Monday, March 03, 2008

Light Entertainment

Don't Get Your Wires Crossed

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


This photograph was taken in Calcutta, India on a very brief, unplanned trip in October 2006. The Hindu festive season known as the Puja holidays had just come to an end, and all the religious pandals (places of temporary worship, displaying images of Hindu gods and goddesses) were being dismantled. A lot of the apartment buildings in the city are illuminated with light festoons during the holidays, but these are all taken down and packed away after life returns to normal.

I caught sight of these lights at the side of a residential building in Ballygunge, in the southern part of the city. My children were with me at the time and it was (naturally) as if they could read my mind. As I reached for my camera case, they grinned and said in unison: "He's so going to take a shot of those lights.''

Yep, it was irresistible. The scene drew me like a magnet. All that coloured wire. All those light globes. How could I walk past something like that without capturing the scene? My only regret is that I never asked how many light globes it took to illuminate the building. Maybe I just wasn't bright enough.

(The Odd Shots concept came from Katney. Say "G'day" to her.)

36 comments:

Maggie May said...

Looks almost good enough to eat!

Katney said...

Like Maggie May said, looks good enough to eat. Before my eyes focused in, a quick glance left me with the impression of a fruit and veg stand and lots of pearl and cherry tomatoes.

My Odd Shot will, of course, be posted sometime near midnight Sunday here, wihich will be Monday evening for you. As always, I am a day late and a dollar short.

Lee said...

I agree with Katney. I thought they were bunches of tomatoes till I noticed the silver fixtures at the top of each globe. Very bright colors and lovely eye fooling shot.

Cheers

Mega said...

That just reminds me of how terrible putting up Christmas lights is!

Anonymous said...

The funny thing is I was thinking initially those were heirloom tomatoes. Then I looked more closely. Glad I didn't eat them.

Dragonstar said...

Brilliant! And I thought putting away the Christmas lights was bad! Well done David.

karoline in the morning said...

like a moth..i'm drawn to the lights...so many lights..so many, the wires, the bulbs...how DID they keep them so wonderfully untangled...?

k:)))

your photos and posts are always a treat david..

John-Michael said...

Just as those globes were thinking that their importance was past ... along comes David and sends them shining all 'round the world. Who knew?!

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Gorgeous colours, David.

Barbara said...

I too would have been drawn to take a photo like this. Glad you did so that I could see it.

Cath said...

You have a very keen eye. Like others, I thought at first glance this was veg or a spice stall.

Fantastic shot. And thanks for the direction to Katney. Her post today is fab.

merry weather said...

I thought they were sweets! Liquorice strands and gob-stoppers - must be hungry :)

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

At first glance that picture made me hungry. I thought it was of a produce stand until I looked more closely. Beautiful vibrant colours.

Merisi said...

Brilliant post! :-)

Should your kids and mine ever get together, I could think of at least one topic of conversation. ;-)


David, have you ever asked yourself in what way your life would be different without being able to see it through a lens also? Do you think your love for the lens as an extension of one's self has its roots in childhood?
I have this childhood memory of my parents always telling me to observe closely, to notice small things.

Gawdess said...

love it!

Unknown said...

Yum. I LOVE this shot! I agree with Maggie May...good enough to eat!

RiverPoet said...

Now that's a whole lot neater than my Christmas lights!

Cool shot!

Peace - D

Janice Thomson said...

That is a rather neat capture. The bright colors and shapes make for an exciting composition.

Sharon said...

It's not only a great "odd" shot, it is a sweet memory of a time with the kids!

Anonymous said...

I opened your blog, saw that picture and instantly got nostalgic. really really nostalgic... thanks David!

Misty DawnS said...

That photo is spectacular - all the beautiful, vibrant colors. Your ability to turn any subject into complete inspiring beauty always impresses me.

Sandi McBride said...

The lights? look remarkably like jaw breakers...wouldn't want to pop one in my mouth only to find it had more than snap crackle and pop to it!
Sandi

Lana Gramlich said...

Oooh. I love the colors & the textures. Very nice!

Merisi said...

Autchie, sandi mcbride,
now my teeth hurt (my imagination is hard to reign in at times *autch.aigain*)! ;-)))

Paulie said...

Your children know you well! That is a great shot for today's odd shot theme! Come see mine!

Jen said...

I just really like all the unique shots you come up with!

Mima said...

What a wonderful photo, so much detail to see and yet it isn't too busy.

Anonymous said...

When I first looked at the shot I thought, "...what kind of fruit is that?" ;)

i beati said...

only yellow and red? why??

PRH said...

David...the photo kind of looks like string candy with a tootsy pop at the end of each.....

dixymiss said...

Fantastic capture ~ irresistable indeed. An eXcellent entry for Odd Shots!

Lilli & Nevada said...

Those are the prettiest lights i have seen, i wish i had some of them here. what a great find.

Diane said...

Thanks for stopping by David. And yes, how could you pass by these many colors without taking a shot! I had to read your story find out what these little globes actually were. Very interesting~

Am'n2Deep said...

I love that your children saw it coming. :)

As always, you have a great eye for color.

Amrita said...

Oh goody I love the colours of the veggie nmarket. My garden is producing some of the same

Amrita said...

Oh goody I love the colours of the veggie nmarket. My garden is producing some of the same