Sunday, April 26, 2009

Tea, Rex?

Must Be A Friend Of Michael Crichton's

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


Picture this: you’re driving in a city that is not your hometown. You’re concentrating very hard on sticking to the rear bumper of your friend, who is shepherding you from one point to another.

You come to a downhill traffic intersection in the heart of the city. You look around, admiring the autumn weather. Then you notice the huge tail sticking out of the large building beside you.

You point it out to the kids. You say: "Look at that – is that the tail of a whale?"

You know you’ve got it wrong. The kids point out that it’s not the tail of the whale. Wrong colour. Wrong shape. Wrong construction totally. Then one of them spots the head that is protruding through another window of the museum, further back up the hill.

Did I say whale? I meant to say dinosaur. Honest.

If the tail curving out of the left-hand window (see photograph below) is not immediately apparent, I apologise because I only had time for two shots before the lights changed. Huh, you try shooting backwards over your right shoulder and get a frame unimpeded by the car window or your seatbelt!

It was a brief spark of belated inspiration. Must have been a Jurassic spark.


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52 comments:

Indrani said...

That was one scary head peeping out of the window. You got a good shot. :)

Juliana said...

Ops...scary ;)

My entry this week: in HERE. I hope that you can stop by as well. Thanks

Kate said...

Great capture and title. You did very well for a drive-by!

Sylvia K said...

That is such a terrific shot! and how fun to see it! Someone at that museum has a very clever imagination. I love it!
Great drive by shooting ;)

Fragrant Liar said...

That would have been pretty freaky, coming upon that sight! I love things like that.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! I love it when someone puts creativity and humor out in the universe -- to an anonymous audience! Positive energy.

Robynn's Ravings said...

This tickled my phunny bone! THANKS!

Rosaria Williams said...

Well done. I couldn't do it. Your kids are as observant as you are.

Casdok said...

Well spotted!

Maddy said...

Now that would certainly turn my head too.
Cheers

~Babs said...

Jurassic Spark,,,love it!

Snap said...

Too funny! What a surprise! Very clever, too! Thanks!

Sandi McBride said...

I would have thought I was still in a fragile state of mind for sure had I seen it...but I would have loved the chance to see it! Thanks so much for all the kindnesses shown me during my illness...I'm back to blogging, I've missed all of you so much!
Warm hugs to all
Sandi

Muthering Heights said...

That's so funny...but it sure would attract attention!

Pat said...

Now in the good old UK it would probably be banned on the grounds of health and safety.
Love the puns:)

Shadow said...

i think that's meant to detract burglars, heee heeee heee

Teena in Toronto said...

Ha! I'm staying away!

I played too :)

Shey said...

LOL! That was such a funny account of your experience. It's a good thing you were quick with your camera! These are cool shots!

Thanks for sharing with us.

:)

Misty DawnS said...

That's a great example of Jurassic Architecture!

Charles Gramlich said...

Now that's just cool!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

You are amazing! What a quick camera man you are!!!! LOL on this one...had to show it to my son!!! Guess they've spawned a new brand of "Neighborhood Watch." Would give the neighbors a scare, if not the burglars...

Mojo said...

Being intimately familiar with the guerrilla technique of drive by photography, I respect this shot even more than I otherwise would. Quite a shot by any standard, but all the more impressive when you know how it was taken. Awesome job!

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Wild .... would make one want to stop in and check it out.

San Diego Momma said...

What a great ad for that museum.

Unless it wasn't an ad? Unless it was real?

Wow. How deliciously mysterious.

What About The Girl? said...

The tail scares me way more than the face!

Kat Mortensen said...

Ha! We have a Children's museum in town that has a huge dino above the marquee. He roars and flicks his tail.
It is rather a head-turner.

Kat

Randi said...

Wonderful - I love it!

Nessa said...

I want one for my house.

Oskar said...

Fantastic!!!

Ananda girl said...

We live in such a fun world! I wonder how many people drive right past and fail to see it?

ArtistUnplugged said...

Hardee-har-har! Funny. Good shots!

aurbie said...

I wonder what they feed it?

Great shot!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

That is the bee's knees! WOW! Great capture, David...

Sheila :-)

Janie said...

What a great marketing technique for a museum. Heads and tails out the window are sure to attract attention. Glad you managed to keep the car on the road and keep up with your friend's car with so much distraction.

Susan English Mason said...

It's a shame that Crichton died so young - 66.

"You know you've got it wrong." This reminded me that whenever I was with my sons and they saw roadkill, I would say, "they're only sleeping." They would so, "Uh, uh." And I would say, "Yes, they're taking a nap." And all they while they knew I had it wrong. But it took their mind off the dead skunk in the middle of the road.

Anonymous said...

Too funny!

Baino said...

That is so . .funny. Some of these curators have a great sense of humour! Looking forward to taking a few snapshots in Melbourne myself (between drinks of course)at the end of the month!

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

Whoa, Nellie!!! Quite a shot there!

Eryl said...

Thank you for visiting my blog.

I love that you managed to take these two shots while the lights were red, kudos.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Meredith at The Things We Carried has begun a two part, tear-jerker... so far, it's really beautiful...

Unknown said...

great shots! I wonder if they have had any accidents at that intersection? lol

Anonymous said...

My boys, especially would have adored such a mysterious finding in a window. How lovely you captured the moment and "whale."

I think your word plays are beginning to play with you! Tail of WHALE! :)

Thanks for the comment, David! I will watch for the Wednesday post.

Lowell said...

You have to give the museum's PR people credit...you know, head's or tails the museum gets extra attention and everyone comes out a winner.

Nice shots!

Willow said...

I think it would be exciting to see the dino, unless it was at night, in a dark alley, alone...

You asked about my camera. I decided on a Canon Power Shot SX110. I tried a few of the SLRs but I don't like the tiny view finder. So I compromised on the SX110. So far, I like it!

Hilary said...

Jurassic Spark.. snort!

Jenn Jilks said...

Thanks for visiting my blog! Can't wait to hear the novel that begins and ends in My Muskoka!

Maggie May said...

It was wonderful that you managed to take the photo at all seeing as you were at traffic lights and following a friend! What a scary beast!
Makes a good post.

Unknown said...

LOL, that is awesome, both the shots and the creativity of the museum!

Poor Michael, died way too young!

Cath said...

Oh Yikes! That is a bit scary! Very clever though.

Unknown said...

Very cool photos !!!

Must have had quite a few people doing double-takes!! :-)

You did a good job on that one!

Anonymous said...

This is incredible. Truly :)

Adrienne Zwart said...

What a great way to grab the public's attention and say, "Come inside!" It would work on my kids. :)