Saturday, March 01, 2008

Party To The Decision

Some Celebrations Leave You Deflated


Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


I thought I'd do this week's theme with an Australian twist. You see, a child's birthday party is always marked with balloons festooned on the family's mailbox. This shot (above) was taken a year ago, when a friend held her daughter's birthday party in a park on a glorious early-autumn day. The park is dotted with barbecue areas and huge wooden gazebos and the family had tied balloons everywhere on this barbecue area - so the guests would identify it immediately.

But look carefully at this shot and you'll see that one of the three balloons tied to the pine upright has obviously been on the receiving end of a tiny pine splinter. But it hasn't popped completely, nor has it deflated entirely. It looks like a clown's red nose. I couldn't resist taken the image from this intriguing angle. I reckon the shot really makes you take a second glance just to try and work out what it is.


Here are some more balloons, this time with a blue-and-white theme - complete with blue ribbon. It's not unusual to see balloons in the colours of Aussie Rules Football teams.


Yesterday I decided to drive down Waverley Road, Malvern, to take some shots of a shop called (you guessed it) The Party Shop. These balloons (above) were being buffeted around outside the shop, in the cool, brisk breeze. As you can see, the silver star, filled with helium, is really being tossed around.


And you just couldn't miss this sign (above) on the footpath outside the shop. Look carefully on the concrete and you'll see the first of the autumn leaves - yep, today is the first day of autumn here in Australia.


This is the awning (above) of the Party Shop. It was a challenging shot because everything under the awning was in shade, while the lunchtime light conditions out on the street were really bright.


Finally, this is the shopfront, in suitably bright colours. In the top right you can see the balloon in the shape of a cat, while the reflections through the glass are tantalising for party enthusiasts of all ages. Whose birthday is next? Is it yours?

68 comments:

Merisi said...

Could it be yours? ;-)

Diva's Thoughts said...

Simply wonderful picture. I love the bright, vibrant colors.

San said...

Celebratory photos.

We put balloons on the mailboxes here too, to direct people to places where parties are being held. They make quite a contrast to the desert landscape.

Love the Cheshire cat balloon.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Vienna for Beginners,

Not, not mine! Is it yours?

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Diva,

Thank you for those kind words. My camera gets magnetised and is attracted to vibrant colours!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi San,

Thank you. Yes, the pictures are certainly a celebration of colour (and in that breeze, movement as well!)

Desert landscapes beckon me. I can hear the call now - ``bring your camera here!''

How interesting to know that people there use party balloons for the same purpose ....

Have a great weekend

Keep smiling

David

Nessa said...

Balloons are so happy, unless they pop in your ear.

Katney said...

For quite a few years my sister worked in a party store. I t was fun to visit her ar work.

Katney said...

Why don't I ever spellcheck? I should know better.

It was fun to visit her at work.

Cath said...

Very uplifting images. The talent I am meeting on these blogs is wonderful. Sometimes it is just good to watch the world through other people's eyes. It is fascinating what you discover.

I would never think of photographing balloons except that they are there at the party and are part of the shot. Yet, these photos can tell such tales...

Carver said...

Wonderful party shots. In the U.S. where I live, people tie balloons to mailboxes for children's parties too. I've even seen a few tied to picnic areas here too. All of your shots are very festive and the deflated one adds interest. My party shots are 1/2 and 1/2. One for is a nod to how active the political parties are in the U.S. as we're in our primary season and then one for a birthday party. Hope you have a great weekend.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Love the bright colours! Next birthday in our household is Emma in June, then me in August. Hitting 30 this year! Wheeee!

Meg Wolff said...

It's not mine, but I do LOVE birthdays ...especially my own. Your balloon photos are nice, LOVE the vibrant colors! In this part of the US (Maine) we also put balloons on the mailbox if there is a birthday party.

VP said...

Yes it's mine David - very, very soon!

AND I'm still like a big kid - very excited aboout it :)

Oh and I like the photos too...

Mom Knows Everything said...

Balloons always remind me of kids. What child doesn't like balloons.

RiverPoet said...

The wonderful colors of the party balloons are evoking images of spring-time in my mind. Since my birthday falls when the air is filled with the perfume of flowers budding (in the U.S.), birthdays and spring-time are inextricably linked in my mind.

