A Tribute To Autumn

Scene And Unseen, On The Yarra's Surface

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This sequence was shot early on Thursday morning, as I walked across the pedestrian footbridge that connects Flinders Street Station to Southbank. The sun was still at a very shallow angle and because it was a cool morning, there was a bit of haze around.

Normally, I would not even have taken my camera out of the bag. But I had barely taken half a dozen steps across the bridge when I noticed that there was only a very gentle breeze, which is extremely unusual for Melbourne, especially around the water.


So I shot these four frames quickly, in less than 90 seconds. The object of the exercise was simply to show you that on a hazy day, a reflection is sometimes more intense and robust in colour quality than the original object itself. That, of course, is the opposite to normal weather conditions in clear light and a standard breeze, when a reflection can never match what is above the water.

Scroll back and take a look for yourself. In the first shot, the row of plane trees themselves are not quite as striking as their water-enhanced rendering. In each frame, the bottom area (or the reflection) is better quality than the top.


If you're wondering why the breeze played a part, here's the answer. The normal Melbourne breeze ruffles the surface of the water, leaving no discernible reflection at all on the Yarra River.

I was about to put the lens cap back on my camera when I noticed this red-clad jogger going past. Naturally, I had to take the shot - because I knew the two people in black (or dark blue) would not be visible on the water's surface, while the red jogger would stand out like a beacon.


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Snow Patrol

There's Always Time For A Backward Glance

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes we are privileged to gaze on paradise, but we don’t always realise it. Mountains have been a part of my life since my high school years, when I was a boarder at St Joseph’s College, Darjeeling – which probably explains why I spend so much time photographing them wherever and whenever I can.

A few weeks ago I was in Canada at the invitation of Yukon Tourism and literally a few hours before I flew home, Charles McLaren of Shadow Lake Expeditions took me on a memorable four-wheel-drive ride.

We explored the Coal Road area outside Whitehorse and when we returned to his vehicle after one stop, I was just about to put my seatbelt on when I spotted this sight. I asked Charles not to start up and not to move his vehicle an inch.

He looked at me quizzically, but I pointed to the rear-view mirror mounted on the left-hand side, where this mountain was reflected clearly in the glass. Yes, I could have got out and probably got a better shot, but by taking this from where I sat, I was able to capture an unusual view.

Around the perimeter of the rear-view mirror you can see the hillside in front of us, while the reflection itself shows the mountain that was directly behind us.

In retrospect, this would have been an even more spectacular shot a fortnight later. You see, the fall colours were just starting. A few days later the hillside would have been covered in reds and yellows, forming a virtual wreath for this mountain reflection.

Then again, the real challenge for any photographer is to capture the moment, not to wait for a better opportunity.


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Deck Whittington

Imagine If The Boy Stood On The Burdened Deck

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Even on a day when the sky is cloudy one moment and clear the next (it's a Melbourne thing - and we love it) there are still some striking images to be captured. My attention was drawn to the blue and yellow hull of this tourist-trip vessel, and of course the diffused reflection on the surface of the Yarra River. I paint watercolours, but this sight has convinced me to try oils as well. Stay tuned for an update ...

Is This Tree Really Upside Down?

No, So Please Do Not Adjust Your Screen!

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes, everything just comes together in a rush. This is not a trick photograph. Nor have I inverted the image. It is actually a shot of a tree and the sky - but it's not a conventional shot. It is the scene as I saw it, sharply reflected in the hood of a dark-blue car.
It was about 7.15 in the morning. There was just a light breeze. Not a hint of rain (again). Not much cloud on the horizon and whatever was in view was just white cotton-wool. It was one of those days where the mercury climbs slowly until the thermometer tops out just above 30 Celsius and there is really nowhere to hide from the harsh Australian sun.
The picture was just a fluke, I guess. One of those moments where an unusual sight catches your eye, the light is just right and you have the time to stop and take the shot.
I composed the first frame really meticulously, to provide a subtle clue. Look in the top right-hand corner of the shot and you'll see the extremity of the wiper arm.
The sun was just in the right spot, behind my right shoulder, so there were no issues with reflection on the paintwork. I shot three or four frames, but I simply had to take a vertical shot (left) as well, to capture the vivid sky and the smattering of light cloud. Sometimes, you can scarcely believe how lucky you are when you see a scene like this.