Phantom Menace

Presenting One Of The All-Time Classics

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Today's theme for Photo Hunt is ``Classic'' and I thought about it for a long time before I decided on these shots. I guess there is nothing that defines the theme better than a Rolls-Royce. This 2006 Phantom was in a showroom and I simply rocked up there and asked if I could take some photographs. The hood ornament is called the Spirit of Ecstasy and it has been the focal point of every Rolls-Royce built since 1911. I took several shots of it close up and I suddenly noticed that it was perfectly positioned in relation to two of the recessed lights in the ceiling, so I had to take the shot above.

Then, I figured it's not every day a guy gets to photograph a Roller, so I asked if they could put the hood up for me. Hey, come on, when was the last time you saw a photograph of a Rolls-Royce with its hood up? Think about it .....

So I asked and then I watched, intrigued, as one of the showroom staff took several attempts before finally popping the hood. Then I took this frame (below) with the engine as the point of focus - and I was immediately intrigued at how the hood ornament was portrayed. Have a close look and it seems to be made up of a series of silvery-gold bubbles.