Monday, November 24, 2008

Clockwork Oranges

Bouquets Aplenty For My Fair Ladies

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


I was very little when I saw the movie My Fair Lady for the first time, but the cinematography in certain scenes really stayed with me. The opening shots of the flowers must have really struck my fancy, with the camera seeming to caress the petals of the multi-coloured blossoms.

Was there one single example of camera work, albeit a movie camera, that had a formative effect on me? Honestly, it’s very hard to tell, but perhaps that sequence of shots stayed emblazoned in my memory for a reason.

So there I was on a drizzly evening a few days ago, hurrying to catch a train at Flinders Street Station, when I caught sight of the beautiful display of flowers for sale, as they are every day. That evening, the striking contrast between the endless gerberas and the deep purple of the cellophane wrapping just stopped me in my tracks.

Out came the canmera. Off came the lens cap. Quickly, I stole a glance at the station clcoks in the concourse. Did I have enough time? Probably not, but I was going to take the shots anyway.

One quick horizontal shot. I should have stopped there. Okay, give in to that instinct. Take a vertical shot. Put the lens cap back on. Camera back in the bag. Ticket through the slot. Rush down the escalator. Sprint to the carriage doors before they close.

The train on the plain stays mainly out of the rain.


Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.

41 comments:

Leora said...

Love a purple and orange combination.

Is $7.50 (in Australian dollars?) a lot or a little? We might have to pay at least $10 (American) for a similar bouquet here.

Rune Eide said...

I have problems seeing you as "The Flower Girl", but all right... ;-)

Gemma Wiseman said...

The purple and orange contrast is so striking! And the wrapping gives it all a lovely flow! Beautiful shots!

Anonymous said...

hee, hee, photography on the fly! Love it. these are brilliant bouquets.

® ♫ The Brit ♪ ® said...

Beautiful colours and wonderful shots!
I guess you didn't have time to buy a bouquet of them for the Missus?! haha

Anonymous said...

Lovely and striking combination.

Maria said...

What a beautiful combination! Very beautiful shots!

Thank you for visiting my blog, you are right, there is some yellow/green in the left upper corner of the first picture which adds some tension!
Have a nice week!

A Living Nadneyda said...

The contrast is so vivid - better than a caffeine jolt! Sometimes I question the paper wrapping approach but this shop got it spot-on.

arleena said...

Lovely the purple and orange

Anonymous said...

Those are beautiful! I think it's a little less compared here:)

Cheers,
Yen

Cathy said...

I love this color combination--a definite traffic stopper!

Saz said...

purple is my favourite colour, and the orange clashes gorgeously...l love to clash colours and patterns...lamost edible!

Akelamalu said...

Just stunning! Gerberas are my favourite flowers. :)

Anonymous said...

Very nice captures!

Meire
www.meiroca.com

Marina said...

Beautiful flowers in the middle of Europe's snowy weather!

♥ Denise BC ♥ said...

Hello Friend
Flowers and adventure. Made great shots, flowers are wonderful, thank you for sharing.
hugs

Anonymous said...

What an absolutely gorgeous mix of these colors! Love it! This makes me miss being close to the flower mart in downtown L.A. Oooh, maybe I'll make a trip tomorrow with my camera! :-)

Speaking of cinematography, the one movie that impressed me with how it was shot was The Man From Snowy River showing the horses running across the water. Hmmm... I think I'll pop in the movie and then My Fair Lady. :-)

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

David: What a neat capture of the colorful flowers.

Mrs. O said...

Thanks for that bit of striking color. I'll be grabbing a bouquet of blooms tomorrow to add a little color to my table.

Raquel Sabino Pereira said...

Wonderful choice for today's Meme!!!!! Loved it!!!

Mckay K said...

Great background story with these vibrant beauties. You captured every petal. Nice shots.

lime said...

love those colors. and glad you took time for the vertical shot, i really like that one.

i may need to pull out the my fair lady video now...it's been a long while since i watched it but it's such a great film.

Lee said...

Beautiful intense colors, David. I love shots like this!

Cheers!

juliana said...

gosh, these are gorgeous!
glad you took the time to take these photos!

Unknown said...

Happy Today's flowers. Thanks for sharing. Mine is at http://srikebakat.blogspot.com

DeniseinVA said...

Those certainly are beautiful colors and I am glad you stopped long enough to take them. I'm also glad you caught your train :) I remember My Fair Lady well.

Hilary said...

Beautiful colour combo. Just what I needed to warm up the dull, cold early onset of winter.

Naturegirl said...

The combination is quite the show stopper..no wondered you were in awe and took the time to photograph!
Great price! $7.50..here in Canada it would sell for $14.oo
I am so pleased to join the community of Todays Flowers group! NG

Sandi McBride said...

How gorgeous! What a wonderful portrait you painted...well, with the help of the green grocer I suppose!
Sandi

Louise said...

A horizonal and a vertical is always necessary, no matter what the circumstances.

The colors are so vibrant! I love the contrast.

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

Gorgeous shots man!

Pat - Arkansas said...

Lovely colour combination. No wonder they caught your eye.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Loverly... thanks!

Sheila

katherine. said...

if I stop to take a shot...and have to run for a train...there is no way I would be good and put the lens cap back on...laughing

these are beautiful...I can see how they lured you!

Alyson | New England Living said...

I know the feeling! Beautiful shots!

Maria said...

Purple and Orange are always striking together! Especially the deep color hues you have chosen to photograph here. Love them! Hope you caught that train! Maria

Day4plus said...

Great colors. Send me a bouquet. LOL MB

Maggie May said...

I just love those colours together & could sit and look for ages.
Loved the captions as well.

Melissa said...

Love the color combination. They are so beautiful. Perfect post for todays flowers...Good job..

Anonymous said...

I loved My Fair Lady too, watched it over and over again. You have me singing songs out of it now!

CJ xx

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

Hi David,

Once a fantastic post, my friend!
Marvelous colors in great capture!
Thanks for sharing!

Luiz