Friday, May 15, 2009

Puddle Steamer

Here’s Mud In Your Eye

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


Late last August, I was at the tail end of a six-hour hike through Kluane National Park in the Yukon. Despite gathering clouds at the start of our hike, the rain had stayed away, but as the narrow track gave way to a wide pathway, my attention was caught by this huge mud puddle.

Let’s put it this way. It was so big that Bob Beamon, winner of the 1968 Olympic long jump with the amazing world record, would have struggled to get across it in one leap. Okay, so that’s mere hyperbole. Beamon would probably have spanned it easily, but I wouldn’t have cleared it even with a jet pack on my broad back.

The mud puddle caught my eye because I live in drought-stricken Australia. And yes, if you must know (can you please stop twisting my arm behind my back to make me confess) I had the irresistible urge to splash my sturdy boots in it, just as I did when I was a kid.

From three sides of the puddle, the sight was simply muddy. But when I turned my back towards Lake Kathleen and concentrated on the absolute edge, the late-afternoon light and shade through the ancient, tall trees, gave me a wonderful opportunity to capture the reflection of the sky.

And just for the record, this is what the view looked like across the lake.


For other participants in
Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

44 comments:

Shadow said...

a mud puddle. that's what it is!!! sheeeesh, it took a while for my brain to catch what my eyes were seeing... great shot!

Unknown said...

That is just awesome!! At first I thought I was looking at a lake in a huge canyon of some type and just gasped when I realized it was a puddle!!

Well done David!!

marcia@joyismygoal said...

that is the prettiest puddle I have ever seen:)

ArneA said...

A different kind of mud, but nomination for POtD 9naI made her do the post in English for you
:)

Thumbelina said...

That's a great reflection. Nice composition - you always find an unusual edge.

How's the arm? Hope I didn't twist it too much..!

Cheffie-Mom said...

It took me a minute to figure out the mud puddle photo. Very interesting!

April said...

Beauty in everything!

Pseudo said...

That's beautiful.

Jazz said...

I was wondering what that was. Never in a million years would I have guessed it was a mud puddle. Great picture.

Grace Albaugh said...

I loooove this photo David. I looked for quite awhile before I cheated and read about it. Really great.

Eve said...

What a gorgeous view!

Rune Eide said...

For a photographer it is often more important to look down than up, only this time I looked up...

imac said...

My weakness, I just love reflections.

Sandi McBride said...

Your reflections make most other shots look pale in comparison...I love this one especially!
Sandi

inge said...

That's beautiful.

Saz said...

Wow, I kept looking trying to figure out the angle and from where it was taken and oculdnt figure it out...thank goodness for the exlanation. Now I see why there is a comment section on redbubble it is needed!

The 1968 olympics...we were living there..but don't recall the jumper!!

Misty DawnS said...

Fantastic photos, David. Unfortunately, my skies did not look like that yesterday.

I was in an F-4 tornado, and (thankfully) survived to blog about it. My vehicle (as you can see from the photos) didn't fare so well. The destruction and damage left behind is absolutely breathtaking and heartbreaking.

Guy D said...

Excellent skywatch post as always David.

Have a great week
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Photo Cache said...

Oh that first image, puddle reflection, is amazing. Love it.

Robin said...

What amazing beauty - in a mud puddle! Proof that it truly pays to look a bit harder.

Anonymous said...

hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous sky and amazing shot.

CJ xx

Elisabeth's bright side said...

Beauty can be found everywhere. A really special picture. It was fun to see!

jabblog said...

Well, what is mud for, other than to paddle in? But the second shot - fresh, clean, beautiful!

Maggie May said...

Do you know? I thought at first that this was a view of a distant lake from an aircraft! Then I noticed the size of the trees!
Loved the reflections in that puddle. Why do little boys love to jump into puddles?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
bowledover said...

Many artist see the world in reflected puddles. Thank you for your view. I love the second picture also.

Maureen said...

Yes, I must admit you had me perplexed there for a moment (okay, MORE than a moment). I couldn't quite figure out what was up and what was down... which, coming from someone on the other side of the world, kinda makes sense, no? ;)

Great shots, as usual.

2sweetnsaxy said...

Wow. I thought I was impressed by that reflection in the mud puddle and then I saw the view from across the lake. Awesome shots, as usual. :-)

Sylvia K said...

Awesome shot! and I agree with marcia, it's the prettiest puddle I've ever seen! Thanks, as always David, for sharing the beauty!

Gennasus said...

I couldn't work it out either, just as well you explained! Great idea.

I love the more conventional shot too.

Esther Garvi said...

Now that's artistic! Your view was amazing!

Sandra Carvalho said...

Those pictures are gorgeous!
Thanks for passing by.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Greetings from Portugal.

Anonymous said...

A great reflection shot, but it does so make me wanna jump and splash in the puddle too. Just a big sometimes!

Eddie Bluelights said...

The Puddle looks like a Water Jump.
Incidentally, Bob Beaman did his fantastic jump only once so he may not have cleared it.
The Photos are fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful "double take" photo in that 1st shot! :)

Anonymous said...

That's an awesome photo, David. It has an "other worldly" look to it. I could easily see it with a beautiful poem written across it in a lovely book. Wow! Great eye.

Sharon Rose said...

Amazing what you see when you look beyond the surface! You are a true artist with amazing talent to see differently!
Thanks for the view!

Unknown said...

It took me awhile to figure out I was looking at a mud puddle with the sky's reflection in it!! :-)

However, that is and awesome shot, as is the one under it ...

Bradley Hsi said...

Beautiful shot across the lake nd take me a while to figure out the light reflection from the puddle.

Gemma Wiseman said...

I never thought I would be saying this, but that mud puddle of yours is stunningly glorious! (Hyperbole well-deserved). And the accompanying anecdote is pure McMahon flair! Great post!

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

Hi David

You made a wonderful Postal Card!
Great photo and marvelous landscape!

Luiz

Unknown said...

Great shots both but the reflection shot is my favourite. Have a nice weekend, David.

Daryl said...

How did I miss this .. fabulous ..