Try picking my most popular shot

Close-up of a building facade, Whitehorse, Yukon. IMAGE COPYRIGHT: DAVID McMAHON

Some of my blog friends would remember this unusual image, shot while I stood mid-stride (yep - the things we do for art!) across a pedestrian crossing on a September afternoon in 2008 in Whitehorse, capital of Canada's gold rush Yukon region.

So I guess it would come as no surprise that this is among my most popular images. But if you wanted to skim quickly over my top dozen and a half photographs, all you have to do is click this link on my Red Bubble site. You'll see square thumbnails of my most-visited images, all on a single screen.

I'd be delighted if you could leave a comment on this blog post, saying which ones you think have attracted the most views on Red Bubble - which is an online art and photography gallery that is free to join.

When you've had a look, let me know what you think. But if you're wondering about the answer, this image has attracted by far the most views, with this image about 700 views behind, and this one a couple of hundred clicks behind in third place.

PS: Yes, I've been away a long time. But it's always great to push the door open and see who's here!

Off to the Michael B(a)uble concert

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 120-1234)

No, I wasn't using a fisheye lens - but by concentrating on this bauble, high up on a five-metre Christmas tree, I have managed to acquire a fisheye effect of everything above and behind me. What you see here is a very low-res image, so if you want to see the original full-size file, just click here to view it on my Red Bubble site.

This unusual Yuletide image was shot in Melbourne last November. These giant Christmas trees are on display in a public area and in order to shoot this bauble placed so high on the tree, I had to use my 300mm lens at full stretch!

Verse and worse

Mrs McClusky had a pet husky

That could play the piano while using a bus key

But as we discovered, on grand concert night

Its Bach was definitely worse than its bite

You can't drive THIS Chrysler

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: USA2010-30June-9305)

As most of you would know, my continual quest is to find fresh, unusual angles of familiar landmarks. Along with Mrs Authorblog and the Authorbloglets, we were walking towards Grand Central Station in New York City in June this year - and of course, I was lagging because I was taking quick shots of the skyline while we walked.

Then we stopped for the lights at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street and, as I always do, I did a quick scan on all four points of the compass, then I looked directly up. There, above me, was the shot I wanted. I shot the Chrysler Building's distinctive Art Deco shape through the street lights above me.

This is simply a low-resolution image, but if you want to see the original in full resolution on my Red Bubble site, just click here and I hope you enjoy what you see.

Verse and worse

I have this friend called Malcolm

Who has blind faith in talcum

Instead of tucking in to chowder

He's out buyin' stocks in powder

How does your garden grow?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 131-6568)

Judging by the state of these window boxes in the bright sunlight, the first-floor garden is thriving, thanks very much. This was shot on Lygon Street, the place that is home to Melbourne's unique cafe culture. It doesn't matter what sort of cuisine you're looking for, this is where you'll find it, day or night.

It was a warm afternoon, and the summery colours of this restaurant's facade really dictated that I had to stop to take a shot or two. The orange trellis work was central to what I wanted to depict, and if you look carefully, you'll see that the angle I chose actually meant I had to include the awning in the frame - but that I had to ensure it did not dominate any aspect of the shot!

Verse and worse

If all your cables

Have "Top Secret" labels

Just wait for the geeks

To read WikiLeaks

Welcome to the new millennium

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: Malaysia2010-4249)

Sometimes the most minor factors can lead you to an unusual composition. In Kuala Lumpur in January this year, we had walked past the Grand Millennium Hotel three or four times, but suddenly the hotel facade took on a whole new look late one afternoon.

The reflection on the glass exterior took on a golden hue in some parts, but the presence of a small cloud directly above the hotel drew me to shoot a tight frame, emphasising the triangle created by the blue sky above the hotel. I guess it all depends on what you "see" ...

