Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Taking Steps

Long Winter Shadows On A Melbourne Afternoon

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


Even though it's winter here, the afternoon sun can sometimes produce great shadows. About ten days ago, I was going to take a straight-on shot of these steps. Then I thought it would be far more interesting to wait a few minutes and actually try and get a shot of feet on the steps as someone walked past.

I was standing on the Yarra side of the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and you'd reckon there'd be a lot of people walking past. But no, I had to wait a few minutes and I was determined to shoot the first person, without asking them to walk at a particular angle or at a certain pace.

It's an interesting task, because you don't know whether the person is going to walk straight, diagonally, up the stairs or down them.

Luckily this person strode along the top of the walkway and I was able to get a perfectly candid, unposed shot of his shoes - and a clearly defined shadow.

Visit the creative team behind That's My World Tuesday.

31 comments:

  1. Well worth the wait! Great photo!

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  2. cool,cool as always and also cool (as in Winter):) the bright color so pops as I opened your site My MYWorld will be up later today

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  3. Love the strip of yellow, just what you need in the middle of winter.
    Cheers

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  4. So David, how cold are the winter months there? I know we are not talking Alaska, Seberia, or Minnesota, are we?

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  5. Love the perfect position of the guy's feet at the top. Great capture, David.

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  6. Part of what I find interesting on your blog is when you describe the anticipation of taking the shot. Almost like reading an adventure story.

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  7. Caught him exactly in the right spot!

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  8. That's a very interesting shot!

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  9. cool shot! very bright and colorful stairs. I wonder, where do the stairs lead to?

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  10. Wow. those stairs are Yellow!

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  11. A beautiful combination of composition and colour there, very nice capture indeed.

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  12. "Follow, follow, follow, follow... follow the yellow brick road!"
    Great photo David!!!!

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  13. Always worth the wait, as you have so well shown.

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  14. I like the stark yellow of those steps.

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  15. Great photo - love the yellow steps!

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  16. Great color for the winter! And this shot was definitely worth the wait, David!

    Have a great weekend!
    Sylvia

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  17. like the shot david.
    a good capture.

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  18. Anonymous8:00 AM

    I love that photo!

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  19. It is so weird thinking winter there when it is almost 90 degrees F here. The yellow stairs are very warm.

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  20. Makes all the difference with the feet and shadows.

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  21. the vivid yellow and the dark shadows and feet play well together. nice shot.

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  22. The stairs are cool, but I think you are right that the feet walking on them makes it so much the better. Wow! Those stairs are YELLOW!

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  23. Funny! Somehow it makes me think of the Wizard of Oz and the yellow brick road.

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  24. so eyecatching! i love yellow. what a fun photo!

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  25. I love the little challenges you set for yourself, David. I like to imagine your process. :)

    have a great day.

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  26. and that's what makes you such a good photographer... the shadow detail makes the pic!

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  27. Interesting shot. Great decision to include some action on that strip of yellow (which in itself is already quite eye-catching). And a candid shot to boot! I love it!

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  28. A simple and very elegant composition.

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  29. I always learn something when I visit your blog. Love this piece of your world and the way you captured it. Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs and blessings,

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