Open Sesame

Bright As A Button

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

You think I’ve gone mad, don’t you? You think I’ve finally flipped my lid? You think I’ve forgotten how to use a camera, right?

You think this can’t possibly be a door. Ah, but it is. And not just any door.

This, dear readers, is the inside view of the driver’s door of a Rolls-Royce Phantom. I shot this a couple of years ago and it shows (see image below) the buttons for the power windows.

It’s a pity that James Bond never drove one of these. If he had, I’m sure Q would have included a lot more gizmos, switches and buttons.


For earlier posts in this series, check out The Doors Archive.

All Roads Lead To Chrome

I Think We're On A Roll

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

It’s not every day you get to drive – or photograph – one of these. Recognise the workmanship? It’s a Rolls-Royce Phantom - and yes, those are the doors of the luxury car.

About a year and a half ago, I shot this as I was given special permission to photograph not one but two Rolls-Royces in a showroom and you can see some of the shots at Phantom Menace and Opera Of The Phantom.

I guess I spent about twenty minutes there, photographing the cars from every conceivable angle. So I thought this solitary frame would be ideal for today’s theme. The object in soft focus in the foreground is the wing mirror, while the sleek chrome door handles are in sharp focus in mid-frame.

Yes, I was given permission to shoot the pristine engine bay under the hood and yes, I did open the doors (reverently) to get in and take some shots of the interior.

But no, I didn’t drive it. Why? Because I was wearing a T-shirt and faded jeans. That would have been heresy.

For earlier posts in this series, check out The Doors Archive.

Dashing Through The Slow

In A One-Horse Open Dray

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

O'er the fields we go; Slushy all the way. A few days ago, the word "dashboard" came up in some context and I promised to explain how the word was derived. I had no idea until a friend of mine with a keen interest in cars explained it to me a couple of years ago. Apparently the word goes back to the days of horse-drawn carriages. To prevent mud from the hooves of the horses splashing back onto the gentry, a wooden board was put judiciously in place.

This worked particularly well, especially when the horses were cantering or "dashing". It became known as the dashboard and the term survives today, in the hi-tech automobile industry. This photograph is not of an ordinary dashboard - it depicts a Rolls-Royce Phantom that I had the pleasure of photographing a few months ago.

Phantom Menace

Plenty Of Grunt Under This Hood

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Last week I had the privilege of photographing not one but two Rolls-Royce Phantoms at Trivett Classic Aston Martin at Southbank, here in Melbourne. After I had shot about twenty frames, I asked a staff member if it was possible to pop the hood. They readily agreed and I pored over the engine bay, revelling in the opportunity to shoot a fairly rare sight. The first shot (above) has the hood ornament, the Spirit of Ecstacy, in sharp focus, while the engine is in soft focus. For the second shot (below) I reversed the focus, concentrating on the engine and I was intrigued by the halos of reflection on the hood ornament.