Nature's Artwork

This Foliage Stopped Me In My Tracks

Moose Creek, Yukon. Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Homage To Foliage

Behold The Scarlet Carpet

Moose Creek, Yukon, Canada. Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Saw Point

Is That What You Use To Pick Your Teeth, Mate?

Miner's pick and saw. Moose Creek, Yukon, Canada. August 2008.

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Want To Meet A Fun Guy?

Er, No, Make That A Fungi Instead

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

On second thoughts, maybe I should have titled this post "Mushroom Clout" instead. This shot was taken during a brief fuel stop in the Yukon, Canada, in late August.

We were on our way from the outskirts of the capital, Whitehorse, to the gold rush settlement of Dawson City when we stopped at tiny Moose Creek, where the signboard (see the photo at Love Me, Love My Dog) says "Population 2".

I was out the back, taking some shots of the B&B cottage and the old trapper's cabin when I noticed this organism growing on the low roof of the timber cabin.

I had two cameras, a Pentax K100D with my 18-125 lens and a Pentax K200D with my 70-300mm lens. I wasn't carrying a macro because I knew I'd basically be photographing landscapes in the Yukon. Believe me, I could have done with it for this shot - or so I thought.

The light wasn't great that afternoon because the clouds had rolled in, but maybe the conditions worked in my favour, because harsh sunlight would have wiped out the delicate tones you see here.

I opted for my 18-125 lens and shot this at 1/125th of a second, F5.6 and ISO 200. I only took one shot because we were in a hurry, but when I reviewed the image on my laptop that night, I knew I'd got it pretty much right. Let me know what you reckon ....

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Love Me, Love My Dog

Odds Are, This Is A Case Of Puppy Love

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes a photograph says it all. I took this at Moose Creek in the Yukon in late August, while we were driving from Fox Creek to Dawson City. I spent about fifteen minutes walking around and taking photographs of a variety of subjects, including an old trapper's cottage.

Then, as I was walking back to the car, I saw this tongue-in-cheek sign. The interesting thing about the Canadian sense of humour is that it has the same distinctly laconic tone as Australian humour. I'm sure the two nations are related in more ways than one.

As for the dog who gets a mention on this signpost - at least he's got a woof over his head.

(The Odd Shots concept came from Katney. Say "G'day" to her.)

Me And Poppy McGee

A Burst Of Scarlet Amid The Yellow

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I shot these photographs at Moose Creek, north of Whitehorse, while I was in Canada a few days ago, at the invitation of Yukon Tourism. I didn't notice the colourful little garden until I was ready to get in the car and drive away.

I was busy taking some unusual shots that I posted on Saturday at Rack 'Em Up and then I went out the back to get some shots of the timber huts and the trapper's cottage.

As an avid gardener, my attention was then diverted to this delightful patch of colour and the great mix of bright colours. I grow lots of colour in my own garden at home, but I've never tried poppies. Maybe this summer ....


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Rack 'Em Up

Marie Antoinette? Naaaah, It's Marie Antler-Net

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

With this week's theme being "Wild", I figured I'd keep you in suspense here. Did I manage to creep up behind an old moose with tatty antlers? Hmmmm, the focus is certainly on the state of that rack.

So let's keep the camera in roughly the same frame and simply switch the focal plane, in order to see what's in the background .....

So, I have to confess I wasn't really up close and within whispering distance of an old bull moose. No, sirreee, I was using my camera at the gas station at the aptly-named hamlet of Moose Creek in the Yukon.


It's all good, I'll just switch off the GPS because I think I can figure out exactly where we are on the Alaska Highway.

This moose (below) was a great subject, but I have to say he was a little, er, wooden.


And if I step around him very carefully, I might even be able to get a shot of this rusty old truck with a great hood ornament.


Yup, I guess the horn is definitely in good condition. However, I suspect that the rest of the vehicle might not quite match up.


I just hope you had as much fun as I did. Next time, I'll see y'all at Moose Creek.

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