Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHONSometimes everything just falls into place. I'd been waiting to take this shot for about three weeks, but I wanted several prerequisites. I wanted a clear sky, I wanted that fifteen-minute window of pre-dawn light, and I wanted the floodlights in the foreground to be operating. Yep, so you're thinking: ``This bloke really has a big wish list''. Right?
But patience pays off, sometimes. You see, we had a couple of cloud-free mornings, but I didn't quite get the timing right and the pre-programmed floodlights had been switched off. This remarkable X-shape structure works as a perfect foil for skyline shots in this part of Melbourne. And the floodlights rotate between three colours - red, amber and pink.
What I wanted was a combination of clear azure sky and amber floodlights. Sounds easy? Believe me, it took me a lot of patience and then it all fell into place. I rocked up about ten minutes early and kept my fingers crossed that the floodlights would not go off while I waited for the sky to take on the exact hue that I wanted.
The image has not been enhanced in any way and if you want the technical details, I shot this with a Pentax K100D, shutter speed 0.5, F4.5, ISO speed 800.
19 comments:
Very nice.
So you used a tri-pod then, judging from the shutter speed.
Unless you're cool hand Luke that is.
~Oswegan
beautiful shot and fabulous set up david...you are so talented to be able to plan all of that...i just click whirrrclick whirrrclick whirrr...delete...save..delete..save...delete..
What an amazing shot!
Thats beautiful! I like the other photos on your blog too.
Thanks for visiting my blog and also commenting.
Congratulations David, on delivery of a world class photo.
Wonderful shot. I'm glad you had the patience to wait for it. Will this be one that you frame and hang (I'd certainly already have it on the wall if I'd taken it!)?
Gorgeous shot.
I really liked Australia when I was there, but I was in Sydney and Cairns. Never got to Melbourne.
My jaw dropped, and I just sat there for a minute, astounded by the shot! Thanks for spelling out the details, too!
I think I love this shot the best - it looks like an opening shot from Futureama.
I had a surreal experience in hospital today, nothing at all to worry about, but I sure did get myself stuck into this book of yours.. glad I had it to hand!
wow David...you really went after that photo, didn't you! :)
so tell me...what time of day did you finally take it?
Very impressive, David. Melbourne certainly has changed since I lived there. Thank you for all these wonderful shots of a great city. If you ever make it to any of the horse tracks, I'd be pleased to see how they've changed since we raced there. Er, raced a horse there. >)*..~(<
Well it was worth the wait! Great shot!
Tis beautiful. You are very talented. I've put you in my Google reader to keep an eye on you. Have a great day. :)
That shot is reminiscent of the view outside a hotel I stayed in once. I like getting up early to catch sights like that.
Nice shot.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hi the other day.
I'm really happy you had the perseverence to wait until the moment was just right because it shows in the photo!
Well worth the wait you patient man...That's dedication.
Hi David,
Thank you for dropping by my blog Chrysalis Dreams. Your visit made me feel awfully good. :)
I like this shot. Not so much for the x shaped figure but because it does aim for the sky. It made me want to get outside and look for the comet which is just now beginning to fade from the US skies.
The "Susan" you asked about is Susan Palwick. Her blog is Rickety Contrivances of Doing Good.
I look forward to further explorations in your blog.
Peace!
Lee
Patience is always a virtue, as is proven by the photographer willing to bide his or her time to obtain the photo in their mind's eye. =)
Post a Comment