t be a mutiny on the bountiful.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, May 15, 2009
A View Of Paradise
I Guess It Depends On What You See
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
The beautiful flower known as the bird of paradise has always fascinated me, not just because of its graceful structure and height, but also because of the striking dark blue, orange and white spanned on a single bloom.
When we were in Sydney last month, it was really interesting to see that the warmer climate in the New South Wales capital city brings a totally different growth cycle to plants that are no longer flowering here in Victoria.
This particular bloom was in a rather interesting spot. I was delighted to see it on a crowded holiday morning in a major tourist precinct. I framed the first shot very deliberately, so that the shape and colour of the flower would dominate the composition of the shot.
Then I took a second shot, in the same place, but this time with the focus reversed. Now the flower is completely out of focus and the famous, much-photographed building in the background dominated the shot.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present the Sydney Opera House.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
The beautiful flower known as the bird of paradise has always fascinated me, not just because of its graceful structure and height, but also because of the striking dark blue, orange and white spanned on a single bloom.
When we were in Sydney last month, it was really interesting to see that the warmer climate in the New South Wales capital city brings a totally different growth cycle to plants that are no longer flowering here in Victoria.
This particular bloom was in a rather interesting spot. I was delighted to see it on a crowded holiday morning in a major tourist precinct. I framed the first shot very deliberately, so that the shape and colour of the flower would dominate the composition of the shot.
Then I took a second shot, in the same place, but this time with the focus reversed. Now the flower is completely out of focus and the famous, much-photographed building in the background dominated the shot.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present the Sydney Opera House.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Log On
Just A Simple Sight By The Rocky Shore
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
I’m lucky to be able to travel to some amazing places with my camera. This was shot on the very edge of Lake Kathleen in Kluane National Park, in the Yukon.
I guess it’s a clear example of looking beyond the obvious for something to shoot.
The light was not great. It was mid-morning last September. There was a fairly strong breeze and there was heavy cloud cover. We were literally on the shale at the water’s edge and surrounded by hills to our left and right.
In front of us was the gateway to some amazing snowy peaks. All around us was autumn foliage that seemed to span every colour.
Yet my eye was drawn to this simple sight, so devoid of colour that it was almost a monochrome. The dappled light across the water was one factor; the beautiful variations across the wet wood of this heavy branch was another.
I only shot three frames, but I would have loved to know how long the thick branch had been there. Days? Weeks? Months? Years? A century, maybe?
Nature places many stunning sights in our path, The trick is to stop and identify them, even if they are not vivid splashes of colour.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
I’m lucky to be able to travel to some amazing places with my camera. This was shot on the very edge of Lake Kathleen in Kluane National Park, in the Yukon.
I guess it’s a clear example of looking beyond the obvious for something to shoot.
The light was not great. It was mid-morning last September. There was a fairly strong breeze and there was heavy cloud cover. We were literally on the shale at the water’s edge and surrounded by hills to our left and right.
In front of us was the gateway to some amazing snowy peaks. All around us was autumn foliage that seemed to span every colour.
Yet my eye was drawn to this simple sight, so devoid of colour that it was almost a monochrome. The dappled light across the water was one factor; the beautiful variations across the wet wood of this heavy branch was another.
I only shot three frames, but I would have loved to know how long the thick branch had been there. Days? Weeks? Months? Years? A century, maybe?
Nature places many stunning sights in our path, The trick is to stop and identify them, even if they are not vivid splashes of colour.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Stiff Challenge
I Guess It Must Have Been Dead Reckoning
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
We were driving past Paddington Market in Sydney last week when I had to stop at a traffic light. As always, my camera was within easy reach. My attention was first caught by the iron trellis on this wall, about twenty metres to my left.
Not only was the craftsmanship redolent of the colonial era, it also reminded me of my own childhood in India, where this sort of work was extremely common.
I wanted to compose the shot based around the various shades of grey, but I worked the focal plane quickly, to include the lowest portion of a tree branch nearby, just to provide a splash of colour. It was only at this point that I noticed the "No Parking" street sign that said "Wedding or funeral vehicles excepted".
I had to react very quickly, because the lights were about to change. So I focused on the iron trellis, leaving the street sign in softer focus, but still apparent.
