Friday, November 09, 2007

Jack Be Nimbus, Jack Be Quick

Jack Grab The Camera, And Just Go Click

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


This shot was taken at St Kilda beach, here in Melbourne. Despite the blue sky, it was practically blowing a gale and so the light conditions, as well as the cloud, were changing constantly. I was concentrating on the sky to see if I could get any special images and I shot a lot of silhouettes and skyscapes. I was also shooting fairly quickly. Later, I looked through my camera data as I always do - and I was interested to see that I had shot about 120 frames in about 40 minutes.

In that time I walked probably three or four kilometres as well, so I was shooting three frames a minute (or one every twenty seconds) even taking into account the fact that I was moving about constantly, looking for new vantage points.

But halfway through the session, I noticed this glow of the sun through the cloud. I was very lucky. Not only did I get a frame of translucent cloud, but I was in the right spot for some other add-ons. A pure skyscape is one thing, but when you can add certain elements to the frame, you have hit the jackpot. I was able to get the palm trees in silhouette, as well as the graceful light poles and even the head-and-shoulders profiles of a couple of beach walkers.

21 comments:

Casdok said...

Beautiful

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Captures the imagination, doesn't it?

Tom said...

Friday already... ha! great capture David.. Love the cloud effect but I must say you did well getting everything in like this...

I also must comment on the ldy's hat with the feather... beautiful..

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

You work hard David, that, combined with a good eye, is priceless. Beautiful shot.

Misty DawnS said...

Very beautiful. A lot of my favorite photos that I've taken are sky/sun/sunset shots.

FHB said...

Purdy! I've taken a few nice sunrise shots this week that I'll be posting Friday. You guys have got me goin' everywhere with this camera, snappin' shots everywhere. Lovin' it.

Lee said...

Absolutely gorgeous, David!

Colleen said...

Wonderful photo David- and I just love the Header to this one!

Lilli & Nevada said...

Hello Dave, Thanks for the stop over on my blog. Be sure to check the travel one out, as that is were i post most everything,
I also read you are in Melbourne,I have pen pals that live in Adelaide,He works for the railroad.
Anyway looking forward to reading some of your blog.

Lilli & Nevada said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
meggie said...

That is, indeed, a very interesting & full photograph.
Thankyou for visiting my blog, & leaving me a nice comment.
I love watching the sky, & taking pics in my very amateur way.

Anonymous said...

Nice shot, Thanks for coming to my blog!

LBJ said...

that sky. . is one of the many reasons I'm a pilot.

Oswegan said...

I remember back in the film days, one would never shoot that much, now with digital, one can squeeze off a hundred rounds without even noticing.

~Oswegan

mrsnesbitt said...

Yes agree with previous comment! Digital photography has certainly brought the opportunity for experimenting!

We are off to explore the skies this weekend....from the motorbike ofcourse. Now I wonder what I will be thinking about?? Hmmmm Weekend Wandering??????

Lakshmi said...

I wandered lonely as a cloud...
lovely pic

Tom said...

Me again David... I'm going to pay more attention to your titles.. I missed this one... very good play on words. ;o)

Suzi-k said...

YES, THE LAMP-POSTS WERE WHAT STRUCK ME TOO, THEY REALLY ADD TO IT. We tend to do the same, taking so many shots, the nightmare is sifting through them afterwards and deciding which to delete and which to keep! (And where to file them so they can all be found again.)

Andree said...

I like it so much. I find myself looking at the sky all the time now because of Sky Watch. (Confusingly, I have skywatch on my pad blog, not the main one). Love your photos, they are teaching me a lot.

Lynette said...

Oh, yes, you were lucky, David. So are we! Thanks.

RUTH said...

Beautiful shot. :o)
Have a peaceful weekend
Rx