Friday, May 16, 2008

Reach For The Sky

Photographers Are Going Great Guns

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


I had a Sky Watch Friday post ready to auto-publish, when I scrapped it after having a lunchtime wander with my camera yesterday. While most of you are gearing up for summer, we're only a fortnight away from winter. Despite that, the sky has been a startling blue most of the week, with daytime temperatures around 20 Celsius.

The blue of an unsullied Australian sky is really something to feast your eyes on. So while I'm sure you have plenty of wide blue skies above you at the moment, I thought I'd give you a taste of what Melbourne looked like at lunchtime yesterday. This shot (above) was taken down at Southbank, looking across the Yarra River at the central business district. I had taken a few shots of the ferries when I looked at the clock tower of Flinders Street Station.

Realising it was almost one o'clock, I looked straight into the sun, shielded my eyes and reached for my camera. There's nothing better than shooting straight into the afternoon sun to produce a great effect across a camera lens, with lots of light flare across the frame.

Then I shot this frame (above) to prove that you can take a sky shot indoors! I was standing on the central stairwell at Southbank, shooting upwards. Not only can you see the clear sky through the glass atrium, the composition also provides an interesting combination of geometrical patterns - there is the graceful arc of the balcony and the handrail above it, as well as the sharp white triangles formed by the roof struts.

Finally, this shot (above) depicts a royal-blue sky above the gentle silhouette of a graceful metallic awning. For the next couple of days we'll have rain and hail and cloudy skies, but yesterday our sky looked like a giant blue riband under which we are privileged to live.

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch Friday.

56 comments:

Bart Treuren said...

the australian sky is so clear and so beautiful at moments, it's one of the things i genuinely miss in a europe filled with haze and pollution... i remember the new moon nights well in which the sky became as black as ink with the stars like little diamonds shining brilliantly above the resting world...

keep well...

Anonymous said...

I am not at all sure that I remember right but the sky we see and the color is somehow related to the amount of water vapor in it. Is that right? Anyway, there must be lots of water in some skys as I have seen a lot of deep blue ones today. Your bottom sky is really a classic example of that. All nice photographs, David.

Rune Eide said...

And you call that almost winter??????

And thank you for the instructive text - always a welcome addition.

imac said...

Great photos David love the way you framed them.

my double reflection is now up please feel free to visit-thanks.

Kat said...

You really do have an amazing eye. The hard angles against that vibrant sky. Wow. Again!

Anonymous said...

Those are some deep blues indeed. Beautiful shots!

Daniel J Santos said...

great post, great images, well done.

Anonymous said...

Those are some deep blues indeed ... guess even in winter, you always get some of the best skies in the world!

Unknown said...

Great description and exellent shots David! You are a master to see nice perspectives and comp...
Have a nice friday!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

David" Very daring captures from different perspectives, nicely done.

***Fotografia e Luz*** said...

very beautiful photos with the sky full of joy

Voz do meu Coração said...

Pretty pictures. Congratulations

LiseH said...

Amazing pictures!

Tom said...

Hello David
Thank you for 3 great shots today.. and the story behind them.. Boy I'm I glad I started posting my Sky Watch on a Thursday evening.. looks like I will get to visit over 50 before bedtime...
Have a great weekend David... catch up with you soon
Tom

Pretty Life Online said...

nice one for SWF! When you realize how perfect everything you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.... Have a great weekend! mine's up too hope you can drop by.

Rose said...

I love the lens flare in that first photo!

Texas Travelers said...

I alway look forward to your photos and essay.
Great job and thanks for sharing that incredible blue sky.

Come visit my story sky,
Troy

Cape Cod Washashore said...

I hear your blue skies are breathtaking!

It sure looks like "old man winter" will be there soon.

I believe most (if not all) of the windmills in the U.S. are in the New England states.

Michele said...

It's a nice shot with the sun flare in the photo.. I am always impressed with those when done well. I remember the first time when I was just getting into photography how disappointed to have that happen when in fact I was told it was indeed something that could be beautiful and from then on, I was hooked on creating the perfect one! =)

Gone Back South said...

Dramatic sunshine there DM.

dot said...

