Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Flow-On Effect

Water, Water, Everywhere, Except In Melbourne

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


There's an interesting challenge from the New York City blogger Daryle, who has thrown down the gauntlet, inviting us to post photographs of fountains. As it happens, none of Melbourne's water fountains are operational, because of the drought and the severe water restrictions.

However, I took this photograph (above) of a fountain in Montreal two years ago, during a photographic assignment for the Canadian Tourism Commission. The fountain was near my hotel, the Queen Elizabeth, and the shot was taken very early in the morning, before the sun had risen.

But these two photographs (below) were taken in Singapore in mid-December. I was walking down Orchard Road on a hot, humid day when I took these two shots. They were both taken with a 125mm lens, at 1/500th of second, F8 and ISO 200. Which of the two Singapore close-ups do you prefer?


27 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I like the top image of the Singapore ones. It looks like a person to me, with a few odd characteristics. Love the bubbling effect in both, though

Monique said...

That first pic looks more like an erupting volcano. I had to look twice!

WomanHonorThyself said...

Ooohhhhhhh I'm a pisces so I luvvvv water...wow I gotsta take my camera back out!

merry weather said...

The first one - it looks like a woman or maybe a horse rearing up - great contrast between these two and the other!

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

The fountain looks like someone clubbed a seal! At least at first glance!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I prefer the first. The second captures more of the upward movement somehow, whereas the first captures both the up and downward motion of the water. There's more action there...more life.

Maggie May said...

The first one looks like a pregnant lady & the second like an angel! They are both lovely!

SandyCarlson said...

David,
Your comments on the water restrictions are a reminder that water is too scarce to be a decoration. These images are delightful, though. You really caught that water mid-dance. God bless.

Daryl said...

Oh the second is more interesting .. frozen bubbles!

Daryl E aka 'Flush' Gordon

I must post, tomorrow tho because its on the home 'puter this amazing fountain in Chicago's Millennium Park taken summer before last.

OHmommy said...

Water is such a great thing to photograph! Isn't it?

Funny, how one place in the world is having a drought and another a flood. Our snow is melting and it hasn't stopped raining in days in Ohio.

joey said...

Thanks for popping over, david. Enjoyed my visit here also. Will return since there is much to see ..

imac said...

1st David, then i read that most like the 1st, oh well I cant be different all the time.

Good shot tho David.
Dirty Duck Canal walk continues.

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Gosh what a fab fountain. The second i hardly dare comment upon, but ..erm... yes, simply lovely.

Anonymous said...

The first one looks like a fountain. The other two not so much.

Corey~living and loving said...

oh the two close ups...I like the first one better.

Momisodes said...

I did a double take on the first pic too! I won't post what I thought it was initially :)

Sandi McBride said...

The first one looks like a horse rising from the foam...the second like a horse with companion...hmm...opposite inkblot test here, I'd say!
Sandi

Moosekahl said...

I like the second shot...

Lots of fountains in this town to take pictures of but with the current highs not even reaching 0 degrees, no water in any of them

Gawdess said...

the first one, lovely and bubbly!

Les Becker said...

Augh! AGAIN, you make me so jealous. I can't get decent water shots - got one by accident once with rain dripping off a roof into a puddle... until I got it on the computer, and of course it sucked.

THESE now... Wow! I have to learn to make water "sit still".

Les Becker said...

Ooops... forgot your question, sorry? ;-)

I can't decide which one I like better... the first seems to be "bubblier"... the second seems a little sharper, and having two "spouts" kind of looks cool, too.

Lee said...

Beautiful fountain shots, David! In the picture with the colored water where it looks kind of late in the day, I like the way the dark background makes the red colored water look like flames. Because the dark makes the light posts vanish you could almost believe that the 5 globe fixtures are floating in space. Very mysterious!

As to the other two water shots. I prefer the first one. It has more form. People kept looking for shapes in it. It just entices the mind to observe and question.

Peace!

virtual nexus said...

Agree with the consensus - would have liked to have seen others....

alicesg said...

Nice photo capture of the fountain. I like the 1st photo of the fountain too.

Amrita said...

Very creative David

Am'n2Deep said...

I love fountains--the sound and the beauty mesmerizes me. I like the last two best. Were it not that you mentioned it was a hot, humid day, I might have thought this was ice.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Whoa. FANtastic!