So tell me, did you notice the street sign immediately?
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
We were driving past Paddington Market in Sydney last week when I had to stop at a traffic light. As always, my camera was within easy reach. My attention was first caught by the iron trellis on this wall, about twenty metres to my left.
Not only was the craftsmanship redolent of the colonial era, it also reminded me of my own childhood in India, where this sort of work was extremely common.
I wanted to compose the shot based around the various shades of grey, but I worked the focal plane quickly, to include the lowest portion of a tree branch nearby, just to provide a splash of colour. It was only at this point that I noticed the "No Parking" street sign that said "Wedding or funeral vehicles excepted".
I had to react very quickly, because the lights were about to change. So I focused on the iron trellis, leaving the street sign in softer focus, but still apparent.
So tell me, did you notice the street sign immediately?
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thank You For Giving Me A Heads-Up
A Ferry-Tale Ending
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Sometimes you get thrown a curve ball and it turns out to be an unexpected bonus, rather than a hindrance. During our trip to Sydney a few days ago, I was with the Authorbloglets and close friends on the ferry from Milsons Point to Circular Quay.
It was dusk. The light was fading fast on a cloudy evening. I had my camera around my neck, but the ferry was very crowded with locals and Easter tourists and we had to take separate, far-flung seats under cover. I was in the middle of the main deck, with three or four people on my left.
In addition, there were others standing outside to get a better view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Just before the ferry docked, I could see the distinctive shape of the Opera House through the rectangular ferry porthole. Half-heartedly, I removed my lens cap and picked up my Pentax. Always on the lookout for an unusual perspective on a familiar sight, I realised I could shoot one aspect of the Opera House through the window frame of the ferry.
I lined up the shot, knowing the Opera House would slide out of view in about fifteen seconds. As I adjusted the focus ring, a woman sitting a couple of seats away suddenly leaned forward to speak to a friend.
With her head in the bottom-left quadrant of my frame, she obscured almost a quarter of my view. I hesitated for a split second. Then I hit the shutter anyway. Had I waited for her to move back out of the way, it would have still been an interesting rendition of the great Australian landmark through the thick glass of the porthole.
But by recognising the fact that this was a great opportunity, I was able to capture a frame that is not perfect, but one that certainly is a highly unusual view of a familiar and often-photographed symbol of the country I live in.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Sometimes you get thrown a curve ball and it turns out to be an unexpected bonus, rather than a hindrance. During our trip to Sydney a few days ago, I was with the Authorbloglets and close friends on the ferry from Milsons Point to Circular Quay.
It was dusk. The light was fading fast on a cloudy evening. I had my camera around my neck, but the ferry was very crowded with locals and Easter tourists and we had to take separate, far-flung seats under cover. I was in the middle of the main deck, with three or four people on my left.
In addition, there were others standing outside to get a better view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Just before the ferry docked, I could see the distinctive shape of the Opera House through the rectangular ferry porthole. Half-heartedly, I removed my lens cap and picked up my Pentax. Always on the lookout for an unusual perspective on a familiar sight, I realised I could shoot one aspect of the Opera House through the window frame of the ferry.
I lined up the shot, knowing the Opera House would slide out of view in about fifteen seconds. As I adjusted the focus ring, a woman sitting a couple of seats away suddenly leaned forward to speak to a friend.
With her head in the bottom-left quadrant of my frame, she obscured almost a quarter of my view. I hesitated for a split second. Then I hit the shutter anyway. Had I waited for her to move back out of the way, it would have still been an interesting rendition of the great Australian landmark through the thick glass of the porthole.
But by recognising the fact that this was a great opportunity, I was able to capture a frame that is not perfect, but one that certainly is a highly unusual view of a familiar and often-photographed symbol of the country I live in.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Oh Buoy
Some Rivers Have A Slow Eddy, Some A Fast Eddy
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
It was early afternoon and the sun was high in the sky. I was walking beside the southern bank of the Yarra River here in Melbourne. I had the 70-300mm lens on the camera and I was in search of an unusual shot.
That's when I spotted this buoy in the middle of the river. I've seen it hundreds of times, but I've never bothered to try and decipher what the words say, so I figured this was as good a time as any. Because I had a long lens, I was able to zoom in really close and frame a really tight shot.
