Off With His Head

Time To Shoulder The Responsibility

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The more you carry a camera around, the more your brain starts to work through the viewfinder. So when I walked downriver at Southbank recently, I could see these two workers devoting their attention to the large outdoor carousel at Freshwater Place - but I only glanced at them and then flicked my gaze away to the myriad sights around me.

But as soon as I saw one of them climb a ladder and put his torso through an inspection hatch, I knew I had an unusual shot. I was still a long distance away from them, but I was lucky I had my 300 mm lens on the camera.

To me, the quality of the shot lies in simple body language. The very fact that the bloke's knees are flexed slightly and that his shoes are not entirely flat on the top rung of the ladder suggest that he is not perfectly balanced. Once you take that into account, you begin to understand why his colleague on the left has that open-mouthed look of concern.

It's the one time you wouldn't say to a bloke on a ladder, "Drop in any time".

(The Odd Shots concept came from Katney. Say "G'day" to her.)

Drop In Any Time

I'd Almost Forgotten The Sound Of Rain

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Any idea what I've photographed here? While you're racking that nimble brain of yours, I'll get on with the post .... and I'll end with the answer.

Just when we'd given up on ever getting any rain here in Melbourne, the heavens opened up last Tuesday and we've had a shower or two every day since then. The timing could not have been better for many reasons, but this was a perfect opportunity to try out the macro on the new Pentax Optio S10 that I've been testing.

Like I said in an earlier post, it's an ultra-compact 10-megapixel camera with a 2.5 inch LCD screen. It's not much bigger than a credit card and is slimmer than a standard (empty) wallet. I often get asked by women bloggers if I could recommend a camera that would fit easily into a handbag. Men, on the other hand, ask about a camera that can slot into a pocket. Look no further than this little beauty. It retails for just under $300 here in Australia, which means it would be about $280 in the United States and about 150 quid in the United Kingdom.

Crazy Cath also asked me what the "SLR" stands for in camera-speak - it's an acronym for single lens reflex. She is on the lookout for a new camera in the $300 price range, so I would not hesitate to recommend the Pentax Optio S10. It has an on-screen editing function as well and is a very versatile piece of equipment. Also, in answer to Crazy Cath's second question about SLRs, yes, there are several digital SLR models around. And while the prices have dropped a fair bit, it's rare to find a decent brand SLR under $850-$900 - that's Australian dollars.

These pictures were all shot with the Pentax S10. I took each of these frames on "text mode" and the clarity of the individual raindrops gives you an idea of just how good this camera is. Looking for great value for money? This could be the camera for you - but take my perennial advice and always test a camera before you buy it, to make sure it's right for you.

Any questions, just let me know ....

ANSWER: The first two shots are of raindrops on an umbrella.