He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Rudder

Looking For A Change Of Direction

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Because the rudder of any deep-sea vessel is mostly concealed beneath the surface of the water, I jumped at the chance to shoot this image about six weeks ago. This is the Polly Woodside, a 19th-century vessel built in Belfast, Ireland, by the shipbuilders Workman Clark & Co Ltd.

A major landmark here in Melbourne, she was restored in the early Seventies, to be used as a museum ship for The National Trust.

This was shot on 17 July, on a sunny winter afternoon here in Melbourne. I could have pushed the lens through a gap in the wire fence, but I chose this composition deliberately.

By using depth of field to concentrate on the rudder and the stern, showing the vessel’s name, you can actually see the criss-cross of the metal fence in the immediate foreground.

This image might not have been as effective if I’d shot it on a cloudy day. Because of the bright, sunny conditions, the metal fence pattern shows up brightly as it reflects the strong natural light.

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