Sunday, August 24, 2008

Heavy Metal

Watching A Rock Legend Flutter By

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


In the grand tradition of my friends throwing photographic challenges into my lap, Quilly has ordered me to produce a photograph of a butterfly in flight. One problem. One small problem. It’s still winter here. Ain’t no butterflies in this part of the world.

Quilly, ma’am, as soon as summer comes a-knocking on my door, I’ll be out in the garden chasing every butterfly I can find, in an attempt to come up with the shot you want. I’ll climb hills. I’ll tramp down dales. I’ll swim rivers. I’ll find butterflies. And I’ll photograph them till they beg me not to photograph them again.

But until then, this is the best I could do. When I took this shot, there was the nagging thought in the back of my mind, that there was somehow a rock reference lurking somewhere. I paid no attention to that, took the shot and kept walking.

But as soon as I sat down to write this post, the penny dropped. The heavy metal reference should have been obvious. Remember the 17-minute hit track In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida? It was by a group that famously got stranded at the airport on their way to play at Woodstock.

The name of the group? Iron Butterfly.

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

22 comments:

Lee said...

Hah! You'll find a way to do anything, David! :)

I remember sitting in a "coffee house" tent on the beach in Texas when I was a teen listening to the Woodstock album played on a portable record player. Those were good times with kids gathering together.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

That's funny, David. When your blog came up on the screen your top photo filled my screen. My first thought was, "Oh. Iron Butterfly." I'm looking forward to your "Spring." :)

Carletta said...

Woodstock and heavy metal - bringing back memories!
I actually visited the Woodstock site a few years ago. One other person was there and he looked lost in deep thought - I didn't want to disturb him to ask if he had actually been at the concert.
I love your "Iron Butterfly."

Rhea said...

Love the iron butterfly!

Webradio said...

Hey !

Beautiful butterfly !

Anonymous said...

I thought "iron butterfly" was what bug collectors did to make their specimens lie flat in the box ...

Fascinating to compare the flight patterns of iron butterflies and lead zeppelins ...

Pat - Arkansas said...

Love it, David! I immediately thought "Iron Butterfly" when I saw the photo; good on me! Fortunately, I haven't thought of this group in years, and I probably wouldn't have known it at all, but my then teenaged children listened to that seemingly endless piece of (questionable) 'music' over and over and over until I wanted to scream. Of course, I was so far 'over the hill' by then, what did I know? Still don't understand what the attraction was.

Thanks for your most kind comment on my Camera Critters post.

Cath said...

Excellent stuff - rising to the challenge in winter, finding something again which pushes boundaries for Camera Critters, AND remembering the connection!

Great post. Great photo.

Baino said...

Wow that's a band from the vault! And the longest drum solo in history! Actually, I have it on CD. *sigh*

Neutral Dwelling said...

Love it-- Iron Butterfly!

Rambling Woods said...

Oh I remember them and how their music was considered to be so outrageous for the time...

Jane Hards Photography said...

We have hardly any this year, and it' summer in this part of the world.
So this is your Iron Butterfly shot, who were a heavy metal band, but I see Quilly got that in. Your critters always amuse me. I swear you will have ET one week.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

David: A cute capture of the butterfly, take what the camera offers.

Indrani said...

I too am looking forward to your shot of butterfly in flight. I tried several time, but failed miserably.

Kelly said...

Iron Butterfly!!! That's wonderful!

i beati said...

You are right Another Memory in the old memory bank Iron Butterfly how about that - enjoyed the Janet roast and Mohamed Ali and punch ahhahahahaha

Skeeter said...

A strange but fun song for sure.

Best wishes,

skeeter

ratmammy said...

i love that song! haha!! (and as you must know, the REAL song was supposed to be IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN...)

Dick said...

Good thinking, nice post

aims said...

I love that song! I'll crank the volume every time I hear it!

Good memories from this David. Thank you!

Misty DawnS said...

That's the David I know... always creative and always producing great shots, no matter the subject or the conditions. OH - and always humorous and clever ;-)

Kahshe Cottager said...

Yet another smile for us here! You do have the best sense of humour! I managed a (stationary) butterfly this week too and I also got a chrysalis but not the one the butterfly emerged from.

Sorry I am late getting round this week ~ it was a hectic weekend here.