Tunnel Vision

Seeing Things In A Different Light

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Princes Bridge in Melbourne is just one of many graceful bridges across the Yarra River. This first shot (above) takes in only one of the spans of the beautiful bridge, but I'd like you to pay close attention to the underpass. There is actually a walking path and a cycle path under the bridge, beside the flowing water.

Now look at the second shot (below) and you'll get a clear view of the underpass. The stone walls on either side are built from bluestone, which is very common in buildings and construction work from the early Victorian era. Not really the sort of thing you'd photograph from a distance, but I had my 300mm lens on for this shot.

The reason I took the first two shots is to show you an amazing contrast. Most Melburnians are accustomed to seeing the underpass in terms of the dark-grey stone. I guess it has a gritty, old-world look to it. There is a certain Dickensian earthiness to it - and you would almost expect to see Bill Sykes in the vicinity.

But would you like to see a total - and dramatic - transformation rendered by very rare natural light?

Just have a look at the shot below and you'll see the same scene endowed with a special quality. This was one of the first frames I shot with my new lens, about three months ago. I was absolutely dazzled by the rising sun and then realised that the glow across the river had brushed the underpass with a glow I'd never seen before.

Check out RuneE's "Building Bridges" theme at Visual Norway.