Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
If you can remember the last time you saw a weather vane, please let me know. No, seriously, just leave me a comment and tell me – I’d love to know, because symbols like these just aren’t as common as they used to be.
This shot was taken a year and a half ago and I recently came across it while I was looking for a different image. I was at the Royal Melbourne Show with Mrs Authorblog and the Authorbloglets when I spotted this beautiful weather vane with a cockerel atop the four points of the compass.
Unfortunately, it was not in the best position for a meaningful photograph, so I squeezed myself into a tight corner (the things we do for our art, hey?) to try and compose the best possible frame of the rooster alongside another familiar sight from the Show – the giant ferris wheel.
In retrospect, it’s interesting to reflect on this shot and the fact that it depicts not one but two symbols of international culture, irrespective of race, nationality, geography or religion.
And of course, you all remember the famous Carly Simon hit that honoured the age-old weather vane, don’t you? It was called "You’re So Vane"!
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46 comments:
I do see weather vanes, but usually in antique stores, not on buildings. Cool Chicken
So true!
I haven't seen one for a long long time.
Come to think of it, it's been quite awhile since I last saw a weather vane ...
Nice shot though ... I love roosters and Carly Simon :-)
this should get pic of the day!
Wow David, love this picture. this is unusual in (Venezuela) so haven't seen one in person.
Have a nice weekend.
Mary Elizabeth @ Now and Then
Your punchline elicited a *groan!* here. :) Lovely post.
And I know I see a weather vane fairly often - but I can't think where! I just looked out of the window but it's now near. So, I'll tell you where it is when I stumble on it again. Evidently, I take it for granted. Probably as they were common enough as I grew up.
I should stop taking things for granted. I will lose sight of them one day! Great photo despite the contortion needed.
...looked out of the window but it'#s NOT near...
My typos get worse. Or it could be, like my goldfish in my critters post, that my memory is failing me and I can no longer spell....
Carly Simon's song will NEVER be the same...LOL. Lovin' this one! Oh, and btw, the photo is as amazing as your wit!!!! Think this one needs to go on redbubble...Have a great weekend! ~Janine
David I have a lovely weather vane of Chanticler on my kitchen wall above windows overlooking my back yard, which I had my teen-aged son at the time crawl to the roof of our garage to fetch it and bring it down to me. Perhaps I should take a photo and send it to you!
Oh David, Carly wasn't talking about us at all, or anything perching on top of her roof. In my parts of the world, our chimney cap, or whatever it is called, is usually a flame arrester as well. I will have to photograph it for you. Mine is a fat seagull.
However, we do not need to go out to check on the wind. It is felt in our bones.
One day, when you are traveling this direction, you might want to stop at Cape Blanco, Oregon, the place where many winds are clocked at hurricane force.
I have a weather vane!
I can't recall when I last saw a weather vane.....does it count if I saw a vane person out in the weather?
There are one or two in the country areas of the UK, which means as I only see them when passing through. Loved the picture.
Weather vanes are not so unusual,
neither in Vienna (churches!), nor in the countryside.
Come to think of it,
good excuse to get a longer lens,
don't you agree? ;-)
Nice shot! :-)
Beautiful shot!!
I do see weater vanes - but that is in Norway! Next time I see one, I will take a shot and let you know!
But you have a point; most of the weather vanes these days, are in a more modern style.
I saw one not long ago but can't remember where or exactly when. Very unusual to see one anymore, except in antique stores.
I used to see them all the time when I was a child. Come to think of it, there don't seem to be any about now....... but I am going to look!
Made a good photo!
Whenever I see those I think of the farm my father grew up on. :o)
Great shot - with the added bonus of a ferris wheel! I know of a few weather vanes near where I live in Northern Ireland. In Edinburgh there's a weather vane clock - the wind direction gets shown on a "clock" face that has compass points instead of numbers.
I see weather vanes frequently...It hadn't occurred to me they were unusual.
oh great...now there is something else I'm gonna start taking pictures of.
so vane.
smile.
Hi David! Saw one two days ago at an organic farm my daughter is building a website for. It caught my eye too for the very reasons you list. It was perched atop their 100 year old barn. Loved it.
And I thank you most gratefully for featuring my dear friend, Janine @ Sniffles & Smiles on your Post of the Day again. She is so worthy of your kind recognition. :)
Great composition...I can't remember the last time I saw a weather vane!
My sister has one on her roof. She's got a real live rooster too. Now, I am going to keep a lookout for others. Vanes, not roosters.
They are all over my semi rural town here in TX i love them too:)
That is an interesting image. Not the rooster. The rooster is lovely. I mean you "squeezing yourself into tight corners"...or mmmmm....even managing a supine or prone position to get that shot!
"You walk into the party like you were walking onto..."
Okay. I would probably be humming that song the whole day.
Happy mother's day weekend to Mrs. Authorblog.
I have a weather vane with a rooster on my garage that is attached to my house. We built the house in 1993, and one of the things that I wanted was a weather vane. I had a hard time finding one, and had to order it out of a specialty catalog.
An Arkies Musings
I recently learned that the weathervane topic tickled Hans Christian Andersen's creative appetite:
http://hca.gilead.org.il/cock.html
As far as seeing weathervanes, Vermont is dotted with them. This sounded like something you could ironise on (no pun intended): http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2006-08-14-weathervane-theft_x.htm
Ciao
Actually, I see a lot of beautiful weather vanes in my area of the south; it's a thing for us southerners! You can also find some gorgeous ones in antique shops around here as well.
Yours is a really nice one!
Jane
One on top of our church not far away!
"It's so vane! It probably thinks this song is about it!"
Roosters really are so vane. Just ask the hens who wish they'd come down from on high and do a few chores around the coop once in a while.
Wonderful shot, David.
Thank you for stopping by my cats blog and leaving your nice comment :-)
Of course, then I had to come and see who stopped by and enjoyed my quick scroll stroll...I shall return!
Just saw a weather vane on a building in Capitola by the Sea, CA, USA on Thursday. Photographed it too, and it might end up in a post soon.
Nice work to get the composition you wanted! I still see a few weather vanes scattered around, mostly on old barns. You can see some on my posts of barns. I'll try to get a closer image of the next one I see.
Not since I was in Canada last.
Great composition!!
The little old man that lives opposite me has a weather vane on the top of his garage and I see it every morning when I pull back me bedroom curtains.... I love it..
x
Weather vanes...hmm, churches? I will try and see if I can spot some for you.
Well worth the uncomfortable position for taking this shot I think. Clever to include the ferris wheel and to refer to 'you're so vane'. Hehe, only you can think of things like that ;-)
(Glad to be back after a three week no blogging-period. Ordering you book is still on the agenda, shame on me!)
Each time I go to my parents, I see a weather vane. Mind you, it is not original to the barn. They likely found it in an antique store, and put it up there.
I have not had my morning coffee, and you had me wondering which Carly Simon song you were referring to until I got to 'vane'. NOTE: this is because I have NOT had my morning coffee yet. I usually much quicker on the uptake.
I havent seen a Weather Vane in sooo long.They are usually near the farms out in the country around here.Omg the song from Carly Simon.I loved that song.I knew some people who I thought of too when I heard it as well,LOL
Weather vanes are something very rare in my area. I can't remember having seen them here. I also think that they might be rare in my whole country. Have a great week.
I see one every day, because we have one on our barn... but no critters on it though :-(
We've got a weathervane! (Not uncommon in New England...) It's a pineapple (symbol of welcome and kind of a tropical nod to India)
Wonderful picture!
Some of the old barns around here have them.
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