Thursday, June 21, 2007

Light Entertainment

A Memorable End To The Shortest Day

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


Melbourne, Thursday, 5.05pm. It's a good thing I always have a camera with me. I was walking to my car this evening and noticed the sky had an interesting glow. Not spectacular, just mildly interesting. Right? So I took the camera out, took a couple of frames and turned away. I put the lens cap back on, put the camera into its bag and snapped it shut. Closed the back door and got into the car.


Melbourne, Thursday, 5.07pm. Even before I could put the key in the ignition, I half-turned to get hold of my seatbelt. I blinked in disbelief as I realised how rapidly the sky had changed. Got the camera out again and took this shot. There was literally two minutes between the first frame and this one, because I checked my watch and verified it on the image properties.


Melbourne, Thursday, 5.08pm. This time I waited, because the rays of the sun - which had already sunk beyond the horizon - were turning into a golden war bonnet. This time, there was only a minute between these frames. The total time elapsed was less than four minutes, from start to finish. And there's a special significance to this sequence, because today's the winter equinox, the shortest day of the year. What a privilege to be able to capture it in this way.
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25 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:13 PM

    Those are unbelievable... I have not seen snaps like that too often. Honestly I have no words to really describe them. Great job David. One more example of why its so important to have your camera with you all the time... Siddharth

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  2. Anonymous9:35 PM

    You could sell these to one of those inspirational poster companies!

    Nice!

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  3. david mcmahon9:40 PM

    Hi Siddharth,

    Thank you for the kind words. I was just lucky - in the right place at the right time.

    I couldn't believe the way the light changed so quickly.

    Yes, it certainly validates my decision to have my camera with me at all time.

    Cheers

    David

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  4. david mcmahon9:41 PM

    Hi Steph,

    Now that you mention it ....

    It was an amazing sight, especially because the light changed so swiftly.

    Cheers

    David

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  5. Shrink Wrapped Scream9:58 PM

    That is truly remarkable, David! Incidentally, today is our longest day of the year..

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  6. david mcmahon10:16 PM

    Hi Carol,

    See ya at Stonehenge at daybreak!

    Cheers

    David

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  7. Anonymous11:14 PM

    Wow! Needs some dramatic symphonic music.

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  8. david mcmahon11:19 PM

    Hi Darlene,

    Believe me, I could hear the music in my head. It was something classical.

    Cheers

    David

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  9. fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com12:28 AM

    Love those shots...maybe some day I can witness them myself!

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  10. david mcmahon12:46 AM

    Thanks, Mushy,

    I was gobsmacked at how quickly it morphed.

    Aren't you flying in to Oz this weekend, just to see sights like these?!!

    Cheers

    David

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  11. Sam1:41 AM

    ah teh solstice...nice capture david... am sorry been highly irregular these past few weeks... had too much of work... adn finally, got bogged down by a bad bout of flu.. still recovering... u might guess all this from my owon frequency of postings this month!!
    cheerio
    tc and be happy
    sam

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  12. B.T.Bear (esq.)4:16 AM

    Cool....

    longest day here, and my 200th post!

    :@}

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  13. karoline in the morning4:43 AM

    i luv those shooting fingers of light, like they're trying to grab the sky...

    k
    :)

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  14. Fletch5:51 AM

    Now, THOSE 3 frames called for some 'Thickbox' magic. Consider it. The changes can appear even after the event (of posting, that is).

    Chewy mentioned putting it to music. How right she is. I could do a feature.

    Let me know.

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  15. Cuckoo5:55 AM

    They are unbelievably beautiful shots !! Good that you waited there for miracle to happen.

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  16. david mcmahon6:25 AM

    Hi Sam,

    Thank you for that comment. Sorry to hear you've been ill - I was certainly wondering what was wrong because I hadn't seen much on your blog.

    Take care of yourself.

    Cheers

    David

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  17. david mcmahon6:26 AM

    Hi BTBear,

    Great effort - 200 posts. Bearing up remarkably well! More power to you and that wonderfully readable blog ...

    Cheers

    David

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  18. david mcmahon6:27 AM

    Hi Karoline,

    Thank you, that's a perfect description.

    Cheers

    David

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  19. david mcmahon6:28 AM

    Hi El Tel,

    Got my hands full for the next four days - but that's an incredibly generous offer.

    I'd be honoured if you could, kind sir.

    Cheers

    David

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  20. david mcmahon6:29 AM

    Hi Cuckoo,

    Thank you. Strange to think I was actually leaving after the first shot - and then I realised how quickly the light was changing.

    Just a lucky episode.

    Cheers

    David

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  21. Catmoves9:34 AM

    Absolutely fabulous David. And I'm glad to note that the sky in Melbourne is as I remember it. Thank you for these pictures.

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  22. savannah2:42 PM

    fantastic images...don't think i've ever seen anything like that...as someone mentioned earlier, longest day for us about the equator...it seemed as if it would never set...
    be well, sugar!

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  23. savannah2:42 PM

    i meant above

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  24. david mcmahon10:50 PM

    Hi Catmoves,

    Lovely to hear from you. Glad you liked the pictures. Yes, the Melbourne sky is full of surprises - and I was VERY lucky with this sequence.

    Cheers

    David

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  25. david mcmahon10:51 PM

    Hi Savannah,

    How nice of you to drop by again. I'm so glad you liked the shots.

    Hope your sunshine never ends - in more ways than one.

    Cheers

    David

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