Doorway To The Gold Rush

It's So Much More Than Just A General Store

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I spent two days in Dawson City in the northern Yukon in late August last year and to my good fortune the weather was brilliant. Of the many things that captivated me about the historic frontier town was the brightly coloured facades of each timber building and home.

This was one of a sequence of about 150 images shot in the first hour I spent in Dawson, soaking up the unique atmosphere late on an autumn evening.

The main street has so many interesting sights that I reckon I could have spent a couple more days just walking into each store and talking to the owner about their niche in the history of the gold-rush town.

The general store looks like something out of the Wild West, but like most other structures on the main street, it has been immaculately maintained. The outwards-opening double doorway, seen in the centre of this frame, is obviously not used any longer.

But it's a literal and metaphorical doorway to a unique chapter in the region's heritage.

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

The World's Ultimate Theatre

Tarry A While After The Lights Are Turned Down

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes a photographer is rewarded for patience. Actually, let me amend that advice. More often than not, there is great reward for patience. Long after the main event has come and gone, there will always be an unusual image worth capturing.

A few months ago I was in Dawson City at the invitation of Yukon Tourism and I was lucky enough to be atop The Dome during a memorable sunset. The images of that evening, as the sun sank slowly and unhurriedly over the surrounding hills, can be seen at Sunset Over The Klondike.

But long after the golden orb had finally slipped into the embrace of the horizon far below me, I remained at The Dome, completely entranced by the 360-degree view.

After the liquid gold tones had vanished from the sky, they were replaced by a new range of pastel colours. Combined with the blue-azure of the hills in the west, they made an irresistible sight. In other words, never hurry away from a sunset. Chances are the aftermath will be just a memorable.


For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

H Is For Handlebars

Meet Isobel, Necessary On A Bicycle

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes random sights make interesting images. I was in a hurry when I shot this on my first evening in Dawson City, up in the Yukon, in late August. I had an hour to spare and I took a brisk walk up the riverbank, turning around smartly like a parade-ground officer when I had exactly half an hour left.

I had both cameras with me, one with an 18-125mm lens and the other with a 70-300mm lens, so I was basically covered for any eventuality. Armed with both of those lenses, I knew I could stay on the riverbank and shoot anything in the middle distance or that caught my eye along the colourful main street.

As I returned to my hotel I noticed this cycle leaning against the side wall of a home. I just had to take the shot. It wasn’t just the bike or the colour of the exterior wall; it was the sum total of the picket fence, the angle of the bike, the fabric lying casually on the fence palings, the dark metal against the light colour of painted timber, and of course the strong shadow of the handlebars on the painted yellow timber.

It was just one of those scenes you had to shoot. I sometimes get asked what exactly determines the images I capture – and my answer is always the same. If you look twice at something, hit that shutter button. Chances are the light conditions will be different the next time you pass by, or that it will be obscured or, worse, that it won’t even be there.


For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to Mrs Nesbitt's Place.

He's A Real Live Wire

Truly A Volt From The Blue

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This was just an off-the-cuff shot, taken in Dawson City in the Yukon five months ago. I had just arrived in the historic old town, where every street corner tells a story, and I had an hour to kill before dinner.

I guess I could have put my feet up in my hotel room, after travelling a few hundred kilometres – but the great quest for any photographer is to try and capture as many images as possible.

So I dropped my bags off, grabbed my cameras and – with one eye on the time – walked briskly as far as I could. I was actually on my way back to the hotel when I shot this image on a whim. Remember – this was long before I decided to make it a point to shoot door scenes.

So what caught my attention here? I guess it was the beautiful blue. To some critics, this could be "just" an ordinary scene, but to me (and to some of you, I’m sure) it’s an interesting image that goes beyond the mundane, especially because the red-and-white "Danger: High Voltage" sign is a subtle counterpoint to the striking blue that dominates the scene.

I guess you could say the atmosphere was electric.