What a juxtaposition that there are fall leaves with your balloons. :-)

Peace - D

Napaboaniya.Elaine Ling said...

Balloons are always the highlights of a kid's party. They're fun to play with... MINUS the fact that sometimes it scares the hell outta me when it burst!! :P

Tom said...

Great pictures David... I did what you said before reading.. I tried to figure out what the red ball was..

This post reminded me of this joke:

Three balloons. Daddy balloon, mummy balloon and baby balloon.

Daddy balloon says to baby balloon, look son, you are much to old to sleep with mummy and daddy now. You will have to sleep in you're own bed. Baby balloon protests, I like sleeping with you and mummy. Daddy Ballon says 'No you are not sleeping with us and thats final'.
Ok saids baby balloon sadly.

Two in the morning baby ballon wakes up and dicides to climb into beb with mummy and daddy. He finds there is no room, so he unties his dads knot and lets out some air, and ties him up again.
Still no room, so he unties his mummys knot, also lets some air out and ties her up again. he still can't get in.
So he unties his own knot, lets out some air, and ties himself up again, he finally has room, and snuggles down with mummy and daddy.

The next day they all wake, and daddy balloon is really angry. He said son, I am really disapointed with you, I said you can't sleep with us.
You've let me down, You're mummy down, and your self down to.
.............................

Sorry David.. what a stinker ;o)

Natalie said...

Fantastic pics! My daughter LOVES balloons!

Smalltown RN said...

oh my...beautiful colours...beautiful photos...crsip and clear...and happy ....wonderful for party theme....

Sandi McBride said...

Mac's was yesterday...he claims to be 39, the liar...we do balloons on mailboxes and fence posts...hanging in the house...any excuse to breathe in a bit of helium and talk like Donald Duck.
Oh, and thanks for offering to send out the search party...if I can teach the cats to take dictation and type, maybe that won't happen again
Sandi

Anonymous said...

Awesome photos! Happy weekend!

AVCr8teur said...

I'm in no rush to celebrate another birthday. Deflated balloons are always a sad sight.

I guess Fall for you means it's getting close to Spring for us.

Jeff B said...

My B-day is just around the corner. On the ides of March, which is the day Julius Caesar died. (different year of course)

Jo said...

I love the photograph at the top of the post. At first you don't see they're balloons, you just see the shapes and the wonderful colors - orange, red and yellow. It almost looks like an abstract painting.

Lakshmi said...

what a colourful celebration and such lovely balloons ..

jmb said...

Great photos as usual David. The first one is really interesting. Have a great weekend.

CRIZ LAI said...

I love the caption David... some celebrations sure do leave me deflated too with he amount of clearing up and cooking... haha

Sit tight! Fasten your seat belt! Drop in to have some fun in my PARTY http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

Jen said...

What a creative take on this week's theme! I loved the 1st photo!

Corey~living and loving said...

Great idea for the theme. I love balloons, and love to take photos of them as well.
have a great weekend David.

Colleen said...

Actually - I am exactly one month away from mine!

Unknown said...

Love the colours and the razzle-dazzle!

Happy Autumn!

i beati said...

only your special eye would glimpse that little guy??hahah

Lee said...

What fun! I love birthday parties! How clever of Australians to advertise their children's special day in such a unique way.

Joy!

jams o donnell said...

What a nice take on this week's theme. I would have balloons in claret and bluethe the colours of West Ham the team I support. Have a great weekend

Colin Campbell said...

Yes it is an occupational hazard with balloons popping from too much heat, flying off, popping and the like. Still fun.

Anonymous said...

Great pics for the theme, David!

Rajson said...

Balloons are certainly party!
Lovely photos with great colors!
Love them.
Happy weekend!

MaR said...

Beautiful shots for the party theme!! Today is my dad's 73rd birthday. Maybe my niece will think of the balloons!
Happy hunting and happy weekend.

Mima said...

Great photos, especially love the blue and white one!

Hootin Anni said...

Great David!!! I like these...so filled with bright colors and a 'make you feel good' atmosphere.

Enjoy celebrating Autumn too!! [the 'deflated' one makes me giggle. Now, don't ask me why...'cause I won't tellya!]