The clarity of this image is pretty good - because the light was so strong. This is just a low-resolution version of the original, but you can see the moss on the bottom of the buoy, as well as the plastic-encased light that flashes in darkness.
The colour of the water, too, was really interesting - the silvery-grey tone is not something you see often, but maybe it was caused by the sun being directly overhead. It's almost as if the buoy is sitting on a flooded freeway, rather than a wide river.
On the other hand, maybe this was one of the Backstreet Buoys.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
It was early afternoon and the sun was high in the sky. I was walking beside the southern bank of the Yarra River here in Melbourne. I had the 70-300mm lens on the camera and I was in search of an unusual shot.
That's when I spotted this buoy in the middle of the river. I've seen it hundreds of times, but I've never bothered to try and decipher what the words say, so I figured this was as good a time as any. Because I had a long lens, I was able to zoom in really close and frame a really tight shot.
The clarity of this image is pretty good - because the light was so strong. This is just a low-resolution version of the original, but you can see the moss on the bottom of the buoy, as well as the plastic-encased light that flashes in darkness.
The colour of the water, too, was really interesting - the silvery-grey tone is not something you see often, but maybe it was caused by the sun being directly overhead. It's almost as if the buoy is sitting on a flooded freeway, rather than a wide river.
On the other hand, maybe this was one of the Backstreet Buoys.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, April 03, 2009
A Touch Of Glass
Some Days He's Up, Some Days He's Down
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
What’s yellow and black and seldom stays still - but is not an advertising gimmick for Bee Movie? Here’s a clue - it only travels up and down. Not sideways. Not diagonally.
It has doors that open and close, and it covers a lot of ground every day, yet it never moves from where it is located.
Okay, so it’s a lift at Federation Square, here in Melbourne. But because it’s got glass on all four sides, it looks a bit different from the norm.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
What’s yellow and black and seldom stays still - but is not an advertising gimmick for Bee Movie? Here’s a clue - it only travels up and down. Not sideways. Not diagonally.
It has doors that open and close, and it covers a lot of ground every day, yet it never moves from where it is located.
Okay, so it’s a lift at Federation Square, here in Melbourne. But because it’s got glass on all four sides, it looks a bit different from the norm.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Local Flavour
Quite An Appetite For Photography
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur is the place to be after dusk, if you’re an avid shopper. But you don’t just have to be into retail therapy to appreciate this memorable thoroughfare, the heart of Chinatown. If you appreciate adventurous cuisine, or simply observing the world go by, this is a great place to be.
I can truthfully say that I bought nothing on the long evening we spent here last July. But I did take several photographs of the many sights that caught my attention. The street stalls do a very brisk trade and tourists walk away with some very handy bargains, but as most males will tell you, it’s a handy idea to have plenty of food stalls in the vicinity.
The young woman behind this counter looks as if she is having a quiet evening. In truth, she was almost run off her feet. I watched her serve a long line of customers efficiently and courteously. As swiftly as she served some people, others would arrive in the queue – obviously a reliable sign that the food being served from behind the counter was high-quality.
It was several minutes before she cleared all the orders and I hit the button just as she took a moment’s breather before the crowd descended again.
This was shot without a flash, because the lighting on the street is more than adequate if you are happy to adjust your settings. I took this at 1/60th of a second and ISO 800, so it’s a good thing she wasn’t moving. The slightest motion would have caused a blur – which is exactly how she probably thought the hours were passing.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur is the place to be after dusk, if you’re an avid shopper. But you don’t just have to be into retail therapy to appreciate this memorable thoroughfare, the heart of Chinatown. If you appreciate adventurous cuisine, or simply observing the world go by, this is a great place to be.
I can truthfully say that I bought nothing on the long evening we spent here last July. But I did take several photographs of the many sights that caught my attention. The street stalls do a very brisk trade and tourists walk away with some very handy bargains, but as most males will tell you, it’s a handy idea to have plenty of food stalls in the vicinity.
The young woman behind this counter looks as if she is having a quiet evening. In truth, she was almost run off her feet. I watched her serve a long line of customers efficiently and courteously. As swiftly as she served some people, others would arrive in the queue – obviously a reliable sign that the food being served from behind the counter was high-quality.
