The Best Little Oar House In Texas

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The Yarra River is more than just the waterway on which Melbourne’s founding fathers decided to build the city. It is an integral part of the city’s sporting culture, and on its banks are English elms (rather than Australian native trees) which were planted by English colonists who hankered for familiar foliage.

This shot was taken just before dawn last Friday, when the river took on an interesting silver-pink hue as it reflected the clouds high above. I was walking across Princes Bridge when I looked down and saw this crew rowing towards the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Naturally, I had to stop to take the shot. I took two frames, unsure of whether my reactions would actually be quick enough to capture the concentric pools of water left by the passage of each oar.

Looks like the result wasn't too shabby. The thing I really like about this low-light, quick-motion shot is that you can still see the swirls and eddies left by the previous dip of the oars into the water. Fast swirls. And also, er, fast eddies.

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You Must Be Elm Macpherson

Where Are We? In The Everglades?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Makes you look twice, doesn't it? It reminds me of one of those jet boats in the Everglades. Actually, this is a Melbourne landmark. I took this shot on the weekend, when it seemed the mercury couldn't climb any higher. This is a really unusual angle and if you're trying to work out what it depicts, I'll give you a little help. This is the unique whalebone structure of Rod Laver Arena, which is the official name for Centre Court at Melbourne Park, home of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Most pictures are taken from 90 degrees either side of where I was standing - which is why this view looks unfamiliar. The trees, in case you're wondering, are not Australian native trees. They're the famous English elms planted by the Yarra bank by the early settlers, who pined for the familiar greenery of England. Just for the record, I shot this from the opposite bank of the river, using my Pentax K100D and utilising the 18-125 lens for a nice, tight frame.