Sunday, June 01, 2008

Goosey Goosey Candour

Okay, Who Just Flipped Me The Bird?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


You know how you drive past a scene, catch a glimpse of something and you just know that you have to stop and go straight back and photograph the scene? That’s what happened to me when I shot this sequence.

I was in north India for five days in December and this was taken early on the morning of 20 December, as I began the long highway journey from Dehra Dun to Delhi, to catch my Singapore Airline flight home for Christmas. Because the scenery was all new to me, my head was swivelling everywhere – and I spotted this tranquil lake, with the sun just starting to come up on a freezing cold day.


We pulled over and I hurried back to the lake. It was a beautiful scene, with tendrils of mist rising off the water and the sun shining weakly through the towering trees. The surface of the water was so still that the reflections were perfectly symmetrical and almost mirror-like.

Because there was a little fog, there was very little colour definition and there was almost a gritty black-and-white quality to the scene. I hit the trigger on this shot (above) and then put the camera down to take a closer look.

That's when I first noticed the gaggle of geese marching imperiously across it. They were at one end and the groundsman was at the other, using a long-handled broom to sweep leaves off a pathway.

The geese began honking and a few seconds later the groundsman completed his task and began walking towards the geese. Like actors in a tableau, the man and the birds all began heading off together, towards the right of the frame. I guess they were chiding him because he was late in feeding them.

Lucky the feathers didn't fly!

Check out the rules at Camera Critters or go to Misty Dawn.

41 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

Love that bridge in the mist.

Jennifer S said...

Beautiful.

Katney said...

And you have to get them when you see them or they are lost. If you were to come back to that exact spot, it would never be quite as it was that day that hour.

Like the turtles that haven't been on the log that I pass each day since the day we went past and I said, look there are turtles on that log.

polona said...

beautiful moody shots... i didn't notice the ducks until the third frame...

Misty DawnS said...

AWESOME post, as always David! I loved reading your story and following along with the photos.

My horse photo on Misty's Musings was the same situation. I was driving, saw the horse, stopped, and threw it in reverse. hehe

The bird photos (which I'm quite proud of) on Misty's Words - are of two of my new best friends ;-)

AppleDebbie said...

Wonderful series of photos.

Lana Gramlich said...

I love the contrast & the quality of the light. Very nice!

Jamie Dawn said...

What a great series of shots!
I love the tranquil and dream-like feel. The reflections are marvelously pure.
I can see why you stopped and backtracked in order to capture this scene.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

David: Very nice job of seizing a moment that you could have missed. Very nice sequence of pictures.

Mom Knows Everything said...

Yet another beautiful picture David!

ratmammy said...

A wonderful photo story!

Michele said...

It's a great little story with photos... enjoyed this. Very pretty photos.
The Rocky Mountain Retreat

SandyCarlson said...

Gorgeous, David. God bless.

Betsy Brock said...

I posted about birds tonight, too....great minds think alike you know! :)

i beati said...

good one closer and closer

Nicole P said...

Very cool post David!

Tess Kincaid said...

I love photos of bridges with the reflection in the water like that, David. Pretty shot.

Woman in a Window said...

Yes, these are the moments that you just have to stop and let happen. Glad you did. Great moment!

Rhea said...

In the first picture I couldn't even tell there were geese and a man under the bridge. Amazing photo, so moody and perfect. I love photos that have such a strong mood. Great job!

Carletta said...

Wonderful series of images David - I love the mist!

And yes, I've certainly turned around more than a few times :)

D... said...

That is such a peaceful scene! I love it.

marianne said...

what a beautiful tranquil scene - it's a lovely sequence of photos.

Texas Travelers said...

Terrific story and great series of photographs.

Looks like the beginnings of a great short story.

Nice work and thanks for the visit,
Troy

Louise said...

OMG! How beautiful!

dixymiss said...

Lovely series. The last shot reminds me of one of the pixie's favorite picture books, "The Story about Ping" by Majorie Flack, illustrated by Kurt Wiese.

Anonymous said...

Those are amazing pictures.

CJ xx

imac said...

Well captured Sir.

Every thing is in your photo to make a perfect shot.

Cath said...

Absolutely gorgeous. Very dreamy and moody. I love the light in this sequence. You did it again...

Janet said...

So very artsy! Sure looks cold. I bet those geese are looking for a handout!

Hilary said...

That's such a beautiful series of shots. I love that last one, showing them all marching off. Very cool. And yes, good thing feathers didn't fly or that man would be feeling down....

Anonymous said...

Oh that is so good, David! Serendipity! I love the mist.

maryt/theteach said...

David, what a fantastic story with splendid photos to help tell it! Thank you for sharing it! :D

Kim said...

This is a beautiful sequence of events. I really need to start listening to my gut and go back for the pictures I missed, thanks for the advice.

Mima said...

What a beautiful series, the light is just fantastic, and how amazing to get water that still. When you are on trips do you allow extra time because you know you will end up stopping to snap pics, or do you end up late for flights and things?

Dianne said...

I'm so glad you stopped to take the photos.

Misty and moody and haunting and stunning.

I could go on ... :)

aims said...

Oh David! You have an eye for the beautiful. And you seem to find it everywhere you look.

What a gift!

And more importantly - I thank you for sharing your gift with us. I've said it many times here - you are so unselfish. I wish the whole world read your blog and took notes from it. It would be a better place.

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

A beautiful sequence! I would have turned around, too! The scene, the fog, the reflections were beautiful enough, and the geese and the man added even more to it.

storyteller said...

I enjoyed your lovely photo series with the ‘misty’ bridge … and your story that led me to notice the geese. Very cool post today.
Hugs and blessings,

indicaspecies said...

Ethereal shots!

I intend to pass by Dehradun in a couple of months.

Roan said...

Great color.

Berni said...

What lovely shots of the lake. I like your geese.