It was several minutes before she cleared all the orders and I hit the button just as she took a moment’s breather before the crowd descended again.
This was shot without a flash, because the lighting on the street is more than adequate if you are happy to adjust your settings. I took this at 1/60th of a second and ISO 800, so it’s a good thing she wasn’t moving. The slightest motion would have caused a blur – which is exactly how she probably thought the hours were passing.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Tree’s Company
Must Be Time For The Mardi Grass
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
This shot was taken in the first week of January, while we were on the west coast for a family wedding. Kings Park in Perth is a place I had first read about as a child, and as this was my first visit to the west, I was determined to spend some time there.
It was a scorcher of a Sunday and even though I sweltered, I shot about 100 images during our brief stay in the 400-hectare park that is named after King Edward VII. We were actually on our way back to the car when I spotted this shadow of a huge palm tree.
Even as I marvelled at the fresh green grass that was so different from our scorched earth here in Victoria, this sight caught my eye.
Emblazoned on the billiard-table green parkland was the perfect shadow of a towering palm tree whose fronds were being caressed by the breeze. Because it looked as if it had been stencilled onto the grass, I had to pause for a few seconds while I lined up this shot.
I guess it might seem like an easy image, but I had to position myself very precisely to compose the shot so that it did not include any of the many people soaking up the sun while they lay on the grass.
Judging by this photograph, you might think the park was deserted, but believe me, it never is. The official website of the West Australian government shows that it attracts more than five million visitors a year. That might not seem like a lot to North Americans – but five million is a quarter of our national population.
In retrospect, the clarity of the shadow worked so well not just because of the quality of the light, but also because of the long, graceful shape of the fronds.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
This shot was taken in the first week of January, while we were on the west coast for a family wedding. Kings Park in Perth is a place I had first read about as a child, and as this was my first visit to the west, I was determined to spend some time there.
It was a scorcher of a Sunday and even though I sweltered, I shot about 100 images during our brief stay in the 400-hectare park that is named after King Edward VII. We were actually on our way back to the car when I spotted this shadow of a huge palm tree.
Even as I marvelled at the fresh green grass that was so different from our scorched earth here in Victoria, this sight caught my eye.
Emblazoned on the billiard-table green parkland was the perfect shadow of a towering palm tree whose fronds were being caressed by the breeze. Because it looked as if it had been stencilled onto the grass, I had to pause for a few seconds while I lined up this shot.
I guess it might seem like an easy image, but I had to position myself very precisely to compose the shot so that it did not include any of the many people soaking up the sun while they lay on the grass.
Judging by this photograph, you might think the park was deserted, but believe me, it never is. The official website of the West Australian government shows that it attracts more than five million visitors a year. That might not seem like a lot to North Americans – but five million is a quarter of our national population.
In retrospect, the clarity of the shadow worked so well not just because of the quality of the light, but also because of the long, graceful shape of the fronds.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sole Mates
How Many Feet Away Are They?
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Occasionally I get asked why I use Pentax cameras. The answer is simple. Well, there are two answers, really. The K100D I use is weather-sealed. That’s one reason. And the other crucial reason is that it gives me a lot of flexibility, because it can run on normal AA batteries. Yes, the same batteries that you put in kids’ toys.
Handy, isn’t it? When you think about it, having easy access to simple batteries is a master stroke. If you’re travelling or even if you’re shooting away from home in your own city, chances are you could run your batteries down. But with a camera that can just as easily be powered by AA batteries, you can never go wrong.
The factory-delivered weather sealing is a great option as well. I tend to operate in all weather conditions and I believe that rain brings interesting light – so yes, I’m often outdoors with my camera when the weather is more suited to ducks.
This was shot in Singapore, at the tail end of a thunderstorm. When the downpour had slowed to a steady drizzle, I made my way out from under cover. Just before I looked for a handy arcade to shelter me from the rain, I spotted this sight.
In order to capture the scene, I had to step out into the rain and shoot from right in front of the pavement stall. This way, I didn’t have to deal with pedestrians striding past. And I didn’t have to worry about my camera getting wet.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Occasionally I get asked why I use Pentax cameras. The answer is simple. Well, there are two answers, really. The K100D I use is weather-sealed. That’s one reason. And the other crucial reason is that it gives me a lot of flexibility, because it can run on normal AA batteries. Yes, the same batteries that you put in kids’ toys.