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

Spin Doctor

Where’s A Number Cruncher When You Need One?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

At the outset, let me assure you I am no gambler. I don’t care about racehorses. I couldn’t give a fig about greyhounds. The gambling gene simply passed me by. Simple as that.

But I was in Dawson City in the Yukon recently and of course I had to check out the historic venue Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, famous not just for being a non-profit casino but also for its excellent floor show. This shot was taken just before the cabaret started, while I was trying to get the best results in low-light conditions.

Yup, you could say I was gambling on the light.

Visit TNChick, creator of Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Hope".

Arrow Minded

So I Just Turn Right For Canada, Right?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Luckily I was in the passenger seat when we drove the Top Of The World Highway, from Dawson City in Canada, through Alaska and then back into Canada on our way to Beaver Creek. I had my cameras around my neck, ready to take shots of anything I spotted.

Then we came to a T-junction near the end of the trip (correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was the only T-junction on the entire drive) and I figured this had to be one of the more unusual road signs I've ever seen.

(The Odd Shots concept came from Katney. Say "G'day" to her.)

Pooch Cassidy

Maybe He Was Waiting For The Sundance Kid

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I'd never seen dogs sitting in the front seat of vehicles until I went to the Yukon. This shot was taken as I rushed down the boardwalk of the main street in Dawson City.

We were about to cross the Yukon River, drive out of Dawson and loop around on the Top Of The World Highway through Alaska and back down into Canada, so time was tight. But when I saw this vehicle angle-parked a few metres in front of me, I just had to stop for a few seconds.

Not just to get the shot, but because the right-hand seat, to us Aussie drivers, is where the driver sits.

Check out the rules at Camera Critters or go to Misty Dawn.

Gamble's Soup

(With Apologies To Andy Warhol)

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

There’s a great Australian expression that might not be in common use around the world, but it sums up this photograph rather aptly. The expression is simply the abbreviation "NQR" - which denotes the phrase "not quite right".

Sometimes, though, an image that doesn’t quite live up to expectations produces an entirely different effect - and I reckon this shot falls into that category.

As some of you might remember, I was in Dawson City three weeks ago, at the invitation of Yukon Tourism. After watching the evening’s entertainment at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, I published an interesting series of the dancers at Diamond Jubilation and this image was shot the same night.

I had already been told that while cameras were allowed at Gertie’s, video footage was not permitted during the show. Nonetheless, when I walked into the place, I double-checked at the front counter and was given the thumbs-up. Because I prefer to shoot without a flash, I had to work the options to try and get the best results.

Having worked with two cameras right through my week in the Yukon, that evening I left the Pentax K200D with the 300mm lens in my hotel room and opted for my Pentax K100D with the 18-125 Sigma lens. The lighting in Gertie’s is interesting - low enough to be unobtrusive yet not bright enough to shoot long range with ease if you choose not to use a flash.

I watched people using the slot machines along the wall that faces the side street and the colours and shapes caught my eye. There was the immediate compulsion to take a shot that showed the players in silhouette, almost like shadow puppets, with the richly textured background comprising bright colours and the arches above each machine.

I only shot one frame, because the cabaret was about to begin, but I wish I’d taken two or three more shots. In retrospect, I’d like to know what you think. Should I have focused directly on the machines, leaving the players out of focus? If you have the time to leave a comment, let me know what you think.

And for all those who are wondering, I’m not a gambling man. I wouldn’t know which direction a horse race is run, and I would be more at home using an automated train ticket machine than a slot machine. Besides, photography is far more fun.

And even if an experimental shot like this is NQR, there’s only one solution. I’ll have to travel thousands of kilometers back to Dawson City with my cameras, to get the shot right next time. Would I do that? Yup, I’d be delighted to.

