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?