Friday, May 29, 2009

Seeing The Light

I Think I Just Reached My Brake Point

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


I guess you could call this my light-bulb moment. There I was, walking down Flinders Street with my camera around my neck, when I looked up.

One day someone is going to fit me with a sound effect borrowed from the screeching brakes employed by the old cartoons – because that’s exactly what happens when I have a camera in my hand. You just have to stop every time something catches your eye, which in my case is fairly often.

Because I was only a few steps away from St Paul’s Cathedral, I thought this light was actually on their property. But it wasn’t. It was attached to the exterior wall of the Meridian International School.

You know what really and truly caught my attention? Not so much the light globe itself, but the delicate craftsmanship on the old metal casing. And if you look carefully, you can even see the manufacturer's mark on each segment of the glass casing.


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16 comments:

Ms. Skywalker said...

It's the beauty in the small things, isn't it always that catches your heart?

Anonymous said...

Is there "moth" in your back line? ;)

Love the perspective!

Hilary said...

That's a great shot. It took me a moment to figure out what I was seeing. The best kind.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

I turned my laptop, this way and then that...before I realized that you were looking up at the light when you photographed it...then, I read your anecdote...and it all made sense!!! Great perspective in this shot! It really grabbed me! ~Janine

Chris said...

I know that screeching brake noise -- I hear it often in my head as well.

I really the like the design of the housing for the light.

marcia@joyismygoal said...

yes that would catch me too

Kathleen said...

You've certainly inspired me, David, with your photographs.

I finally replaced my stolen point-and-shoot, and I find myself in stumbling around in awe of details, much like you pointed out.

I was so taken with the beauty of a huge elm tree and its seedlings recently that a woman came out of her house to ask if everything was OK.

I mumbled something like: "Oh, it's just so beautiful, with the light setting and all." She stared at me for a moment and walked inside. I figure her loss!

Be careful you don't bump into the novel H1N1 flu! My sources tell me it's making quite a scene in Australia right now.

Take care!

Corey~living and loving said...

I actually hear that screeching brake sound all the time when I'm walking with my camera. :)

Maggie May said...

At first, I thought that you had slipped down & taken a crazy photo as you went! But no, it was engineered!
great shot and the sign was so clean. I have seen lamps that I wanted to shoot but they are so dirty!

Great shot, as always.

Arija said...

Oh, well spotted David. A great relic of good workmanship.

Rikkij said...

David-they don't make em like that anymore. never will again. Love the irony in a photo of the idea bulb above the head when the idea is itself. did that make sense?
~rick

Shadow said...

intricate.

Mojo said...

Count on you for a unique angle like this one. Just brilliant! When the image first loaded, I had to screech to a halt myself trying to figure out where you were in relation to the light. Fabulous!

Daryl said...

I am LOL .. we both shot odd angles .. me on SkyWatch and you with this light bulb/fixture .. neat

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Lighting the path one post at a time.... finding the details in the ordinary.

Ryanne said...

There is just something a bout a camera in hand, or around the neck that makes you want to see everything and every detail. My mum is starting to think my sister and I are crazy, sitting, laying and hanging from things just to get the shot.