A New Bloom Sweeps Clean

There Are No Boxes Like Window Boxes

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Shortly after the near-embarrassing situation described in the post The Charge Of The Flight Brigade, Bill Holmes of the Dawson City Visitors' Association advised me to buy a set of long-life lithium batteries (for extra backup) and a Canadian-voltage battery charger.

We had a great lunch together at Klondike Kate's and then, on Bill's advice, I headed to Peabody's Photo Parlor. I explained to the lady there how I had not one but two Pentax DSLRs with me and how both sets of batteries had died shortly after takeoff that morning - because I had been using an Australian-voltage charger.

She was very helpful, and we shared a chuckle about how lucky I was (or how well prepared I was for any eventuality) to carry spare batteries. Then she advised me on the relative merits of two different chargers and nodded when I opted for the Sony unit. I paid for my purchases and carefully kept the paper packet so that I would remember the name of the store.

Just before I sat down to write this post, I could not find the paper packet anywhere. (It's somewhere safe and logical and it will turn up eventually!) So I had to email Bill to ask him the name of the camera store - and he replied immediately.

So then next time you visit Peabody's, say a big Australian "G'day" to the lady behind the counter. And don't forget to photograph the flower boxes outside the store, on the boardwalk.

And if anyone can tell me the name of the lilac bloom in the first shot, I would be extremely grateful.

Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.

The "Charge" Of The Flight Brigade

Yes, You Could Call It A Power Struggle

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Until a couple of years ago, I’d used quite a few camera brands. Then in mid-2006 I used a Pentax for the first time when I had to review the performance of a K100D. I liked the camera so much that I bought it. I liked the way it handled, I liked its balance, I liked the feel of the camera, I liked the weather-proofing of the body. But more than anything else, I liked the fact that it was powered by simple AA batteries.

For more than a decade, I had become accustomed to sealed battery units, but with the Pentax and its 18-125mm lens, I suddenly realised there was much greater freedom. It’s the perfect lens if you’re travelling. And it’s the perfect power source - crucially - if you’re on the road. Hey, have you ever come across a place, even a remote town, where you can’t buy AA batteries?

In the two years that I’ve had the Pentax, I’ve always used rechargeable batteries, but I’ve always carried backup with me. In my camera bag, I always have one set of AA batteries. A few months ago, I made assurance doubly sure and slipped in a second set.

It was a simple decision that saved me from what could have potentially been my greatest embarrassment. Last month, I was privileged to be invited by Yukon Tourism aboard a Fireweed chopper flight over the snowy peaks of Tombstone Territorial Park. It was my second day in the Yukon and because I was using a Pentax K200D along with the K100D, I had charged both sets of rechargeable batteries overnight.

The chopper had barely taken off and I started shooting immediately. We took off from Dawson City and had been flying for about ten minutes when the battery indicator on the K100D showed I had no power. I was puzzled, but I knew I had backup in my bag.

Mate, if you’re six foot three, never try this in the cockpit of a helicopter. I emptied the battery compartment and, scrabbling around by feel only, found four spare AA cells in my camera bag. Praying that I wouldn’t drop one (or more) I put the fresh batteries into the camera. No worries at all.

About ten minutes later, the same thing happened on my other camera, which had my 70-300mm lens on it. Again I had to repeat the process in the cramped confines of the left-hand seat.

Yes, I had two sets of spare rechargeable batteries, but they were in my hotel room. Now I had to work out why my batteries had died so quickly and unexpectedly. The answer slowly dawned on me. I was using a 240-volt Australian charger - in Canada, where the voltage is significantly lower.

Immediately after the flight, during which I shot almost 1000 frames, I headed into Dawson and bought a set of lithium batteries and a Canadian-voltage charger. From that point on, I had no worries.

Certainly, my decisions to a) buy Pentax and b) always carry two sets of spare Energisers in my camera bag had paid rich dividends.

Visit TNChick, creator of Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "View".

