The Tiniest Christmas Tree

And The Biggest, Warmest Wish To Each Of You

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Standing no more than an inch tall, this piece of Swarovski crystal is the smallest Christmas tree in our home. As it is already December 25 here in Australia, and we've just got home from Midnight Mass, I'd just like to wish all my readers a wonderful Christmas. From every single member of the McMahon clan, to everyone in your family, may you have a precious Christmas and one to cherish forever.

Star Quality

Aussies Never Give You A Frosty Reception

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

There’s nothing quite like a blue sky to provide a great contrast for strong colours framed by your lens. This image shows you a major Melbourne landmark - the recently refurbished spire of St Paul's Cathedral. I chose this composition very deliberately, to use the yellow and green of Melbourne’s giant Christmas tree as a contrast to the sandstone of the steeple as well as the clear blue of the sky.

When I first shot the giant Christmas tree in our city square for the post Star Gazing, the sky was grey and moody. Then a few days ago, it was a beautiful blue Melbourne sky and I realised I should utilise my lunchtime to go back and shoot the tree again – to show you an incongruous meeting of worlds.


Why is it incongruous? Because the rest of the world celebrates Christmas in winter, while it’s summer here Down Under. So, something that is an everyday sight for me is something of a novelty for you. Hence the incongruity – a classic Yuletide symbol, the tree, photographed against the vivid blue of an Australian summer sky.

Christmas trees are supposed to be photographed under a sky laden with snow clouds. They are supposed to have a hoar frost upon their branches. When you choose your tree, you should be well clad and your feet should be suitably shod to negotiate frozen lakes and snowy hills.

Right? Not in Australia, mate. It's the height of summer here, as you can see from the clear blue sky in this series of shots.

And while I stood there in the city square, pondering the problem of how best to present the tree in a true Australian context, I had a classic D’oh moment.


There, to the left of the Christmas tree (see above) was one of the most natural symbols of this country with its topsy-turvy seasons – a slender gum tree. So there are two trees in this shot, a real gum tree beside the manmade metal Christmas tree covered with huge metal baubles and stars of many colours.

Because it was just after midday, the sun was practically right above me, which led to an interesting situation. As I squinted into the sun, I realised the nearby roof line could make a really arresting silhouette if I framed the shot correctly. And if I really contorted myself to work the angles, I could even get in the glare from the sun as well. Seriously, we’re talking real contortion here.


On the basis of my noble performance, I thought at any moment someone would tap me on my shoulder and offer me a job at Barnum & Bailey’s circus.

These shots were all taken in the space of about three or four minutes, but this frame shows a solitary cloud assuming something approximately like a stylised heart shape. To tell you the truth, I was concentrating so hard on the best possible composition that I didn’t notice the shape of the cloud. All I wanted to do was make sure the cloud was slap-bang in the centre of the frame. It was only much later, when I was reviewing the shots, that I paid attention to its shape.

I guess it’s very apt. Christmas is really a season of the heart.


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

We Wish You A Bonsai Christmas

Did This Grow On The Bridge Of Size?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Why do I always carry a camera with me? Because no one knows how many photo opportunities lurk just around the corner.

An overseas reader of this blog once exclaimed that only I would be carrying a camera when confronted by someone dressed as a giant prawn – after I took the shot and published it on my blog.

So when I noticed this bonsai plant in the kitchen area at work, I had to rub my eyes to make sure what adorned it. Yes, there was a solitary burgundy bauble on it. I press-ganged a friend into guarding it while I sprinted back to my desk for my camera – just in case the owner returned to claim it before I got back.

I’ve seen Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes, but I’ve never seen one like this before. The shape, the colour, the contrast, the reflection – everything was just right.

Bonsai? Hmmm, maybe the concept is growing on me.

Highly Decorated

That’s The Collection Of A Lifetime

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Every family has a Christmas tree story. This is ours. I can’t reach the top of our tree. Even if I stand on tiptoe I cannot reach the highest half-dozen branches. I’m well over six foot, so that gives you an idea of how tall our tree is.

I need a chair to stand on when the time comes to put the angel on the top. The tree is so wide that I can barely get my arms around a third of it. So you can imagine just how many decorations we’d need for a tree that size.

Trust me, we have plenty. P L E N T Y. And every adornment has a story behind it. When our eldest child was an infant, we bought a special decoration to mark her first year. The next year, she was old enough to choose one for herself. So in addition to the "normal" decorations we bought for our tree, we have always bought a special one for each of our three children, every single year.

Sometimes one of the Authorbloglets will choose more than one decoration, so the precious collection has grown by leaps and bounds. Three years ago, I was a long way from home, in Muskoka, Canada, when I spotted a Christmas shop. Of course, I had to duck in there and choose a special decoration for each of my children, reflecting each of their respective interests.

When I went to the counter to pay for them, the woman told me she could even engrave each child’s name in gold paint. That gold paint still looks as fresh as ever. And the story of where they came from has been told many times.

So the collection grows. Each piece holds special significance, special memories, special connotations of a period of life and growth and family values. And when each Authorbloglet leaves home, they will take with them their own collection for their own tree in their own home with their own family.

And so the special tradition, like all good Christmas traditions, will continue.

(For a very special post that honours the spirit of Christmas, perhaps you’d care to check out my Sky Watch Friday post from earlier today. I’d be delighted if you could simply scroll down or click here to go to Christmas Angels In The Sky.)

Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.

Star Gazing

No Astronomer Saw A Heavenly Sight Like This

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

It's a gathering of celestial bodies like nothing you've seen before. Even Hollywood doesn't boast as many stars as this object. Can you guess what it is?

As Melbourne starts to wind down for Christmas, the schools are into their last few curriculum days of the year. Offices are starting to look a bit empty as people start their break. Public transport isn't as crowded. It's summer and the days are long and lesiurely and the best news is that the recent rain we've had actually (finally) made a contribution to our water catchment areas.

Mind you, there's no water involved in the creation of this mystery object. Here's another view of it, with a slightly different focal length ...


And finally, you get the full view. This is the giant Christmas tree in the city square. For the last shot (below) I stepped right back to frame the artificial tree with the leaves and branches of the real plane trees on the sidewalk.

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