Handy, isn’t it? When you think about it, having easy access to simple batteries is a master stroke. If you’re travelling or even if you’re shooting away from home in your own city, chances are you could run your batteries down. But with a camera that can just as easily be powered by AA batteries, you can never go wrong.
The factory-delivered weather sealing is a great option as well. I tend to operate in all weather conditions and I believe that rain brings interesting light – so yes, I’m often outdoors with my camera when the weather is more suited to ducks.
This was shot in Singapore, at the tail end of a thunderstorm. When the downpour had slowed to a steady drizzle, I made my way out from under cover. Just before I looked for a handy arcade to shelter me from the rain, I spotted this sight.
In order to capture the scene, I had to step out into the rain and shoot from right in front of the pavement stall. This way, I didn’t have to deal with pedestrians striding past. And I didn’t have to worry about my camera getting wet.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, March 06, 2009
An Uphill Task
Pedal To The Metal
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Like any photographer, I was awake very early in Haines Junction when I was in the Yukon in August-September last year. I always find that the soft light just before and after dawn and similarly at dusk is great for photographs with any lens. More to the point, you often get unusual glimpses of any setting at these times, before normal routines take hold.
This was my second trip to the beautiful town surrounded by mountains and, just as it enthralled me the first time, I still got a kick out of walking beside the historic Alaska Highway, shooting a variety of scenes as I walked.
Something made me look across the highway and I spotted this cyclist and I knew it was one of those poetically rare scenes that had to be captured immediately. He was a long way away from me, but I had two cameras around my neck, a Pentax K100D with my 18-125mm lens and a Pentax K200D with my 70-300mm lens.
I grabbed the latter and waited a few seconds until the cyclist was closer to the bend and more in line with the mountain. I was too far away to find out who the cyclist was or where he was going – but I just hope he wasn’t going all the way to the summit.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Like any photographer, I was awake very early in Haines Junction when I was in the Yukon in August-September last year. I always find that the soft light just before and after dawn and similarly at dusk is great for photographs with any lens. More to the point, you often get unusual glimpses of any setting at these times, before normal routines take hold.
This was my second trip to the beautiful town surrounded by mountains and, just as it enthralled me the first time, I still got a kick out of walking beside the historic Alaska Highway, shooting a variety of scenes as I walked.
Something made me look across the highway and I spotted this cyclist and I knew it was one of those poetically rare scenes that had to be captured immediately. He was a long way away from me, but I had two cameras around my neck, a Pentax K100D with my 18-125mm lens and a Pentax K200D with my 70-300mm lens.
I grabbed the latter and waited a few seconds until the cyclist was closer to the bend and more in line with the mountain. I was too far away to find out who the cyclist was or where he was going – but I just hope he wasn’t going all the way to the summit.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Mirror Image
Welcome To Back-To-Front Alley
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
This shot was taken on a humid afternoon in Singapore, just over a year ago. I was in the vicinity of Mosque Street, keeping my eyes peeled for unusual sights to photograph. I have a theory that what I call the "camera-brain'' in each human is another sense in addition to sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.
It's just that some of us never flip the switch to activate the "camera-brain''. This phrase simply refers to the ability to look at something differently when you have a camera in your hand, to recognise that something small or inconsequential can produce a striking image.
That afternoon in Singapore, as I crossed a narrow lane, I saw a weather-beaten motorcycle parked opposite me. In front of the motorcycle was a dun-coloured wall. I had no reason to walk across, but I did. That's when I saw that the dusty rear-view mirror on the right handlebar was reflecting a street view from behind me.
Like any mirror image, it was laterally inverted, or reversed. But because the dun-coloured wall is the only background, it's a perfectly static anchor for the image. I think the eye is drawn to this image because it looks as if something is wrong - and then the brain works out that it's not ``wrong'', just unusual.
If you have time, let me know what you think of this shot. And don't forget to switch on your camera-brain. It's easy. Trust me.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
This shot was taken on a humid afternoon in Singapore, just over a year ago. I was in the vicinity of Mosque Street, keeping my eyes peeled for unusual sights to photograph. I have a theory that what I call the "camera-brain'' in each human is another sense in addition to sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.
