Rooster Booster

It’s Beginning To Dawn On Us All

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

If you can remember the last time you saw a weather vane, please let me know. No, seriously, just leave me a comment and tell me – I’d love to know, because symbols like these just aren’t as common as they used to be.

This shot was taken a year and a half ago and I recently came across it while I was looking for a different image. I was at the Royal Melbourne Show with Mrs Authorblog and the Authorbloglets when I spotted this beautiful weather vane with a cockerel atop the four points of the compass.

Unfortunately, it was not in the best position for a meaningful photograph, so I squeezed myself into a tight corner (the things we do for our art, hey?) to try and compose the best possible frame of the rooster alongside another familiar sight from the Show – the giant ferris wheel.

In retrospect, it’s interesting to reflect on this shot and the fact that it depicts not one but two symbols of international culture, irrespective of race, nationality, geography or religion.

And of course, you all remember the famous Carly Simon hit that honoured the age-old weather vane, don’t you? It was called "You’re So Vane"!

Check out the rules at Camera Critters or go to Misty Dawn.

To Cap It Off

Death On The Nile? It's Time To Fez Up

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

It's not every day you get the chance to photograph a fez, but let me tell you there's a special hurdle that you need to overcome when you shoot a red object. I often find it is the one colour that is hardest to capture, because it tends to get saturated when you shoot from close quarters - as I always do.

I thought about posting some shots of Akubra hats taken at the Royal Melbourne Show, but I preferred to take on a real challenge for this post. The rarity of a fez in this part of the world was one factor governing my choice. And of course the second was the fact that the red velvet of the headgear was always going to make me think my way through the problem.

I shot this outdoors, late on Thursday evening, in fading light. These shots were taken at 1/20th of a second, F5.6 and ISO 800 and I was lucky that the black tassels were the perfect foil for the fabric of the cap.

In particular, I was really pleased with the first shot. I reckon the composition really makes you look twice to figure out what I've shot. Also, the fact that it's asymmetrical is probably a bonus.

But purely from a photographic perspective, the second shot (below) is more balanced in terms of subject matter and colours. The positioning also favoured me because the black tassels are glistening more in the fading light than they were in the first shot.

Tell me, which of the two frames do you prefer? (And yes, you can tell me I'm talking through my hat if you think so!)


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

Valet Of The Dolls

All The Fun Of The Fair(y)

Stall at the Royal Melbourne Show. Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Flag End Of The Day

I Scream, U Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

My "camera eye" is always attracted to unusual sights, be they monochromes or strong colours. This shot, taken at the Royal Melbourne Show, is a combination of both factors. First, the sweep of the pathway gave me an unusual arc of several colours as the flags fluttered in the strong breeze. Second, if you look carefully, you'll see that the image has not been flipped laterally - the words on the flags are "back-to-front" because I was on the wrong side as they flapped strongly and loudly. The blue of the ice cream cart was a perfect splash of stationary colour, too. Just the perfect place to flag down flag down an ice cream vendor, don't you think?

Web Sight

Spider-Man Plays A Leading Role At The Show

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

We've just come back from the Royal Melbourne Show, which is the biggest fair of the year and runs for ten days. It was originally a yearly display for the Royal Agricultural Society and still retains its original flavour, but the fairground is now the big attraction for the younger patrons. As you can see, lifesize Spider-Man figures were the hot prizes this year. This shot (above) was taken in a split-second, as the guy walked past.


And I couldn't resist this shot (above) of a woman carrying Spider-Man in rather ignominious fashion, as if he were an oversized Gucci bag. I had to run for this shot, and it was taken using my 125mm lens through a crowd. It took me about three attempts, because with thousands of people at the show, someone always seemed to be walking into the frame.


When I lined up this photograph (above) I was actually concentrating on the upside-down Spider-Man figures. I shot one frame, with total tunnel vision. Then I saw something move behind the figures. And with a laugh I realised that there were "real live" people behind the Spider-Man figures. Look carefully and you'll see two stall attendants (one in a clearly visible "Crew" jumper and her blonde companion in a white jumper) obviously having a well-deserved rest.