Sunday, July 27, 2008

Enter The Dragon

Creature Comforts Are Airborne

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


What do you do when you're suddenly confronted by a fire-breathing dragon? Don't panic. Don't retreat. Don't call for the emergency services.

Grab your camera. Fire off the first shot to blind the marauding, fierce critter.

Then work out the best way to capture the sight of the dragon's wingspan.

I encountered this fella in a shop in Langkawi, Malaysia, earlier this month. But before I reached for my camera, I first asked the lady in charge of the shop if I could take photographs. She immediately gave me permission and nodded when I asked her if the dragon was really a kite.

I'd like to build a kite like that one day. But I think my plans are up in the air.

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

37 comments:

Sandi McBride said...

My dad used to "help" us build kites when we were children...his were what Mama called "highly decorative messes" but fly they would! Daddy rightly assumed she was just jealous!
Sandi

Sam Fox said...

Bet the Authorbloglets are still groaning re the last line :-)

Fabulous kites, what great colours to brighten a winters day here!

Maggie May said...

You didn't buy it for the Authorbloglets, then?

Cath said...

I would love a kite like that!
Fantastic for critters - you really do use your imagination and some artistic license! Excellent shot.

(I also love your courtesy to shop owners and people and that you blog that - great example of the gentleman you are. And only right too that we seek permission to capture other people and their belongings on 'film'.)

Charles Gramlich said...

That's a gorgeous kite. Would love to see that one in the air.

Daryl said...

Wonderful shot ..

And guess what I just started reading?

:-Daryl

Betsy Brock said...

Now that is a kite! I bet the bloglets loved it!

Unknown said...

I like dragons. Better to befriend one than try to kill it and fail. I have red dragon kite hanging in my entrance way.

Gene Bach said...

That is one heck of a kite! Way cool.

D... said...

I'll say that's a kite! What fun it would be running down the beach.

Anonymous said...

Great dragon, great storyteller.

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

That first shot is just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

They make such a beautiful job of their kites ... I would be too scared to fly it and loose it. It would probably stay as a decoration in my shop/house until "the right kid" came along to fall in love with it and take it away to whatever fate it is destined for.

Lee said...

David, that kite is just gorgeous! And I'm a dragon lover. So after reading your yearning to build such a kite I wondered how hard it was. Turns out there are so many different ways to put together a dragon that it would take a year just to decide which style and approach to use. Then I found something better than a dragon kite. I found a photographer's kite. David, go here and do this! I double dog dare you to take an kite aerial photograph.

Nothing like a good challenge!

Cheers!
Lee

bobbie said...

That is one amazing kite!

PRH said...

WoW! That be RED!

Rhea said...

That's an amazingly awesome kite! I love the colors and ferociousness of it's expression. Great Camera Critters share!

Jane Hards Photography said...

It's windy here, so we do have kite racing. Nothing as exotic as this beauty. I would love to see your interpretaion of a kite. With your gift for tangents, wordplay and lateral thinking I'm sure it would be
a visonary beast.

RiverPoet said...

Absolutely stunning kite, and great photography, as always. I'd love to have a kite like that one, but then I would have to release it into the air and trust the winds. Hard for me to do.

Peace - D

Rambling Woods said...

Wow..that is some kite...

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

David: A fight to the finish but it looks like you won when you made these great captures.

Indrani said...

Whoa what a huge kite! I have seen and flown much smaller ones. :)

tiarastantrums said...

these kites are amazing to see in the air.
China creates AMAZING AMAZING kites! Old men will fly themin TianMen Sqy=uare - it is brilliant to watch!

ratmammy said...

that's a gorgeous kite!

Christy said...

Very cool kite. My BIL would love it. He has a fondness for all things dragon.

Lana Gramlich said...

That's quite lovely. I had a couple of long, Asian kites as a child, but certainly nothing so lovely as that!

Anonymous said...

A kite my wife might like.

Dragonstar said...

Oh WOW! That's the most beautiful kite I've ever seen! Aileni said I'd like it, and he was right. It's red, too!!!

Janet said...

A scary, scary kite!

imac said...

Great post David, see my critter.

threesidesofcrazy said...

Oh my, can you imagine that kite in the sky? He looks so real!

Anita said...

How beautiful! Definitely the most colorful entry this week! :)

Have a great day!

Gretchen said...

Another awesome shot!

Roan said...

Beautiful!

Misty DawnS said...

Now that's a kite! Wow that is sure beautiful!

Kahshe Cottager said...

We have a dragon kite at the Kahshe Cottage but nowhere near as grand as this one is! As usual, your post made me smile David!

Hope you get a chance to visit my Camera Critters - I posted 2 this week. Here and Here

Louise said...

Hahaha. I've been gone long enough to roll my eyes again!

I would LOVE a kite like this! Next time you see one, buy me one!