It's just that some of us never flip the switch to activate the "camera-brain''. This phrase simply refers to the ability to look at something differently when you have a camera in your hand, to recognise that something small or inconsequential can produce a striking image.
That afternoon in Singapore, as I crossed a narrow lane, I saw a weather-beaten motorcycle parked opposite me. In front of the motorcycle was a dun-coloured wall. I had no reason to walk across, but I did. That's when I saw that the dusty rear-view mirror on the right handlebar was reflecting a street view from behind me.
Like any mirror image, it was laterally inverted, or reversed. But because the dun-coloured wall is the only background, it's a perfectly static anchor for the image. I think the eye is drawn to this image because it looks as if something is wrong - and then the brain works out that it's not ``wrong'', just unusual.
If you have time, let me know what you think of this shot. And don't forget to switch on your camera-brain. It's easy. Trust me.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Concrete Proof
Grand Colonial Style, From Every Angle
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Fighter pilots and aircrew gunners in World War II always said the key to survival was being able to swivel their heads constantly, to search the sky for enemy aircraft. It's probably a great attribute for a photographer as well, to look up, down and sideways in search of common sights that produce uncommon effects.
I shot this frame as I walked down Flinders Street on Monday. This stately old building was right opposite me and I was struck by how well maintained the facade is. Nice brickwork. Fresh paint. Window sills in good nick.
That's when I realised that the clear blue sky and the main dome reflected in the windows was the perfect foil for the strong colours and lines of the building's exterior. I was in a hurry, but I'm glad I stopped for a few seconds to take this shot.
(Extra, extra, read all about it: I've been interviewed here.)
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Fighter pilots and aircrew gunners in World War II always said the key to survival was being able to swivel their heads constantly, to search the sky for enemy aircraft. It's probably a great attribute for a photographer as well, to look up, down and sideways in search of common sights that produce uncommon effects.
I shot this frame as I walked down Flinders Street on Monday. This stately old building was right opposite me and I was struck by how well maintained the facade is. Nice brickwork. Fresh paint. Window sills in good nick.
That's when I realised that the clear blue sky and the main dome reflected in the windows was the perfect foil for the strong colours and lines of the building's exterior. I was in a hurry, but I'm glad I stopped for a few seconds to take this shot.
(Extra, extra, read all about it: I've been interviewed here.)
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Vertical Limit
Time To Make A Blind Guess
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Maybe I paid more attention to geometry during my school days than I realised at the time. I guess that’s why the simplest of sights, such as this, stop me in my tracks.
I shot this during a day in Fremantle, the West Australian port city known simply, in the endearingly abbreviated style beloved by all and sundry in this sunburnt country, as "Freo".
The horizontal blinds had seen better days. So had the vertical segment of the painted window sill. But if I composed a really tight frame, a mundane sight might produce competing colours and contrasting aspects if shot correctly.
That’s the thing with geometry. You can always find the right angle.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Maybe I paid more attention to geometry during my school days than I realised at the time. I guess that’s why the simplest of sights, such as this, stop me in my tracks.
I shot this during a day in Fremantle, the West Australian port city known simply, in the endearingly abbreviated style beloved by all and sundry in this sunburnt country, as "Freo".
The horizontal blinds had seen better days. So had the vertical segment of the painted window sill. But if I composed a really tight frame, a mundane sight might produce competing colours and contrasting aspects if shot correctly.
That’s the thing with geometry. You can always find the right angle.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Milk Run
Time For A Freudian Slip
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
I shot this a few days ago, about head-height on the Exxon Mobil building here at Southbank, Melbourne. It’s just a simple depiction of two side-by-side fire hose connections mounted on an exterior wall.
But you wouldn’t believe how many people chuckle and say these images remind them of something else.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
I shot this a few days ago, about head-height on the Exxon Mobil building here at Southbank, Melbourne. It’s just a simple depiction of two side-by-side fire hose connections mounted on an exterior wall.
But you wouldn’t believe how many people chuckle and say these images remind them of something else.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Deck Whittington
Anything To Declare (Apart From That Cycle?)
