Saturday, October 06, 2007

Is Your Name Ringo, Flamingo?

Teach Me Your Lingo, Gringo

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON



I was wondering whether I should post a shot of the Sydney Opera House to go with this week's theme, "Curves". I also had a number of other choices that I was weighing up. Then I happened to drive past a florist and the penny dropped immediately. This flamingo is one of three that stands near the public access footpath. Shooting this was a fair challenge, because the birds seem to be made of light plastic - and it was blowing a gale, so the three flamingos were rocking backwards and forwards constantly.

I felt a bit like Quasimodo after bending low for several minutes, waiting for the trio to be blown into just the right position - or for them to stop swaying for a split second! The first frame (above) was shot looking towards the shop, while the second frame (below) was shot looking towards the nature strip and the street.

FOOTNOTE: I was quite literally up before the beak!

62 comments:

MaR said...

Excellent choice for this week's theme, no matter what the options were!! fascinating pink and curvy pictures, love them!!

MaR said...

Boy, are you up early!
;)

Anonymous said...

What fun and interesting curves. sara from farmingfriends

Anonymous said...

I think you did a really great job for this weeks theme. Stunning photography!

Anonymous said...

Windy or not, you did an excellent job on the photos. Great idea too. Have a good weekend.

Anonymous said...

Awesome photographs... the kind of shots I'm aspiring to take one day! :)
Happy Weekend - and thanks for visiting!

Paulie said...

What a super entry this week! Good going. Mine is up too -- please coem and visit.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Mar,

Thank you - I couldn't resist photographing them. Yes, I'm always up early - have to finish off my second novel in three weeks!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Sara,

Glad you liked the shots. I really enjoyed your entire selection.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Tegdirb92,

Thank you very much. It was a tough one because the light was so strong. Would have been easier with a little cloud!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

G'day Kissedalotatoads,

Thank you very much. Just heading out for a few hours, but will check out your picture as soon as I get back.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Sabine,

I'm always happy to help. If you need any advice about photography or writing, just leave me a comment and I always answer them as you probably know.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Paulie,

Thanks for visiting. Glad you liked the shots.

Will check out your site shortly, for sure.

Keep smiling

David

SabineM said...

lovely curvy photos!
Nice choice for this theme!

Anonymous said...

Love the curvy necked flamingos!!

Liz Hinds said...

A great choice for the theme.

WE don't have native flamingoes but we do have red-hot pokers in Wales. You definitely should come and visit.

Head Gaggler said...

Those are great!

jams o donnell said...

I love the photos. great choices for this week's theme. Happy weekend

Merisi said...

My favorite is the second shot, the strong light, the pink, the green, the composition, the two of them, you made the most of it, a perfect shot ... :-)

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

That brought me back - Sydney oprah house - grin. Happy days! Lovely pic (shame I missed out on the oprah house though..)

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

You reminded me of friends we had years ago that thought that if a home had a flamingo in the yard, they were "redneck!"

My wife and I picked one up in Florida one year and secretly placed in prominently in their yard one night as we were leaving!

He through a fit the next day until he found out we did it as a joke!

Maybe that's why we aren't visiting friends anymore...suppose?

Anonymous said...

I love the pink (not normally my favourite colour) and the thought of you trying to catch the shot does appeal to my sense of humour!

Cynthia said...

All right, that is just excellent! Mine isn't a photo, but it's curvy...Yours is really good!

karoline in the morning said...

i luv pink flamingos..they're so happpy...

k:)))

jmb said...

Hey David, I would have liked to see the Opera House too but these are excellent photos. You are putting us all to shame! Well some of us.

Carver said...

Great shots for this weeks theme. I bet that was wild trying to photograph them as the were blown about by the wind.

Colin Campbell said...

You are also covered for the pink theme coming up. I always liked to watch the flamingos standing on one leg, waiting for when (and whether) they transferred legs.

Julie Shaw said...

Great Idea for this weeks themej

Anonymous said...

Wonderful composition. A great take on the theme. I love the curves in long-necked birds.