Deck Whittington

Aye, Aye, Captain, Everything's Ship-Shape

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Where there's smoke, there's - well, there's a steamship. Because I grew up listening to the sounds of vessels, anything with a hull and a wheelhouse has a certain attraction for me. Hence this decision to write a post about a paddle steamer - of all things - for Sky Watch.

I guess I always try and look outside the square, rather than simply shooting skyscapes for this popular theme. Like the internet, the sky has no international boundaries and that is precisely why I've always told Dot that her choice of theme embraces us all.

Since the very first week of the theme, I've published a variety of unusual subjects, all of which have broadly embraced this great and borderless sky above us. There was Tall Story, about Eureka Tower; The Day That I Never Saw, about the International Date Line; Running Mate, about Edwin Flack, Australia's first Olympic gold medallist at Athens in 1896; Departure From The Norm, shot from inside Kuala Lumpur Intrnational Airport; Running Repairs, about stonemasonry work on a statue of Samuel de Champlain in Quebec City; Action Figures, about modern sculptures in Melbourne; Seeing The Light, which was a skyspace shot taken through my Ray-Bans; Last Splash Of Dusk Colour, about the hottest March fortnight in a century, A Golden Orb, about a hot-air balloon; Climb Every Mountain, taken during a chopper flight above Tombstone Territorial Park in the Yukon; and there was Sun Spot, about a sulphurous sky at dawn.

So this week, I bring you the SS Keno, regarded as the last steamer to run the gauntlet of the Yukon River. The year 2010 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of her final voyage, from Whitehorse to Dawson City.

I grew up reading about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and the paddle steamers that formed such a strong backdrop to their lives. But I'd never heard the term "stern wheeler" until I was in the Yukon last month.


I didn't even know about the existence of the Keno until I made good use of an hour, late on the evening I arrived in Dawson. I dropped my bags off at the hotel and had precisely an hour to spare, so I took both cameras and headed off along the riverbank, shooting several frames during the brisk walk.

It was 7.30 in the evening and I was just about to turn around and retrace my steps when I noticed the Keno. I took several shots from various angles, incorporating the sky as a backdrop against her towering superstructure.

Then I stood directly in front of her bow and noticed something really interesting. Take a good look at the shot below and tell me if you see it too.


Look to the left of the frame (above) and you'll see the bright sunshine striking the hull. Now look to the right and you'll see everything in shadow.

The strong lilnes and the contrast make an interesting study of light and shade. Also, have a look at the metal bollards above the bow. The one on the left has light playing across its surface, while its companion on the right of the frame seems dull by comparison.


As I began walking abck to my hotel, I noticed the commemorative ship's wheel nearby. Unable to resist the challenge, I simply had to try and frame the wheel, the Keno, the hills that surround Dawson - and the striking sky.

Ya can't have a Sky Watch post without the sky.

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

It All Adds Up

Till Debt Do Us Part

Old-fashioned cash till at Klondike Kate's, Dawson City.

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Hit The Road, Jack

Actually, Jack's Road Is A Highway Like No Other

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

There’s only one public-access road in the western hemisphere that takes you across the Arctic Circle. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Dempster Highway, which connects Dawson City in the Yukon to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.

Let me remind you of one harsh reality. If you’re driving a rental vehicle, you’ll probably pay a hefty premium to drive it here - if the rental company allows it at all.

The Dempster, named after a Mountie called Jack Dempster, is a highway like no other. It is basically a thick gravel strip that is from 1.2 metres to 2.4 metres deep, sitting atop the permafrost beneath. And when the locals tell you it can be tough on tyres, let me tell you, mate, they’re not over-stating the issue.

But if you’re a photographer, this is Paradise Road. And here’s another thing - you keep hitting the trigger at every new sight, but on your way back to Dawson City, it’s almost like driving another, different stretch of highway. The same views, seen from a diametrically opposite point of the compass, look so very - and inexplicably - distinct from those you shot earlier.

