Sunday, November 07, 2010

Please don't shut me out

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: SingaporeA2007-1603)


I shot this at Clarke Quay, Singapore, in mid-December 2007, during a brief stopover on my way to India. The quay is a lodestone for photographers, not just because of its range of colours, but also for the way it preserves the city-state's colonial past.

While trying to take in the huge range of colours, I suddenly spotted this muted scene - a simple facade with monochromatic windows closed against the tropical heat and humidity, flanked by the dark foliage of a large tree. The simplicity of it all had to be captured, right?

21 comments:

Johnnny said...

He says key. She says quay. They both say. It's a great way. To spend the day. In ocean spray. Your picture reminds me of one I took of two windows with a branch.

Maggie May said...

I think sometimes the simple pictures make the best ones and of course that tree makes a perfect frame.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Brian Miller said...

actually i like the lines of the window covers...it breaks it up nicely...

Katney said...

Simplicity itself!

Shutters are not common here, though they could easily shut out the cold as well as the heat. Perhaps at the time of year when they would be shutting out the cold, they would also be shutting out the remnants of light, leaving us SADD.

CiCi said...

Simple, clean lines and colors is refreshing indeed.

Hilary said...

For sure.. oftentimes simplicity is the most beautiful of scenes.

Moannie said...

Like a childs drawing on ochre coloured paper. Simply lovely.

Rosaria Williams said...

Only you, David, would have an eye tuned to this.

Land of shimp said...

Aha! Noticing the day and date on your post three things occurred to me at once: "Good lord, where did Saturday go? I could sworn it was still Saturday." "Oh, maybe he's a time traveler, and can see into the future!" "Hey, I wonder if the Singapore tag has anything to...Aha!"

Sifting the clues, I finally got there. I like this picture. I think simple images invite us to imagine more. To wonder what might behind the shutters, and who. They're both a presentation and an invitation to more.

Land of shimp said...

And...fourthly, hopefully finally, "Oh! He's in Australia where it already Sunday. As it is in Singapore. The tag is from '07."

Then I went back to my time-traveling theory and realized that my cold medicine has clearly done terrible things to my brain.

If you need someone to vouch for my not being entirely, raving mad, Hilary actually does know me rather well. Admittedly, she might say, "Oh yes, Alane is completely raving mad...but generally in a nice, non-threatening way."

Anyway, I truly do like the photograph.

david mcmahon said...

Really enjoyed your image, Johnny. Thanks for the link.

david mcmahon said...

Thanks, Maggie - you;re not wrong there!

david mcmahon said...

Interesting lines, Brian - like inverted chevrons on a sergeant's badge of rank.

david mcmahon said...

Thanks, Katney - simple is the right word.

david mcmahon said...

So glad you found this refreshing, TechnoBabe.

david mcmahon said...

You're so right, Hilary. And sometimes the simple things are harder to find, as we always seek more complexities!

david mcmahon said...

Perfectly attributed, Moannie.

david mcmahon said...

Thank you, Lakeviewer - that is such a HUGE compliment.

david mcmahon said...

Ah, Land of Shimp, a blog friend of mine, who wrote as Brian In Oxford, used to call me "the boy from the future" as I was always about a day ahead because of where I live!

david mcmahon said...

Thanks, Land Of Shimp, I have great faith in Hilary's judgement.

Bernie said...

Love this David, plain, simple yet lovely.....:-) Hugs