Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
You know the sound of rain? The sound that most of the world takes for granted? The sound that those of us who live in Victoria haven't heard for so long?
Sometimes the sound of rain can be music to our ears. And when you live in a severely drought-ridden state, as I do, that precious sound can be more musical than Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus".
We've just had the driest ever start to the year. Until the first drops of hesitant drizzle began to fall late last week, this was a scorched landscape. Less than a millimetre of rain (yes, that's right, less than a millimetre) has fallen since before Christmas.
It's been a tough six weeks for Victorians. The deadliest bushfires in our history began on January 30th - and one of them is still burning out of control. Then we had an earthquake on Friday night, which left a few people shaken, literally and metaphorically.
But yes, we have been blessed by rain. And now, as we move into the second week of autumn, I have to decide where exactly I must start to rescue my garden. But for the moment, I want to ask you a simple question. In the first picture, what caught your attention first?
Was it the raindrops on the windscreen? Or was it the flower carpet roses in the background?
Both the photographs in this post were taken in exactly the same spot, with one subtle difference. In the first frame, the rain-spattered windscreen is in sharp focus, but in the second frame (below) it is the roses in the background that are the main subject.
Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.
43 comments:
david...the roses are magnificent! Thank you for sharing this photo!
~AM
to answer your question...
with the title "Raindrops on Roses"
I expected to see a pic of just that.
So what I noticed first is the raindrops on the car and roses in the backgroud.
great post and glad you are getting much needed rain. It has been pouring here in Michigan for two days.
The second photo looks better, but I much prefer the first one. Glad you had a little bit of rain.
I noticed the black car with raindrops first.
I'm glad you have rain now. I know, living in SoCal, how much we anticipate the rainstorms because we need the rain so desperately.
Where to start? What's your favorite place to visit in the garden?
Noticed the rain before I read anything & thought Yipee... David has some rain!
Lets hope that you get enough.
The roses have done well though, haven't they?
In photo #1 I noticed the roses first and in photo #2 I noticed the rain first. I felt like I was being drawn to what your subjects were.
Those are beautiful pictures.
In the first shot, I certainly noticed the raindrops on the windscreen but WITH the bright flowers together. Only in the second picture I felt that the roses seem so dry without the moisture of rain drops...! amazing difference...!
Hope you have lots of rains and the fires are completely cooled off. good luck...!
I immediately thought "whiskers on kittens" Now this song is a stampede of horses running through my mind.
Gorgeous Flowers!
I prefer your first photo...simply because it's interesting in its composition. Flowers are beautiful, but the focus on the man-made, sleek beauty of the windshield in harmony with nature's diamonds--raindrops--and posing a dark contrast to the brilliancy of the red roses captivates me. My eye first notes the droplets, and then moves to the background. In the second photo, my eyes immediately go to the roses, but never return to the windshield. I must drag them there. But,then again, there is not a single photo of yours that I do not admire...so for what's worth...Thanks for sharing this! I pray with you that the earth in Victoria drinks long and deep! God bless!
The rain drops. And to be more precise the area on the car that is a slightly greener shade than the rest.
I noticed the roses first...
Looks so refreshing,and glad to hear your finally getting a little of the wet stuff.
I zeroed in on the roses and only afterwards on the raindrops. After reading your question, I played the game back and forth, the roses always won. Looking at both pictures, I also like the first picture better.
Should I call Doctor Freud? ;-)
I saw the roses first--probably because of the color.
I'm happy for your rain.
Hi Friend.. Interesting post.. Nice blog.. Keep up the good work.. Do visit my blog and post your comments.. Take care mate.. Cheers!!!
The blurred flowers caught my attention first and I thought you must be slipping up but now I understand. The rain after so long must be glorious!
Nice to read you have some rain, I understand it is needed! And still the rosebush is so big, red and beautiful! Nevertheless, the first shot is my favourite! Love the composition on that one!
Greetings from Oslo - where it never stops snowing!
David: I do like the second one with the beautiful rose bush in full bloom.
I must admit, I wondered at your first shot until I spotted the precious raindrops. We had 6.5mm and will start to get the chainsaw out when we get enough to wet the soil rather than just the leaves.
Beautiful rain and roses. Enjoy your Sunday!
It's all in your perspective!
David,
the first picture got my attention!
Last week you wrote about the drought in your area, your roses blooming and wilting in a few hours. You wrote about the terrible fire and how many lives where lost.
