Red A Dare

Every Fruit Tree Tells A Story

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

As we come to the end of the first fortnight of the Australian spring, the fruit trees are a stunning variety of colours. Some are just starting to bloom, but these cherry trees have lost all their flowers and are now sporting an array of translucent red leaves. This shot was taken mid-morning recently and even though there was some scattered cloud, the sunlight on the dark branches caught my eye. After I'd tried my best to capture it (above) I stepped back and realised there was a beautiful contrast of colours if I could frame this tree and the fresh green foliage of the one next to it (below). My neck's still a bit sore from the effort! But hey, every photographer has to stick his or her neck out sometimes ....

Polar, Bare

Fruitless Search On A Grey Winter Afternoon

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Even as snow continues to blanket the state, I've been having a lot of fun with my camera. Yes, it's easy to photograph strong colours in bright sunlight, but my self-imposed challenge was to take a decent shot in bad light. There was a stark beauty to this fruit tree, with its branches like skeletal witches' fingers. I shot this under a grey sky, in a steady drizzle. Yet I saw beauty in the barren sight - and I hope you do too. In three weeks' time, this tree will be covered in starbursts of pink blossoms. But today, as the snowmen dominate the landscape, it is appropriate to note that we are halfway through winter. By the way, look carefully and you'll see the moisture droplets on the closest branch.

Click here: Pentax K100D, Shutter 1/500, F9.5, ISO speed 200.