Friday, June 05, 2009

First Light

Treat Each Dawn As A Gift

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


I have parked literally hundreds of times in this Southbank high-rise car park. On most of those occasions, I have parked before dawn’s first light and always walked down the concrete walkway out onto the street.

But on this occasion, luck was on my side. The parking slots on the first level were all full, so I parked higher up and got into the lift/elevator, where another person had already pressed the button for the ground floor.

Because I didn’t walk down as usual, I found myself taking a different exit onto a side street. Looking up, I saw that the first light of the morning cast the shadow of Eureka Tower (the world’s highest residential building) onto the nearby Exxon Mobil office building across the street.

Rather than shoot a skyscape reflection, I chose to position myself under a nearby palm tree, so as to include the fronds in the frame.

Routine is a wonderful thing, but because my pattern of repetition had been broken, these shots were a gift, a simple way to start another wonderfully productive day.


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


50 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Fantastic shot, as always, David! What an incredible building and reflection! What a great way to start the day! Have a great weekend!

Jinksy said...

Patterns just waiting to be recognised...

The Muse said...

Liquid Glass! ooo gosh, yes I am happy that your artist eye was not lost in the routine dungeon!

katherine. said...

it does look fluid....kinda like water...very cool

Shadow said...

each sunrise IS a gift, you're so right!

immersion said...

Stirring things up a bit brings serendipity!

Sandi McBride said...

Looks as though it could be underwater...mysterious and gauzy...loved it
Sandi

Loran said...

Very cool shots and great thoughts to go with them.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shot!!! How wonderful to experience something so grand unexpectedly!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Lovely...the glass looks like water...shimmering in the morning light! ~Janine

Cheffie-Mom said...

I love how you see the world through your camera!

erin said...

stunning capture...
have a wonderful weekend david.

Sherri said...

Isn't it great when we discover new things in our day to day lives! Sometimes I'll walk through our neighborhood and discover a beautiful tree I hadn't noticed.

Unknown said...

I love what you saw through your camera's 'eye' with the early morning reflection of the palm leaves.

It's funny because as much as I personally dislike modern glassy looking high rises, I always like what they reflect on their surfaces!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Another brilliant shot Mr. Master of Perspective.

Now then, you commented on my blog something about having Hughey Gooey Jackman come over for me? :)

endangered coffee said...

Seems like we could quote some Frost here. Another nice shot, David.

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

Hi David

Wonderful composition, sky on mirror!
The reality and its image, great view!
Luiz

Daryl said...

I am a strong believer in looking up ... you never know what you might see ..

Sharon Rose said...

Beautiful shots! Lovely reflections...

bowledover said...

Unique capture David. The reflections are lovely.
Some one told me a great cure for depression is to look up, letting the senses have stimulation.
Your capture certainly stimulates.

P-TER said...

Amazing with the reflection in the building!
Great schot ! ! !
Gr.
P-TER

Dave Coulter said...

Reflections into infinty :)

Deb said...

Hi David ~ I truly missed your creative photography while I was on my little blogging break. But I am back - rejuvenated and ready to learn to see things with a new 'lens'. Take Care.

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Isn't it amazing, when we are forced out of our routine's what gifts are presented? Lovely post!

Madame DeFarge said...

Great photo. Always impressed by how you capture such great images.

SweetPeaSurry said...

I have to admit, it took me a second to find the 'fronds' then ... lo and behold there they were. What an awesome shot!!!

Maggie May said...

Absolutely stunning. Like liquid shimmering.
I should imagine that you get up each morning ready to shoot anything that gets in the way...... with your camera of course!

Eric(NL) said...

WOW, amazing shot here, very well done!!!!!

Have a nice Skywatch Friday

Lew said...

I love these reflections with a deep blue cast! And in the early dawn light the lights inside the building add to the effect. I will often take a different route to just to see what is there. The last picture in my Window Views was such a find.

annalarssonphotography said...

Great shot!!! :)

Have a great friday!
Anna

Martha Z said...

Lucky for us your routine was changed.

Unknown said...

Great seriesof shots.It's amazing what we all overlook,everyday,isn't it?

Tess Kincaid said...

Super duper shot, David.

Janet said...

Pure art.

Arija said...

Great shots David, indeed, every morning is a gift and this particular one you have locked away not only in yur memory box, but ours as well.
Love the didtortions the windows create.

i beati said...

exquisitely interesting sandy

Deborah Godin said...

It's easy sometimes to forget the beauty in urban settings - and you've presented it so well here, these are wonderufl shots!

Tara R. said...

Very cool shot. Love the mirrored reflections.

Regina said...

Nice reflection. Good shots

Baruch said...

Great reflection & SWF contribution

Janet said...

Intriguing Skywatch!

Jenn Jilks said...

I, too, found that a reflection is often most interesting!

Great photo.

Enigma said...

Stunning David. It makes me think of a reflection image I made a few weeks ago that I want to share. Have been too busy with other things. I'm glad you had to walk the other direction and saw this beautiful vista. Thanks for sharing! And for the reminder that each dawn is a gift.....

Unknown said...

Such a cool shot !!

I'm rapidly falling in love with reflections... they often give a whole new perspective.. :-)

Sarah Laurence said...

Wow! David, this is one of your finest. Frame it and hang it in your home or a gallery.

Mojo said...

These serendipitous moments are what I call... well, serendipitous moments. And I know of nothing better to get the mind expanding in all directions than to have one of them once in a while. Fantastic shot!

Lee said...

Lovely post, David. Like you I find that a shift in routine is a wonderful way to change your usual perspective. For me it is the occasions that I get to do Morning Prayer.

Peace! & Joy!

Lakshmi said...

As always your post is a great learning platform

Lucy Corrander said...

Lovely colours.

Makes my eyes go squifferly, thought.

Lucy

Inday said...

I agree with your productive day, David. It's in the uniqueness of taking pictures that makes once work a remarkable delight.

Thanks for leaving kind comment at Skywatch Friday #47.

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