Flag Day

Fancy A Flutter, Mate?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

There’s nothing like a crisp blue winter sky if you want to shoot flags fluttering in a strong breeze. Actually, we are a few days past the winter solstice here in Melbourne and the days are (imperceptibly) getting longer, with an extra minute of daylight every evening – but this shot was taken about four weeks ago, in late May, the last week of autumn.

I was walking up Bourke Street when I noticed this cluster of flags near a visitor information booth. I was about to shoot them front-on against the façade of a building when I realised there was a better shot if I kept walking and turned round in the other direction.

That way, I was facing a clear blue sky, the perfect foil for these long rectangular flags. Also, by shooting from this angle, the actual lettering on the flags is the wrong way around – so it’s kind of irresistible to try and sit there for a couple of extra moments and work out what the message is.

Just for the record, the flags were advertising last month's "Melbourne Italian Festival".


Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Flags''.

Star Light, Star Bright

First Star I See Tonight

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

We were walking down Bourke Street in the city centre recently, showing the Christmas illuminations to overseas visitors. The seasonal decorations may not be on the grand scale of Hong Kong or Singapore, but they are always a big attraction, especially now that the summer evenings are so long.

I was on the other side of the street when I noticed this single star in a store window. We were on our way back to the car, but I knew I had to sprint across to take the shot.

I guess the thing that really caught my attention was not just the elongated shape of the star, but a couple of other factors as well. For one thing, it was the soft colours and shades in the window. And of course the clincher was that there was nothing else in the window, just the single star.

It was the perfect example of solitary beauty.

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Grand Style

Shapes And Colours Strike The Perfect Note

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Okay, so here’s the challenge. Do you know what I’ve photographed? While you’re figuring out the answer, I’ll tell you why I took these shots. I was trying to capture the unique contours of light as well as the undulating wave-like pattern of alternating colour and darkness.

It might look like a pool of liquid gold, but here’s another view of the same sight of the same object, taking in a completely different composition, to incorporate its own reflection. Need some clues?


I was in Allan’s Music, a beautiful landmark on Bourke Street, in central Melbourne. I was at the front of the store when I happened to notice a couple of grand pianos in a step-down area in semi-darkness at the back of the store.

Naturally, I had to ask if I could possibly take my camera down there and get some shots - and the friendly staff were quick to give me permission. It was an interesting situation, because the light was extremely low, yet there were some beautiful possibilities in the reflection off the dark wood and the soft lighting that fell on the interior of some of the grand pianos that had their lids open.


I was in a hurry, but I managed to experiment with the settings on the camera to produce these shots. I have to admit, I’ve never been in an area surrounded by so many expensive grand pianos, and yes, I resisted the impulse to play a couple of notes.

I think it’s extremely interesting that with the amazing advances in technology, our music still comes from instruments that are created with the use of ancient methods.

And how many grand does a grand piano cost? Let’s just say a lot of grand. You need a lot of loot to pay for them.

Or maybe that should be a lot of lute.