My party theme is posted, if you haven't dropped by already, I really hope you can find time!! Happy Hunting and have a joyous weekend.

Anonymous said...

nice one. happy weekend

Daryl said...

Pretty and festive .. .here in the States (I love saying that) when there's a party in the suburbs, people tie balloons to trees to mark the way .. here in the city ..not at all .. but we do see people delivering balloons and walking with them .. I took/posted a photo of that a few weeks ago .. Happy Autumn .. here in the States -got to say it again! - we're impatiently waiting on SPRING

Anonymous said...

Beautiful balloon shots, I went with balloons as well.

Cindy said...

What beautiful and vibrant colors!
Shortly after we moved up here, we had a graduation party for one of our kids. Many of the guests were from the area we had just moved away from so we marked the route for them with balloons. No one got lost.
I was reminded of your rule the other day- if it makes you look twice, take a picture. I was sitting in the pick up, waiting for my husband and happened to look in the rear view mirror. You can see the view
here
and a different one
here
I'd really appreciate your thoughts!

Janice Thomson said...

Great shots David - perfect for the party theme. Having once owned a balloon shop this brought back lots of happy memories.

Anonymous said...

it's always a sight to see balloons. makes you feel jolly and young.

John-Michael said...

If this doesn't set a party mood ... you are in need of a good nap!

Most festive and enjoyable work David.

Anonymous said...

Love the subject matter. It's wonderful to see such a riot of color!

Sarge Charlie said...

g'day nice photos

maryt/theteach said...

David, I thought about photographing my Party Shop. It would have been very colorful just like your shots! That first shot with the deflated balloon is priceless! Thanks for sharing! :D

Colleen said...

I thought that might be confusing...Accordig to your post it was written on March 1st. So, my B-day is April 1st! And yes..I'll tell Mum HI!!

Akelamalu said...

Love the pictures. I love balloons except when they POP!

Nicole P said...

Love the colors David.
BTW. Hef said that he checked out your blog and that you seem like a very intelligent person...okay that is a compliment coming from ole Hef....he think everyone but himself is an idiot.
And he said, "G'day to you mate" in his worse Crocodile Dundee voice. He sounded like an Outback commercial.

dixymiss said...

Love the festive feeling balloons eXude. Fantastic series of party piX.

Andree said...

the top two photos are my favorites. especially the blue and white: great shapes and colors and interest. I had heard you guys down there are as nuts about football (your football) as man are here. but since i don't know either game, i have no idea what any of this fervor is about. MY PH: Party is here. Thank you.

Middle Ditch said...

I hate balloons because I hate popping them and that's one of my jobs after party time.

Leslie: said...

Is your birthday next? Or one of your family members? Is that part of the reason why you went down to the shop? lol I enjoyed your photos and in the first one I thought that was the part that you tie up but I couldn't see the string. After reading your explanation, I looked again and behold! I saw what you meant. :D

We do the same thing here with putting balloons at the front of the house somewhere to indicate a child's birthday.

Anonymous said...

I think if I just bought Amy a packet of multicoloured balloons for her birthday she would be happy. She was in awe when she saw this very colourful post. Thanks for making my baby smile!

Crystal xx

Dragonstar said...

Love those balloons, and the lines in the awning. Daughter2 has a birthday on Monday - but she won't be here. Internet greetings instead!

jenny said...

In my family, my birthday is next, in April.

Love those baloons. Eyecatching colors.

Anonymous said...

Balloons are a favourite for parties. Great photos. As for birthdays, mine could be next as it is March 5th. Great entry for party.

Anonymous said...

Balloons are a wonderful indicator of a party, whether they are tied to a gate post, around advertising or cascading from a ceiling. Balloons are fun.

denz said...

wow! you have a very nice picture and I love the way you put consistency of the picture,it is very flexible...indeed you have a great post! keep it up!!!

here's mine:
Photohunt-1...
Photohunt-2...
Happy Weekend!

Anonymous said...

So colorful, brightens up anyones day, no matter what occasion. Have a wonderful week.

Sharon said...

What a fun post! My husband attended a birthday party yesterday that celebrated two birthdays. They are a lot of fun.

Moosekahl said...

The first shot reminds me of Rainy Pete's pictures :)

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