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
On the face of it, I guess I'm probably built like a sprinter. I'm tall and broad-shouldered and I have a stride like I'm wearing ten-league boots. But that's where it ends, trust me. I'm not a sprinter. Not now. Not ever. I was very handy at a variety of sports, but sprinting was never my forte.
The track and field gene, if it is indeed present in my DNA, is a recessive gene. A highly recessive gene.
Usain Bolt I ain't. Unlike Mister Bolt, I am not a dual Olympic sprint champion.
So when I was approaching one end of Princes Bridge and I saw this tourist cruise vessel heading towards the south bank of the river, I knew I had about three seconds, maybe four seconds, tops, to race across the bridge and be able to shoot directly downwards as the funnel passed underneath.
Picture this. Crowded bridge. Camera around my neck. And I've got four seconds to sprint thirty metres or more, zig-zagging through the pedestrians? Not gonna happen.
Not. Going. To. Happen.
But I got close, as you can see from the first photograph.
Then, as I shot the first image, I saw what you can see in the frame as well. The seat of a bicycle, with its clone-like shadow in the bright afternoon sun.
So of course I had to work the lens frantically to get a wider view, just as the vessel passed beneath the bridge.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
On the face of it, I guess I'm probably built like a sprinter. I'm tall and broad-shouldered and I have a stride like I'm wearing ten-league boots. But that's where it ends, trust me. I'm not a sprinter. Not now. Not ever. I was very handy at a variety of sports, but sprinting was never my forte.
The track and field gene, if it is indeed present in my DNA, is a recessive gene. A highly recessive gene.
Usain Bolt I ain't. Unlike Mister Bolt, I am not a dual Olympic sprint champion.
So when I was approaching one end of Princes Bridge and I saw this tourist cruise vessel heading towards the south bank of the river, I knew I had about three seconds, maybe four seconds, tops, to race across the bridge and be able to shoot directly downwards as the funnel passed underneath.
Picture this. Crowded bridge. Camera around my neck. And I've got four seconds to sprint thirty metres or more, zig-zagging through the pedestrians? Not gonna happen.
Not. Going. To. Happen.
But I got close, as you can see from the first photograph.
Then, as I shot the first image, I saw what you can see in the frame as well. The seat of a bicycle, with its clone-like shadow in the bright afternoon sun.
So of course I had to work the lens frantically to get a wider view, just as the vessel passed beneath the bridge.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Lobby Group
Reflections Can Create A Familiar Composite Image
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
This shot was taken in the lobby of the Perth Sheraton, earlier this week while we were on the west coast for a family wedding. I was in a hurry as I walked to the car park in the company of Mrs Authorblog, but as we crossed from the reception desk to the doors, this sight caught my eye.
I was concentrating on several other factors, so I couldn't immediately identify what it was that attracted my attention. But I knew that I had to take the shot. I had walked through the lobby of the hotel several times in the previous 48 hours, but the sunlight had never produced this effect before.
Mrs Authorblog, being a good sport, waited for me, although I must admit that I have a faint memory of her rolling her eyes and tapping one foot on the marble floor. Let's put it this way. Some husbands have a wandering eye for, well, eye candy. I have a wandering eye for art, wherever and however unexpectedly it may appear.
As always, I had my camera bag slung across my shoulders, so it only took me a few seconds to take the shot. It was only after we'd flown home to Melbourne and I looked at the solitary image on my computer screen that I realised what had attracted my attention in the first place.
The image, in totality, looks as if it has been shot in some mystical cathedral. Look carefully and you'll see what I mean. The dark shape of the simple wooden crosspiece now appears as a bold crucifix, dominating the middle of the frame.
And, quite in keeping with the spirit of the theme, the striking colours of the painting on the left, when viewed through the doorway, now look for all the world like an ethereal stained-glass window.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
This shot was taken in the lobby of the Perth Sheraton, earlier this week while we were on the west coast for a family wedding. I was in a hurry as I walked to the car park in the company of Mrs Authorblog, but as we crossed from the reception desk to the doors, this sight caught my eye.
I was concentrating on several other factors, so I couldn't immediately identify what it was that attracted my attention. But I knew that I had to take the shot. I had walked through the lobby of the hotel several times in the previous 48 hours, but the sunlight had never produced this effect before.
