Hail Merry

Wasn't It Sunny A Few Minutes Ago?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

On Wednesday evening it was bright and sunny at 4pm - but things had changed drastically in just over an hour, as you can see from this photograph.

They weren't kidding when a wild weather warning was issued for Melbourne that afternoon. I had had just exited off the freeway when the sleet turned to a fierce hailstorm.

This was shot a few seconds after I parked in my driveway, just as dusk turned to night.

Yes, I live in a city with hugely fluctuating weather. On Christmas Day 2006, it was several degrees colder in Melbourne than it was in London or New York - and December is our summer!

And a few years ago, we had snow on Christmas Day, while Victoria was battling bushfires!

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

Daisy Crockett

Too Mellow For A Yellow Fellow

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The sun's actually come out this afternoon, and the forecast for tomorrow is for clear skies. I took this shot to show you that even in mid-winter, with Olinda golf course blanketed in snow, we still have bright colour in our gardens. These yellow daisies flower right through the coldest months, although they're looking a bit tatty now. Soon I'll cut it back to a half-metre bare stump, and sure enough, next winter it'll be about three metres across in a huge yellow blanket.

Click here: Pentax K100D, Shutter speed 1/350, F 8.0 ISO speed 200.

Freeze A Crowd

There's Snow In Them Thar Clouds

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I took this photograph early this morning because I thought the weather pundits had got it wrong. Heavy cloud around. But plenty of sunshine. It was streaming through at a shallow winter angle and lighting up the Southbank roof like four golden spikes. I was scoffing at the prediction for hail and snow. But the sunshine didn't last for long, mate. It's been snowing all round the state, and Sydneysiders have had their coldest morning in twenty years. That's right, the mercury in the warm harbour city dipped below zero in several suburbs.

Click here: Pentax K100D, Shutter 1/125, F8.0, ISO speed 800.

Love Me Ten, Dear, Love Me Do

(Sorry, I Musta Had My Blue Suede Shoes On)

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Yes, this is the first week of winter, but the daytime temperatures have been extremely mild. It was about 12 Celsius when I took this shot four hours ago, but as you can see, it's just a perfect afternoon here in Melbourne. Blue sky. Plenty of sun. There was no breeze early this morning and the surface of the river was barely rippling. The weather's been fairly cruel in Sydney, but we're just enjoying the sunshine. Let's hope it stays that way for the long weekend, the official start to the ski season. At the moment, the clear sky means we're going to cop a cold night - with the promise of snow in the Victorian Alps.

So, Who Rose To The Challenge?

How I Went To The Wall For This Shot

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

How best to depict the fickle nature of the weather in this fair city? Three days ago we were in T-shirts and shorts, now we're gearing up for snow in the Victorian Alps. So I thought I'd give you an image that captured it perfectly. This was taken in our garden - in the foreground is a rose, a hardy synbol of summer; while in the background is a plane tree, with the russet hues of late autumn. Not an easy picture to take, because the rose is up against a wall, so I had to manoevure myself fairly awkwardly - but hey, I'm ready to suffer for my art! Incidentally, the plane tree is one of the few that has not shed most of its leaves.