Rain on the windshield? I am happy for you and your garden!
Thank you for your visit and commenting on my pictures.
-Cheers Gisela.
The one thing I absolutely cannot grow is roses!Darn!!Wish I could....
Hooray for the rain! The flowers are lovely but the rain is magnificent when everything is so dry. ;-)
I saw the roses first in both shots, but then I have been wrting about them a bit lately.
Sorry you guys are having such a rough trot down there. Praying for some lovely soaking rain for you.
I saw the roses first, in the first shot, but then, I had not scrolled down enough that the whole photo was in the screen. Going back and looking again, then the windshield with the raindrops comes in first.
In the second shot, I see the roses first.
The raindrops were what caught my attention first. And may I say that I am so glad that it has finally done some raining for you down there. Let's pray it continues.
Oh, forgot to ask.
Where are the whiskers on kittens?
Or some bright copper kettles!
I am convinced that SOMEONE is taking out their WRATH on you people. What DID you people do? And you should stop it!
Rain is *ALWAYS* music to my ears. Unless I am golfing, surfing, or sunbathing when it starts. Then, not so much. Yeah, I don't really plan ahead much.
LOVE the roses.
btw the phrase "I love this post" is just going to be shortened to 'phrase 32' from now on. Or the symbol of Pi.
And now, raindrops on roses is stuck in a loop in my head. Just in time for bed. :)
I noticed the flowers first but looked at it longer and figured it would be the rain you would mention. Thank goodness Autumn has began and you are beginning to get some moisture over there to soothe the heat you have had.
I love the sound of rain--especially when I am in the car. And I love to sit in the car and watch the rain form drops on the windshield. Very peaceful.
The roses are beautiful. May the heavens feed them well!
That red is beautiful. I'm glad you got some much needed rain. Sorry to hear you're still dealing with fire and then the earthquake too.
Actually, in the first shot the first thing I noticed was the roof of the car because I couldn't tell if it was wet or plastic... but I get what you mean about the focus.
:-)
David, The raindrops caught my eye first in the first shot, as they are foreground and in focus.
Hi David
I love roses!
Beautiful roses you posted!
Today I posted two roses of my garden and one is red rose!!
Thanks, David!
Luiz
I too, first spotted the raindrops. My first thought was "good, you finally got some rain down there". I normally look first at the "in focus" part of an image, unless another part is so dominant in size or color to distract me. Glad you have some rain and I hope it continues to restore water to rivers and lakes. For the first few days of March we were colder than normal, this weekend has been warmer than normal.
Lack of rain, brush fires, earthquakes...sounds like California! Both shots are wonderful. It's always fun to play around with the focus. Enjoy the week!
I guess it really depends on one's perspective of just how important rain is to you, and 'here is the rub', at that particular time! If I was in Victoria I would notice the rain first and say, "Thank God!". Here in UK where rain is plentiful I noticed the red colour of the roses on the first photo even though they were out of focus. In the second photo it was definately the roses.
Ah David, The roses caught my eye 1st in your 1st shot, 3 reasons = 1) you stated raindrops on roses
2) The colour red stood out.
3) out of focus.
Glad you have rain now, didnt know about your shaker tho, you seem to be having it rough lately.
Thanks for your visit and kind comments.
Very clever. I am always amazed at how one can take two quite different photos by focusing on two different aspects of a photo! I love doing that with my gum trees view from my back verandah!
So good to hear that you are getting some rain, David. I am trying to send the cyclone down for you! All the best with the garden rescue! Annie
David,
thank you for commenting on my Guildwood Village blog.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) which has devastated ash trees in southwestern Ontario and parts of the United States since its discovery in Detroit, Michigan in 2002, has been detected in the City of Toronto. The EAB is an introduced insect pest from Asia that attacks and kills all species of ash (genus: Fraxinus) trees.
We can loose over 30000 trees in Toronto alone including our own 13trees.
Gisela
Yep! Me too, whiskers on kittens etc. etc. and that does go on and on.
Saw the raindrops.
I noticed the raindrops first and am so pleased that you have now got rain.
I love photos of flowers after the rain. I think that their look and the smell has a calming effect on me.
To answer your question, I noticed the car first in the earlier photo and the roses on the following one.
Best wishes :)
I saw the roses first even when they were out of focus because of the color.
Wonderful news about the rain.
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