When we drove the Dempster on 29 August, the weather was brilliant. Blue sky. Clear views. White mountain peaks. Lakes. Valleys. Every bend in the highway opened up a new vista as we drive towards the tundra-like flatland.

The vivid reds had not yet taken hold across the sweeping landscape, but here and there we could see isolated little pockets of rich burgundy. The fall colours were predominantly dark green and a vivid yellow that took on a special quality, glistening in the late-afternoon sunshine. There was early snow, too, even though the calendars had not yet turned over to September.

At Grizzly Creek (above) the clear, cool water was graced with shimmering sunlight reflected on its dappled surface. At a couple of the stops we made, the over-riding silence was a hymn of praise to Nature, but here at the creek, we witnessed the full cloak of autumnal beauty. The rushing water presented a glistening blue that perfectly complemented the mountains and foliage.

At one lookout point we were able to look straight down the barrel of a valley to the majestic sight of Tombstone (above) in the distance. Earlier that morning I had taken several hundred photos of Tombstone and surrounding peaks during a helicopter ride; now I was able to shoot the same distinctive monolith from ground level.

Here I walked down the hillside to capture some glimpses of the vivid foliage. Brought up to have a deep and abiding respect for my surroundings, I chose my path carefully down the slope, trying not to trample what grew wild, abundantly and so arrestingly. No matter that the hardy undergrowth would have sprung back. You tread carefully in a brick-and-concrete structure, so you do the same in the wild.

At Two Moose Lake, where we eventually turned around, again I marvelled deeply at the silence. Surely a view like this should have had the best work of the classical composers playing softly but distinctively in the background.

Something called The Tombstone Two-Step, perhaps. That would be appropriate when you are in the embrace of the mountains. Especially here on Jack's road.

Visit TNChick, the creator of Photo Hunt.

Going Head-To-Head

Smile, You’re On (Very) Candid Camera

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I was on my way into Klondike Kate’s for lunch on my second day in Dawson City when I noticed this sight. I told my two companions to continue into the restaurant, and I would join them in a few seconds, as soon as I had taken this shot.

So let's test your powers of observation. Were you so intent on the painted figures that you missed seeing the pot of gold? Answer truthfully, please!

I guess most tourists stand here and only hit the shutter when their friends or family have put their heads into place in the wooden board - but I wanted to do it when there was no one else in the shot.

The last thing I want to do is to frame an innocent person!

Used Card Dealer

So Quick That His Hand Was Just A Blur

Croupier at Dawson City. Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Big Blue

Have You Ever Seen Anything Quite Like This?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I was privileged to share in many great experiences during my week in the Yukon, but a helicopter ride over Tombstone Territorial Park was the highlight of my time in Dawson City. Like everything else during my time here, this exceptional experience was organised by Yukon Tourism.

Our pilot was Brent from Fireweed, the well-known chopper company - and did he ever give us an experience to remember. You can see other photographs of the mountains, taken from the cockpit of the helicopter during that flight, on my post titled Climb Every Mountain. But I'd like to share these photographs as well.

It was Brent's first day flying out of Dawson City, but shortly after we took off, he mentioned that he'd heard the other pilots talk about an amazing blue lake among the mountains. Let me tell you, they weren't kidding.

I shot the first three images with my 300mm lens, to give you an idea of the unique colour. It was almost like looking at a coral reef, because the blue was so striking.

I took the first shot to capture the gentle ripples across the surface of the lake, while the second shot (below) is an interesting contrast between the deep blue of the water and the soft yellow-green colour of the surrounds.

Then I realised that despite the gentle breeze causing the surface of the water to pucker, there was a very interesting reflection to be seen. Take a look at the picture below and tell me if you can figure out the object that is reflected in the water.


Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Superman, perhaps? Put on your thinking cap, because I've given you a couple of clues already.

However, if you're ready to give up and you want the answer, here it is. I shot this final frame with my 18-125 mm lens.