Tie Spy

Here's A Subject I Don't Often Photograph

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Mate, let me put it this way. There is no diplomatic way of saying this. You try explaining to your work colleagues why you are taking a picture of yourself. Yep, yourself. You know what I mean?

My colleagues are wonderful. They're accustomed to me whipping out my camera and taking shots of skyscapes. They're cool with me taking apparently daft shots of staplers and Scotch tape dispensers. They're unfazed when I swap between my 18-125mm lens or my 300mm lens or even the macro lens I've been using.

Secretly, I reckon they enjoy watching my antics when I have a camera in my hand. It's kinda like the circus has come to town - except that the clown is Mister You Know Who.

But there I was yesterday, sitting at my desk when I remembered that this week's Photo Hunt subject was ourselves. So I got the camera out, held it in my left hand, lined it up exactly as I wanted - and hit the trigger with my left thumb. Great dexterity, hey? You try holding a heavy digital SLR in one hand, as far away from your body as possible - and take a shot pointing back at yourself.

It was a lot harder this way then the last time I posted a photograph of myself. Purely by coincidence, that shot was also taken at work - and I took it on a whim while photographing a sunrise. I think it's a really creative shot and you can tell me what you think of it after you check it out at Always Look On The Bright Side.

But can you please leave a comment here for my colleagues, telling 'em I haven't flipped my lid and become a Narcissist. Tell 'em the only reason I took this shot was for this week's theme. Just in case they think I've become a mirror-kisser.

Now that's a photograph I'd like to see!

Always Look On The Bright Side

You Could Call This A Self-Portrait, I Guess

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Some weeks ago, I was at work really early and I could see by the colours in the pre-dawn sky that it was going to be a magnificent sunrise. I took a few shots immediately and then returned to the same window about ten minutes later to take another half-dozen or so frames. You know how I always advise other photographers to look around and not become obsessed with a single point of view? Well, I followed my own rule and saw this near-perfect silhouette.

The summer sun was so bright and so intense (yes it's summer here in Australia) that the glow of the reflection was perfect. As you can see, I was very fortunate because this particular section of our floor was being extensively refurbished. The work crew had left a ladder beside a group of desks and when I turned away from the sunrise, this was exactly what I saw.

It was a strange feeling, because I'm not used to including myself in a frame. Still, it was too good an opportunity to miss. What you see to the left of my face is the camera strap. And of course you know that I never crop or enhance my photos, so what you see here is exactly what I saw through the lens that morning.

Look carefully at the image and you'll see faint parallel lines across the wall. They're the reflection from the horizontal blinds at the window facing the sun. As a pure and simple lucky image, I reckon I'll never score better than this off-the-cuff shot.

Who Used My `Head And Shoulders'?

Neck And Neck, But It Could End In A Tie

Self-portrait (well, sorta) copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I took this shot about a week ago, just after I got home from work. Maybe this photograph will tell you a lot about me. The tie was a Father's Day gift from my beloved children and the scarf was hand-knitted by my equally beloved mother-in-law. As you can see, I still had my suit jacket on - but it came off the moment the picture had been taken.

Taking this shot was an interesting exercise. I simply set the camera to ``flash off'' mode and adjusted the lens to the field I wanted. Then I held the camera out as far as I could, pointing it towards myself. I shot about six frames indoors and this was the one I chose because you can actually see (even though this is a low-resolution image) the texture of the tie and the pattern on the woollen scarf.

FOOTNOTE: Isn't Bangkok the capital of Tie Land?

Click here: Pentax K100D, Shutter speed 1/10, F 5.6, ISO speed 800.