Verse and worse

So complex was the nature of the ecclesiastical riddle

That it completely flummoxed old Archbishop Siddle

He consulted the scripts and staked out the priory

His mood was somber but his language quite fiery

Farewell to November's last light

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 132-8790)

It was the last day of spring, and the post-sunset sky show was brief but memorable. A range of colours rolled across the landscape as the last light of November began to fade away in spectacular fashion.

It's been a wet spring and we're being told the showers will continue pretty much through December. But for a country that's been in drought for eight years, that is the best news ever. Bring on those showers!

Verse and worse

A would-be accountant named Jonathan Ryan

Failed every exam (but he had fun tryin’)

He told us all he was useless at addition

But next thing we knew, he’d been charged with sedition

We're so glassy-eyed this morning

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: Malaysia2010-3527)

This was a tough shot to take, despite the fact that it looks easy when presented this way. It was taken indoors in a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall in January this year. I spotted these unusual mannequins and while the lighting wasn't great, I wondered if it would be sufficient to present all four mannequins in a row.

You have to remember, too, that I never use a tripod! With people streaming past constantly in both directions, I had to consider my options before deciding how best to use the unique "heads". I also figured that the dark dresses and the black-themed interior of the shop would be the best contrast for the glassy droids.

Verse and worse

Jack fell down and broke his crown

And Jill came tumbling after

The lawyer’s face revealed a frown

As he sued for a broken rafter

So they roped you in as well?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: Sydney2010-7235)

It's not your normal view of a retired naval cruiser, but who wants a normal view for any photographic image? I stopped to admire the symmetry of the vessel's graceful bow, accentuated by the curvature of the number 11 on either side.

Really the only thing that was not symmetrical was the jetty rope - but that didn't worry me. This was shot at the Australian Maritime Museum in Sydney.

Verse and worse

The master builder taught his daughter

How to lay bricks and prepare the mortar

Her skills and talents could not be finer

Now she's cloning the Great Wall of China

Identify this mystery object

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 7323)

OK, so it's not the most common viewpoint. That's because I stood with my back to the object, bent over as far as I could, and shot it upwards to get the most unconventional angle. Yes, I must have looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame in reverse!

But can you guess what I've shot? Feel free to post your guesses as comments - and yes, you can guess as many times as you want. I'll reveal the answer in 24 hours, but if you just cannot wait that long, you can check the high-resolution image here on my Red Bubble site to see what the answer is.

Verse and worse

The new lighthouse keeper

Is such a heavy sleeper

That he sets eight alarms to rise every morning

And take on his duties even while he's still yawning

Dune not disturb

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 122-3368)

I love a decent abstract as much as the next photographer, so I found this simple sight really arresting. Why? Simply because of the strong shapes and the bold colours - and I guess the unusual view as well.

This was a temporary outdoor stall at Melbourne's Docklands precinct, shot on a very warm summer's day on 10 January this year. The central pole swept the canvas upwards sharply, which was perfect for the way I "saw" the image, contrasting that bright yellow against the strong shadow and the flawless blue Australian sky.

Verse and worse

William Spode bought "Abbey Road"

But his credit card began to implode

Downloading the Beatles brought him so much delight

That he logged into iTunes right through the night

Never yawn, from dusk to morn

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: USA2010-8530)

It's not often you get to photograph dusk over your own country and then, scant hours later, dawn over the Pacific. But here's the tricky bit, right? The first image shows dusk on 23rd June 2010 and the next one shows dawn on - that's right, the same day!

The shot above was taken a couple of hours into the long haul from Sydney to San Francisco aboard a United Boeing 747. Then some hours later, I gazed through my window as I tried to sleep - and sat there transfixed by the colours that began to develop on the horizon, from my vantage point more than 30,000 feet up.

I was really tired, but I got to my feet, walked back a couple of rows, took my camera from the overhead locker - and then made my way to the rear of the plane, to shoot some frames through the tiny observation porthole in the last emergency door.

It was well worth the effort. I can now claim to have photographed dawn AFTER shooting dusk on the same day.

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: USA2010-8533)