Thursday, September 20, 2007

Come Hull Or High Water

Official Vessel For Mister Deck Cheney

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


As a kid, I was always told to frame the whole subject in the viewfinder. This time, I just broke the golden rule, but it was a deliberate experiment. As this tourist cruise boat made its way down the Yarra River in brilliant sunlight, I figured it would be fun to experiment. So I picked my spot carefully, allowed this trailing branch to obscure the vessel - and concentrated on the reflection instead. I thought I'd pick a nautical theme for International Talk Like A Pirate Day - but there were no peglegs, parrots or eye patches on view. Not even a Long John sliver. Sorry, me hearties.

FOOTNOTE: I've failed to find skill and crossbones.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

It be pirate day! Raise the Jolly Roger.

Bart said...

As a kid, I was told things like "eat all your vegetables" and "you need to mind your manners, young man."

Jessie Raeke said...

Thanks for the kind words, David. My current assignment is to write a Villanelle. If you're not familiar with the form, here is a description: A villanelle is usually five tercerts rhyming aba, followed by a quatrain rhyming abaa. The first line of the first stanza becomes the last line of the second and fourth; the last
line of the first stanza becomes the last line of the third and fifth. These two refrain lines
form the couplet at the end of the final quatrain.

Whew! That's enough to frustrate even the cleverest of writers. I was also give the option of writing a sonnet, which I think I will do instead. Any suggestions for working with fixed forms?

Thanks again,

Jessie

PS I will pass along your shrub-keeping advice to the King.

Jo Beaufoix said...

Fab picture David.
What a great idea.

Cuckoo said...

Oh what a lovely picture it is !!
I loved the reflection.

Keep it up David.

Kelly said...

Happy Pirate day!

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

Not one, but two funny title lines! You are the damn best at that I've seen! I don't even try to compete!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

How much more we see when we shift from the usual perspective.

Dottie said...

Great reflection shot! Beautiful! Thanks for your comment on my most recent post regarding weight loss. I appreciate it. If you want to share details of your friend who dealt with these issues, that'd be great.

Mansi said...

David, that's a beautiful pic...and a lovely angle I must say...your experiment worked! I've been trying to capture some reflections too these days..latest was that of a hilltop house in a lake on our way to SF from Vegas:)

Digital Flower Pictures said...

that thar be th' best picture o' a boat I be havin' ereseen me bucko

Anonymous said...

You mean Cheney was in the boat and nobody sunk it?

Tell your friends to come to see my Japanese blog I began the other day about Japan in the early 1950s. Sendai, Japan

Nessa said...

Pirates are all about breaking rules, me hardy. Arr.

Mega said...

Were there pirates on that ship, landlubber? Argh matey!

Merisi said...

For a moment I was stunned: How in the world did water get up all the way to the Vice President's hilltop residence? And then I realized. *laugh* That reflection for a moment fooled me, it creates the illusion of a porch in front of the type of Victorian house the VP resides in. I am sure glad for the rest of the Washingtonians that the Potomac hasn't reached the Navel Observatory yet (btw, the White House would have had to go under first, it being much closer to the Potomac river water level than the VP's residence *g*). :-)

david mcmahon said...

Hi Darlene,

Arrrrrrgh, me arty

(Yes, I knew you would like that!!)

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hey, Bart-Man,

Did you live in my house?!!!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Queen,

You;ve got me intrigued. I know all about sonnets, but I'd never even heard of a Vilanelle.

I just thought it was a female Darth Vader.

Levity aside, I'm humble - and fascinated. And in awe of your ability.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Jo,

Thank you very much, I;m glad you liked the shot.

It was a close thing...

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Cuckoo,

It's always such a pleasure to hear from you. I'm so glad you liked the picture.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Utopia,

And may a jolly buccaneer brighten all our days ....

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hey, Mushy,

I try my best! And I love the way you always acknowledge my efforts.

Thank you

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Kimberly,

That's exactly my approach to life in general. And you're so right with that observation.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Dottie,

Thank you, ma'am. I'll check with my friend tomorrow morning (it's Thursday night here at the moment) and wil let you know.

If you haven't heard from me in the next 24 hours, give me a not-so-gentle reminder!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Mansi,

Thank you. I'm so glad you liked it. I visited your blog but couldn;t see the pictures you mentioned.

Do give me the link when you have time to spare ...

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Chris,

Coming from you, that is a comment that I take as very high praise.

I try my best to see things differently ...

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Old Man Lincoln,

I chuckled at that comment. Yes, I did indeed tell my friends to visit your Japan blog.

I included it on my list with post of the Day yesterday ,....

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Nessa,

Thank you for that validation.

CRASH - relax - that was just me throwing the rule book thru the window ....

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Dan,

Aye, there were pirates swarmin' all over that ship. Cutlasses in their teeth and parrots on their shoulders.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Merisi,

My word, you certainly know your Washington. I'm going to try and memorise all of that!

Keep smiling

David

FHB said...

Reflective shots like this are always cool to see, particularly when they obscure the actual image and only give you the reflection.