Friday, December 14, 2007

Streets Ahead

The Sun's Over The Yardarm

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON



This shot was one of a series I shot in September 2006. I happened to be driving through a south-east Melboune suburb when I drove past this street. I caught a glimpse of an amazing sunset, but I didn't have my camera with me. So the next day, I made sure I was there at the same time to capture the scene. Fortunately, the weather was exactly the same and it was a fairly clear sky. This picture was the first in a sequence of 20.

Because I was so intent on the sun itself, I didn't appreciate the fact that the end of the street was bathed in a soft orange light, while the sky was almost lilac. Only when I viewed this image on my computer screen did I fully appreciate the value of this photograph. Remember when we were kids and we were always told to ensure we had the sun behind us when using a camera? I still chuckle at that, because I've lost count of the number of times I've pointed my camera directly at the sun.

34 comments:

Marie said...

Beautiful!


We have mutch better cameras now than when we were cids...

Have a nice weekend :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful capture and contrast

david mcmahon said...

That's so right, Marie.

Thank goodness for technology!

Cheers

David

Rune Eide said...

Good shot. I must agree with you about the value of pictures taken against the light, but you sure need 20 captures (and good lenses!) before you are satisfied.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Evlahos,

Thank you.

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hu Runee,

Yes, I agree with thath - and you need a bit of luck as well. Everything seemed to go just perfectly that evening.

Cheers

David

Lara said...

Hi David, thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog, and thus leading me to yours! it's great! hope to stay in touch!

Anonymous said...

An interesting photo. I like it. My Photography

david mcmahon said...

G'day Lara,

No worries at all. Would be great to stay in touch.

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

G'day OML,

On the road at the moment, in Singapore. Took about 500 shots today!

Say a big hello to Melissa, Audrey and your wife for me.

Cheers

David

SandyCarlson said...

The lilac sky is lovely and warm, David. And the sun--really can be a shameless flirt in front of a camera.

I remember that photography rule, too. I wonder if it makes a difference using film rather than digital?

I can't think of all the well-below-zero days I my trusty Minolta X-370 in the car and no evil befell it! All those precautions...!

jennwa said...

Sunset are the best. Everyday they are different. You get to see all the different colors. They are truly amazing to me. I am always pointing them out to my kids. Great photo.

Middle Ditch said...

What an amazing photograph.

Lakshmi said...

very pretty ! Ive always liked silhouettes - recently I was in Mahabalipuram and I tried shooting a sunset in the same way ..of course, yours is spectacular !

Galla Creek said...

You are a professional and I am not even an amatuer. I am not in your league!

Anonymous said...

I think it's fascinating finding the hidden beauty in a shot, however obscure - like the odd geometrical symmetry in the power lines, even though on the day to day we see them as a visual blight!

Kellan said...

Lovely post, David and a very lovely photo. Take care and have a good weekend. Kellan

Tina Leigh said...

A photographer at heart will always attempt to catch the beautiful things.... I would say you did just that!

AGK said...

I love all the regular stuff in this beautiful shot (versus the typical water and/or mountains), and I love when we can appreciate what we didn't see the first time...

dot said...

Beautiful! I remember those days and I was also taught to hold my breath when I snapped. I always forget tho.

Mrs Mac said...

Amazing waht can happen sometimes when you point the camera straight at the sun. I did it with Rochester Castle one time, and it came out as a dark green silhouette. VERY spooky!

BTW- results in- got a distinction!

"WA-HEYY" as a certain small ursine would say...

Annie said...

Thanks for bringing this out of the archives to share with all us sunless folk around the world.

Sand said...

Thanks for the comment on my blog. Yours is fantastic. I also tend to point my camera directly at the sun...even at high noon. I love the effects I can get from it.

bcmomtoo said...

I like pointing my camera at the sun, too. I like the idea of Sky Watch Friday. I'm participating for the first time today.

Amrita said...

Super. My camera won 't do this i think.

storyteller said...

Stunning shot! Makes me want to take my camera out at sunset to see what I can capture. How fortunate to find identical conditions the 2nd day.
Hugs and blessings,

Lilli & Nevada said...

What a nice photo, i love deep rich colors.

Happyone said...

A beautiful sunset. The colors are awesome!

Sharon said...

Beautiful,I've lost count how many times I've done that, too! :)

Suzi-k said...

what I love about this shot is that the bushes form a circle around the sun, so it almost looks like a baseball cupped in a mitt

Cynthia said...

Great shot....Enjoy Singapore!

GAWO said...

The first one i often the best one. This is very nice.

Sharon said...

Wonderful picture! Glad you went back to get it. It wouldn't be fun to drive home up that week every evening! Beautiful to see, though.

Angie said...

Hi,
Beautiful photo and I'm glad I'm not the only one who dares to point my camera at the sun!