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.


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Post Haste

Special Delivery, All The Way To The North Pole

Photographs copyright; DAVID McMAHON

Fair dinkum, I didn't know Australia Post had a special mailbox, just for Santa mail, in the City Square. For years, the various postal outlets around this beautiful city have always had special boxes for Santa mail and believe me, they have always been extremely popular.

But the City Square, as you can see from these images, is always a splash of vivid colour at this time of year. Not only is it the site of Melbourne's giant Christmas tree, but it is also a gathering place for young and old alike.


These native plants are in full bloom all round the City Square. On the afternoon that I took these shots, I didn't know which way to turn, for it seemed as though every colour of the rainbow was represented, no matter where I looked.

In fact, it was so sunny, and the shadows were so strong, that it was quite a challenge to take these shots. Look carefully at the image below and you'll see evidence, in the bottom half of the frame, of just how strong the sunshine was at the time.


It was a warm afternoon, the sky was blue, there was a band playing nearby. The cafes were full, and the pavement umbrellas were a sea of triangular hues. But yes, red was by far the predominant colour, especially on the special mailbox.

I couldn't resist one last shot. But as I composed the frame, I realised the sun was so strong that I could actually see my own reflection in the painted metal. You can actually see my white shirt, my arms and my striped tie.

Let's just say it was just my Santa pause.


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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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