Thursday, November 01, 2007

Sundowner

Window Of Opportunity

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


This was the last burst of light for Halloween 2007, because the long-awaited day has come and gone in Australia - and we're halfway through the afternoon of 1 November. The entire setting sun was reflected in a window for slightly more than ninety seconds and I took four frames, delighted that I always have my camera with me. I chose not to use sharp focus as I did not think it fair to publish a photograph of someone's else's home. But I honestly think there is a mystery quality to the picture this way, deliberately out of focus. I reckon it makes you look twice at the photograph. Do you agree?

18 comments:

Hyderabad Daily Photo said...

I agree. And till I read your explanation, also makes me wonder if I need to make a trip to the ophthalmologist (which is long overdue anyway). ;)

Berni said...

The fireworks have just stopped here and Halloween has two more hours to go until Nov 1.

We are going to look at a digital camera on Friday that is on for sale. I know absolutely nothing about photography so if I get to use it, as it will be hubby's toy as well, I have a huge learning curb if I am to turn out anything decent.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I love that surreal quality. It's like a painting that no earthly paintbrush could have painted.

Skanky Jane said...

Oh yeah! I like it a lot - and it makes me feel better about my out of focus shots - which are also (of course) shot that way deliberately! *choke choke*

SJ xx

Lakshmi said...

lovely ..i agree ..always feel that soft focus and black and white pics have more to say than a bright colourful pic..one would like to keep looking at these pics again and again

david mcmahon said...

Hi Hyderabad Daily Photo,

Thank you very much. And you get today's gold medal for spelling ``ophthalmologist'' correctly!!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Vic,

I wnat to know more! Getting a camera is a great feeling.

I still get a kick out of using my cameras - and vicarious enjoyment out of friends like you getting cameras.

Everything's a learning curve - enjoy it like you enjoy everything else in life.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Kimberly,

Thank you for those very kind words. I guess a painter with a hangover and serious focus issues could have painted it easily!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi SJ,

I really enjoyed your latest post. And believe me, there is a lot to be said for soft focus, seriously.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Backpakker,

Thank you for your generosity. I had very little time to decide what I was going to do with the shot, so just followed my instinct.

Keep smiling

David

Merisi said...

Very fitting image for a vaning All Hallow's Eve! And your words confirm why I have a predilection for out of focus shots.
Your picture reminds me once again of that story by a person who observed a shadow play on an open window pane, waiting every day for a year, until it finally appeared again. Some images are even more ephemeral, appearing once and then never again. Lucky you, you caught one of these rare moments in time. Congratulations!
:-)

Last night, I encountered a group of little trick and treaters on the street. At first sight, I impulsively wanted to ask them to pose. Then I just clicked, and there was my ghostly Halloween image!

mrsnesbitt said...

We had a quiet night in for Halloween. I did get the broomstick out but it was too cold, so it stayed in the garage, next to the motorbike.

Do check my blog David, a competition!

Dxx

david mcmahon said...

Hi Merisi,

You're so right, it was indeed a brief moment in time.

Will visit your blog and check out your picture. I'm intrigued!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Denise,

So the broomstick stayed in the tarmac? Will check out your blog for the competition.

Keep smiling

David

Misty DawnS said...

I've given you an extra special award - come to my blog to pick it up!

Tiffany Norris said...

Love this picture as well as the one of the well-dressed witch! Happy November!

Hyderabad Daily Photo said...

Thank you for the gold medal, David. I am reminded of Mark Twain's quotation: "They spell it "Vinci" and pronounce it "Vinchy". Foreigners always spell better than they pronounce." ;)

You know, actually I suddenly had a doubt when I was posting my comment, so I did a quick checkup on google. And to my surprise it had entries for both "op.." and "oph..". Even a doctor's website showed up in the search for "op.."
But with this spelling doubt in my mind, I made the mistake of typing "also makes" instead of "also made" in my comment....

FHB said...

Well, norw THAT is what about 90% of my shots look like.