Lunar Tick

Getting Ready To Moon You

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes images hit you right between the eyes because they are so obvious. But on other occasions, you need to switch on what I call your "camera-brain" to pick out the scenes that are more subtle.

I have to say this is not the best space-theme shot I've ever taken. While we're on the subject, you might like to check out my quirky photograph of a NASA astronaut while he stood on a suburban Melbourne street - clad in his moon gear. You can view the shot at Apollo 11 - A Giant Leap For Us All.

Back to the photograph above - it was really a chance shot, an opportunity I would not have seen unless I had my "I Am Extremely Observant" cap on. A couple of years ago I was walking through the Alexandra Gardens here in Melbourne. It was a beautiful autumn afternoon and crews were clearing up the festive gear that had been used during the week-long festival that we call Moomba.

A giant slippery slide was being dismantled. Fairground booths were being taken to the next location. Various rides of terrifying proportions were being taken apart piece by piece and loaded onto trucks. I got some interesting shots before I suddenly spotted this lifesize two-dimensional figure of an astronaut.

It had been taken down from one of the showground attractions and had been placed at random in this area. Because several zones were cordoned off to keep park users away from heavy equipment, this was the best angle I could get on the shot.

You know what they say at NASA – there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Er, free launch.

Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Space".