Mrs Authorblog, being a good sport, waited for me, although I must admit that I have a faint memory of her rolling her eyes and tapping one foot on the marble floor. Let's put it this way. Some husbands have a wandering eye for, well, eye candy. I have a wandering eye for art, wherever and however unexpectedly it may appear.
As always, I had my camera bag slung across my shoulders, so it only took me a few seconds to take the shot. It was only after we'd flown home to Melbourne and I looked at the solitary image on my computer screen that I realised what had attracted my attention in the first place.
The image, in totality, looks as if it has been shot in some mystical cathedral. Look carefully and you'll see what I mean. The dark shape of the simple wooden crosspiece now appears as a bold crucifix, dominating the middle of the frame.
And, quite in keeping with the spirit of the theme, the striking colours of the painting on the left, when viewed through the doorway, now look for all the world like an ethereal stained-glass window.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Friday, January 02, 2009
It Figures
Still Life Mingles With Perpetual Motion
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Sometimes you just shoot from the hip and the results, while not perfect, certainly go some way towards rewarding your instinct. We were in the city with friends and family late in the evening and the atmosphere was pure Melbourne – families with young children, groups of tourists, buskers in Santa hats. It was simply one of those festive nights where relaxation is in the air.
As usual, I was lagging several feet behind the rest of the clan because I always seem to see an interesting sight (or three) to photograph. I was waiting to cross Swanston Street when these two children, running slightly ahead of their parents, raced up to press the button on the pedestrian crossing.
Then they suddenly noticed the three lifesize statues to our right. The three figures have been there for a few years now, representing workplace commuters in suits and carrying briefcases. Their faces are gaunt, their bodies impossibly skeletal, but they are striking pieces of art because they are so unusual. They are normal human height, but their bodies are not even as wide as a power pole.
The children immediately started touching the statues, fascinated by their dimensions and the expressions on their metal faces. I was only half paying attention because I was waiting for the light to change so I could catch up with everyone else.
Then I realised I had an unusual scene playing out before my eyes – if I was quick enough with my camera. Not only were the little boys beside me, a couple of tourists were also walking up to examine the figures. The light was difficult, because I knew the figures themselves would not stand out as the central theme.
Instead, I decided to concentrate on the movement of the four fast-moving human beings in front of me, as a counterpoint to the motionless sculpted trio. The lights of the shopfronts on the opposite side of the street would also work in my favour, for they would provide a sense of place and time.
And as I raised the camera to hit the shutter, I had another lucky break. A taxi drove past, leaving a distinctive yellow streak to the left of the frame, without compromising any of the figures. Now that’s what I call sheer luck.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Sometimes you just shoot from the hip and the results, while not perfect, certainly go some way towards rewarding your instinct. We were in the city with friends and family late in the evening and the atmosphere was pure Melbourne – families with young children, groups of tourists, buskers in Santa hats. It was simply one of those festive nights where relaxation is in the air.
As usual, I was lagging several feet behind the rest of the clan because I always seem to see an interesting sight (or three) to photograph. I was waiting to cross Swanston Street when these two children, running slightly ahead of their parents, raced up to press the button on the pedestrian crossing.
Then they suddenly noticed the three lifesize statues to our right. The three figures have been there for a few years now, representing workplace commuters in suits and carrying briefcases. Their faces are gaunt, their bodies impossibly skeletal, but they are striking pieces of art because they are so unusual. They are normal human height, but their bodies are not even as wide as a power pole.
The children immediately started touching the statues, fascinated by their dimensions and the expressions on their metal faces. I was only half paying attention because I was waiting for the light to change so I could catch up with everyone else.
Then I realised I had an unusual scene playing out before my eyes – if I was quick enough with my camera. Not only were the little boys beside me, a couple of tourists were also walking up to examine the figures. The light was difficult, because I knew the figures themselves would not stand out as the central theme.
Instead, I decided to concentrate on the movement of the four fast-moving human beings in front of me, as a counterpoint to the motionless sculpted trio. The lights of the shopfronts on the opposite side of the street would also work in my favour, for they would provide a sense of place and time.
And as I raised the camera to hit the shutter, I had another lucky break. A taxi drove past, leaving a distinctive yellow streak to the left of the frame, without compromising any of the figures. Now that’s what I call sheer luck.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
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