Michele said...

Awesome, as usual. I love the second shot with the near and far shot effect. 3D effects always amaze me. Beautiful and of course pink, my favorite color!
The Rocky Mountain Retreat

Lisa said...

Beautiful curves and colour. Excellent photos. Enjoy your day.

Movie Mazaa said...

Falmingos for the theme CURVES.
!
Thats simply wow!

Chen said...

Excellent curvy flamingo shots. It is indeed challenging to take shots of light stuff in windy weather. Seeing the flamingoes reminds me of the pink lantern flamingo shots i took last year :D

Anonymous said...

Hi,.. just read your post on my sisters blog,... Becci,(PowersTwinB) and wanted to let you know, I am not her twin,.. but am the next sister down the line. lol. I still like your entry,.. Have a good weekend.

Talk..to..Grams said...

They are beautiful! Thanks for your visit. Have a great weekend!

Lin said...

THanks - then I don't feel so bad doing my own version of the Spanish 'flamingo', craning while waiting for breezes to die down. That is strictly for the birds.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Excellent shot (and take). Seriously, awesome photo.

Lisa said...

Fantastic photos! After last week's Pepperazzi, I knew I would be returning for this week's hunt! :)

PowersTwinB said...

Fabulous photos!!! I love these plastic flamingos lol...KissedAlotAtoads is not my twin sister, but she is my sibling...she's the 3rd girl down in our family of 7 siblings... I was glad to see you have chatted with her, she is special to me! Thanks for visiting my hunt photo early!

Anonymous said...

Perfect!

none said...

Pink flamingos..the lawn jocky of the late 20th centurey :)

Woodlandmama said...

Great photos. I love the pink flamingos, so kitsch.

Queen of My Domain said...

Those are great photos. How can you not pick a pink flamingo over the Opera House. Happy Weekend.

Berni said...

You have a lot of guts David being seen in public photographing pink plastic flamingos. I would have thought your reputation as erudite author would be tarnished!

Trinity said...

waaa.... I love your pink flamingo! This is the first time I visit your blog... you have a nice blog here.

You've been in Indonesia? Where were you going, Bali? I hope I knew you before so you can visit me in Bandung!

Cheers and keep in touch.
Trinity from Rooms of My Heart

Anonymous said...

That is indeed curvy!

Corey~living and loving said...

I really like your choice. and the second picture is my fave. :)
have a great weekend!

CRIZ LAI said...

Hey David...these are some beautiful taken shots. I love the colors and how you compose them. I can see that it took you quite awhile to come out with these photos.

Windy weather and motion objects have always been a challenge in taking photographs. You had your wind and I had my creatures crawling nonstop. Haha. Great job here :)

**"Liza"** said...

that is one awesome Idea..i was thinking of that one but i decided to post a different one instead!!very cool entry!

Alex L said...

That reminds me I have to get back to my other story... dont ask why the flamingo reminded me of this its a surprise.

Anonymous said...

WOW! That is a WOW shots:D

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Cool flamingos! Very curvy. :)

My curvy photos.

RUTH said...

Pink curves...brilliant :o) and well spotted. Hope being Mr Mum doesn't interfere with your writing too much.
Take care
Rx

Anonymous said...

great entry for today’s theme

have a great weekend!

Merisi said...

You made me dream of pink Flamingos! Strangely, they were white with pink feet!

Anonymous said...

Your pink flamingoes look so serious! Great photos

Shawna said...

What great photos!! Sounds like those birds were some tough posers!

Unknown said...

beautifully captured, and nice find!

Anonymous said...

You've got very cute pink flamingos with curvy necks, David.

Have a great weekend :)

Nita said...

Great choice of photos! Mine is up as well. Have a great week!

Momgen said...

thats nice pics of Flamingo. good choice. mine is up...

Mommy Lutchi said...

this are perfect for the the theme.

Mine is up at My Two Cents Worth and

The FOur Seasons Of My Life
hope you can visit me too.
TC


Would you care to ex-link with me ?