Friday, June 12, 2009

Reach For The Sky

Who Poured Lava Over That Landscape?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


On the final leg of my journey last Friday to the New South Wales town of Temora, I watched as the cloud started to build up in mid-afternoon. I wondered, as I drove down the Olympic Highway from Wagga Wagga on the last 80 kilometres (50 miles) of my journey, whether the sunset would have any memorable colour.


I emerged from one of the hangars at the Temora Aviation Museum a couple of minutes before five o'clock and I was about to head towards my car when I noticed the start of a beautiful sunset. So I turned left towards the runway instead of turning right to the car park and took the first shot of the clouds below the shade sails, just as the sun sank to the horizon.

As I was about to turn away, I heard a vintage aircraft taxi out onto the runway apron. I waited, wondering if there would be an interesting shot. Sure enough, the pilot of the Harvard went straight between me and the horizon and I was able to fire off this frame as his open cockpit canopy highlighted the colour of the sky.


Then I walked out to the car park and was about to sling my camera bag into the back seat of the car when I heard a formation of three Harvards approaching, with their navigation lights clearly visible in the gloom.

No, I didn't put my camera into the car. Yes, I just stood there and photographed them as they flew. You would have done exactly the same, right?


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

46 comments:

Jazz said...

That is one spectacular sunset.

Shadow said...

lava is the perfect description!

immersion said...

Nice captures!

Sylvia K said...

Incredible colors! Fantastic shots, as always, David, and I love the planes etched against the sky! Have a great weekend!

ellen abbott said...

That second picture is just incredible. All are great, but that one is amazing.

James said...

This fantastic sunset reminds me of the one I saw monday which happened to be one of the few times I didn't have my camera with me.

I love the dramatic sunset and the classic airplanes flying. Well done!

Jinksy said...

Those clouds sure got you all fired up...

Brian Miller said...

beautiful sunset! wow, what colors!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

RIGHT!!!! Spectacular photos!!! I LOVE THESE...every one!!! ~Janine

Craig Glenn said...

Beautiful David.

Craig glenn

sandyshares said...

the skies you present are unfathomable

DeniseinVA said...

Incredible sunset, loved the old aircraft and loved your photos.

Gill said...

David
Breathtaking photos!
I only just realized that on my blogger account I have updates on all my bookmarked blogs! Hello?!
Hence my visit. xo
(in case you should faint from shock!)

cheshire wife said...

Absolutely amazing photos! It may be winter down under, but here in the UK we would never get sunset colours like that even in the summer.

NG said...

whattt pictures...simply amazing...

Cheffie-Mom said...

The colors are amazing!! Super sunset!

Maggie May said...

I would have tried to do the same but I expect I would have missed the planes! But who knows......
Marvellous sunset & I really like those planes against the darkening sky.

Rune Eide said...

... but not so well :-)

Jenera said...

What a beautiful sunset! We don't get many like that in my neck of the woods.

Ananda girl said...

Gloriously stunning!

Deborah Godin said...

Those are incredible fiery shots - lava is a great way to describe it!!

Pyzahn said...

absolutely delicious sunsets.

Cynthia Pittmann said...

What rich amber color you captured in these sky photos...especially the first one...richly intense. <3

Anne-Berit said...

Impressive photos as always from you.You can even see the light on one of the plains there.

Jim said...

Awesome sunset. Brilliant colours.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Madame DeFarge said...

Absolutely superb.

Unknown said...

Those sunsets are so fantastic they don't look real; perhaps paintings for a movie set!?

Guy D said...

Great shots as always, there is nothing like the sounds of those old Harvards engines.

Have a great weekend
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Photo Cache said...

Spectacular sunset. Thanks for sharing. Happy weekend.

Susan at Stony River said...

Wow--such colour! And oddly, I love the monochrome shot of the silhouetted planes on a grey sky best. Beautiful photos!

Rikkij said...

sunsets like this make breathing so much richer and morning coffee better. Nice~rick

ArtistUnplugged said...

Amazing photos, the second is my fave.

NitWit1 said...

Loved the sunsets, especially the first. Loved the planes in formation, too.

Janie said...

The sunset colors are gorgeous. Really love the one with the cockpit silhouette. And who wouldn't have wanted a great shot of those cool planes overhead.

Lori ann said...

I saw that same gorgeous sunset!

The Vengeance said...

Oh man, that is gorgeous! You are one lucky photographer to be in such a perfect spot under such a perfect sky. :)

Sabenindam said...

David,
these are amazing pictures! How I wish I had your talent! Please keep sharing your photographs with us!

San said...

Molten is right.

Sharon Rose said...

The photographs of the sunset are breathtaking. I don't know of anyone who knows how to say goodevening or goodnight any more beautiful than God!

Eric(NL) said...

Fire in the Sky, i love them, great shots, super colors!!!

Have a nice Skywatch Friday!!

Greetings from NL

SH -ic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SH -ic said...

such a great combination with yellow like paineed thanks

aims said...

Hey David.

Do you use filters?

aims said...

btw - the word verification on my last comment....

billysky

Arija said...

Lovely erupting skies! Tremendously bright golds.

Unknown said...

WOW ...what glorious skies..

The sky almost looks like you're looking at the underside of ocean waves in those first couple of photos...