All Roads Lead To Chrome

That's One Very Hot Rod

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The Authorblog clan is accustomed to the fact that I often trail several metres behind them as I habitually wander off with my camera at the ready. These images were shot in December 2006, when we stopped at the tiny hamlet of Dadswells Bridge on our way back to Melbourne from Adelaide.

If you blink on the Western Highway, you’d miss the sign for Dadswells Bridge, but it’s been one of our favourite stops for more than two decades.

I spotted this yellow roadster parked by the side of the café and, just as the family expected, I announced that I would be held up for a couple of minutes while I shot some quick frames. The owner was nowhere to be seen, but how on earth could I ignore a gleaming hot rod with bright chrome under a flawless blue sky?

Yes, the sky really was an amazing blue. Want to see proof? Look at the next photograph and you'll see it reflected in the headlamp.


In the first frame, I deliberately chose an unusual composition, allowing the convex shape of the left headlamp to become a mirror for the car’s chassis. There is a certain balance between the bright yellow paintwork and the flawless chromium-plated lamp, but more importantly the metal surface reflects the vehicle in a distorted manner reminiscent of a gimmicky fairground full-length novelty mirror.

The last shot (below) is a bit of a red herring. Or maybe I should say it’s a yellow herring.

On first glance it looks as though the exposed engine block (this is a hot rod, remember) is painted yellow to match the chassis. But it isn’t. It’s chrome plated. Examine the image really carefully and you’ll see the overwhelming impression of yellow comes simply from the reflection in the shiny chrome.


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

That's Hot, Rod

Never Mind The Hood, What's The Gearbox Like?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The things that catch your attention, hey? I used to drive past this place every weekday on my way home from work. You know what it's like - music turned up loud-ish, thinking about the kids and how their day went, and just ticking off things in your mental to-do list for the rest of the day.

You kind of see the same sights that you are familiar with - the wide streets, the beautiful trees, the expanse of green ovals.

Then one day you do the drive on a public holiday and all of a sudden you see a few things that you don't normally see. Thing is, whenever I drove past this place it was open for business, so these roller shutters would be retracted. All I'd see would be mechanics working on a variety of cars.

Then along came this public holiday. No cars in front of the place. No people. No clutter. And the roller shutters were down. So for the first time, I actually saw the great paintwork and the vivid colours on the corrugated surface of the shutters.

A bit like life, isn't it? You see what you think are familiar sights, and then suddenly and unexpectedly, you look at them once in a different aspect or a different light. That's when you appreciate the hidden beauty.


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