Hard to believe winter is coming there when it's getting so hot here. Very nice shots as always!

Bruno LoGreco said...

Australia - A country that is high on my list of places to visit. Beautiful blue skies and excellent climate.

Thanks for visiting my blog David. Looking forward to reading some of your posts.

Anonymous said...

Great sun shot in the first one, love the angles in the second photo, and the sky is an exquisite blue in the third. Nice work!

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for the lesson, David. These are just great. The contrast makes the blue so intense and almost night-timey. The effect is surreal.

Carletta said...

They are all beautiful; but that first one is stunning!

Sharon said...

These are beautiful. I love the deep blue of them. the picture through the glass is wonderful.

Champ Townboy said...

Great shots!! Excellent post for Sky Watch!

Cath said...

That is a beautiful blue sky. Much deeper blue than we tend to have here. So glad you went out at lunchtime! :0)

Off topic - I have posted at last on Weekend Wandering. It is here

Halfmom, AKA, Susan said...

Welcome David! I am a friend of Craver's!

Merisi's blog is absolutely lovely! I do enjoy her pictures!

I had to Wikipedia your phrase - and I see what you mean! Let's hope this pup does not take after the other Basil!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful and I love to be reminded of the opposite season we are in from you "down under" Enjoy your winter...

Sandi McBride said...

Had it recently rained David? That's how our sky looks after a good rain has scrubbed the crap out of the atmosphere and left the world clean. Beautiful shot
Sandi

alicesg said...

Very beautiful shot. Like the way you take the sun in the first photo.

Rachel said...

Beautiful shots David, especially that first one!
I almost exclusively drink Australian Wines, they really are superb :-)
Nice to see you 'round again!

Anonymous said...

The sky in the last picture is of a very nice deep blue shade :) Hardly see that in Singapore.

Can I trade the season with you? It's scorching hot here in S'pore.

Neva said...

You obviously have a good eye for this sort of thing!!Really, the things I learn from you....I like the way you took this shot.

Scotty Graham said...

wish we has such skies in Jakarta...only on rare occasions...

Juliana RW said...

nice blue sky....

Will you visit mine Thanks

Anonymous said...

love ur blue.

Hope you visit mine too Thanks

Nova said...

the sun is like a big and totally bright star on it... a fine sky such a nice weather will be until the rest of the day

Anonymous said...

Incredible blue! I liked the sun shot the best, but the skylight is dazzling.

Louis la Vache said...

Great series of shots for Sky Watch!

Jules said...

I agree with Bart - the sky in Australia is just divine!!! The clear crisp light brings tears to my eyes.

Not sure if Melbourne will happen - will let you know!!!

Anonymous said...

Here in the west we have cloudy skies just at the moment - thank you for sharing Melbourne's wonderful azure with us.

i beati said...

mesmerized by the holigraphic ray look..

Janet said...

Great sky shots!

Faisal Admar said...

what camera are you using buddy? the pictures are so clear and beautiful! love them!

Daryl said...

I have to say, of course I do or I wouldnt be me, I LOVE the first shot the best ... the others are very nice but the first really speaks to me .. what does it say? Well, that's between the sky and me .. ;-]

:-Daryl

Hilary said...

Beautiful shots and angles in these pics. And you sure can't tell the difference between your almost-winter and our almost-summer by looking at a blue sky.

Profile Not Available said...

A perfect sun! Just like my daughter draws them!

Kim said...

Great photos, of course :) I don't envy you getting winter soon, I am so glad that it is over here.

Anne-Berit said...

Wonderful photos!

Anonymous said...

Oh I love the flares around the sun in that top photo. It is just awesome. It truly looks like a star.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Love that first shot with all the colors of the dots

CherryPie said...

All very nice and interesting :-)

Colin Campbell said...

Moving to the Colorado Rockies directly from Scotland was mind boggling, with clear blue skies and sun for much of the year. Now that I am in Adelaide, it is much the same. I have a vivid memory of a beautiful blue clear day in Melbourne a few years ago around Christmas. It looked like it should be hot outside, but it was freezing.

Kay said...

Lucky Australians. How beautiful it all is.