Sunset Over The Klondike

I Found Pure Gold - In The Dawson City Sky

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

On my first full day in Dawson City, Margaret Goodwin of Yukon Tourism suggested that I might enjoy a trip up to The Dome, the highest point above the historic gold rush city.

We got up to the top of Midnight Dome Road just as the sun began its descent into a sky daubed generously with clouds that instantly became a pool of contrasting colours. I stepped out of the car and began shooting immediately.

Right through my Yukon trip, I used two cameras, a Pentax K200D with my 70-300mm Sigma lens, and a Pentax K100D with my 18-125 Sigma lens.

Accustomed to the rapid disappearance of the sun in Australia, I quickly shot more than 30 frames with the long lens - with interesting consequences, as I’ll tell you shortly. Every other photographer and tourist was atop The Dome, but I chose to shoot from the car park area, because I was able to use silhouettes of the surrounding foliage.

With the sun almost at its zenith, I decided it was the perfect time to scramble up to the very peak of The Dome and start shooting with my other lens. I’m a pretty fit bloke, but I noticed I was breathing a bit heavier than usual when I joined the others up the top.

That’s when Margaret, an Australian-born Yukon resident, asked me if I’d noticed how long the sunset was taking, compared with Australian evenings.

That’s when it occurred to me. The reason I was puffing was so simple. Because I never use a tripod, I always tend to hold my breath if I’m using my 300mm lens, especially when the exposure time is slightly longer in low light.

This helps me hold the camera steadier, because the centre of gravity while using a long lens is further away from your body when using a standard lens. It's a simple yet practical method, even when using the camera's built-in shake-reduction option.

Because I’d spent almost 15 minutes shooting with the long lens at the car park level, I hadn’t really been breathing normally for a while - hence the lungs were working a bit harder!

Interestingly enough, when the sun had finally disappeared from sight, the light on the surrounding hills took on an immediate and distinct bluish hue, so I had to get this final view of the sky, the hills and the shimmering Klondike River far below.

I thought I was finished for the day - but just when you think that you’re done, another stunning view always presents itself. Just before I got back into the car, I shot two final frames that can be seen at Spruced Up.

Just one of those (many) days in the Yukon, where the sights are (literally) breath-taking!

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

Diamond Jubilation

A Blur Of Colour And Motion At Gertie's

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Last week, on my second night at Dawson City, I spent a couple of hours reliving history at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s. In case you haven’t heard of it before, this is a non-profit gambling hall named after Gertrude Lovejoy, famous for wedging a diamond between her teeth during the gold rush of the 1880s.

They have three cabaret shows a night at Gertie’s and I guess sitting halfway back down the crowded hall was not the smartest thing I did, especially since I wanted to try and get some unique photographs of the famous show.

Because I do not use a tripod, I should have headed upstairs, where I would have got a better view and where I would have been able to rest my camera on the wooden balcony to hold it rock-steady.

The problem here is the level of fitness of the dancers. They move swiftly. Yes, S W I F T L Y. Even using a quick aperture setting, I was barely able to get a shot of them without a shimmering blur.

Next time you come round, I’ll show you my shots of the opening number, where not one of my images of the brightly coloured cancans is up to scratch. But I’m glad I didn’t give up.

I did the best I could under the circumstances. Then, more than halfway through their routine, where the dancers changed costumes just as rapidly as they pirouetted and twirled, my opportunity presented itself without warning.


First, two of the dancers bent down and picked up two long, broad sashes. Then the other two did the same.

Suddenly I realised that their speed could be used to great advantage in an unusual series of photographs. The length of the sashes gave me a wonderful opportunity - and all of a sudden I realised that I was actually sitting in a great spot to make use of the lighting, the backdrop, the lightning-quick choreography and the rhythmic motion of the sashes.

Just goes to show - when you think you’re in the worst possible spot to take photographs of something you only see once in a lifetime (hey, how many times do we get to visit the Klondike as guests of Yukon Tourism?) something always comes along to give you a startling opportunity.

I guess the trick is to recognise the opportunity and make the most of it, even when things seem to be going wrong.

Miles To Go

It Was Sink Or Swim In This Historic Canyon

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

In 1999, when I followed the footsteps of the Yukon stampeders, I rafted this stretch of water with no danger at all. Then I panned for gold, but the outcome did not define the passage (or length) of my life.

But just over a century ago, things were very different here. This is Miles Canyon, where bold men literally risked life and limb after news of gold in the Klondike spread like wildfire. Here at Whitehorse, capital city of the Yukon, the waters in the canyon are now calm and serene, because of a hydro-electric dam that tamed the once-foaming current.

Back in 1999, I never thought I would have the opportunity to visit this area again, but I am very privileged to be here at the invitation of Yukon Tourism. I shot these images of the footbridge over Miles Canyon from high above the water, using a 300mm lens.

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

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

I'd never be great as a tough old miner
I'd even fail the grade as a Forty-Niner
But if I could turn back time to anything I like
I'd be a nuggety prospector on the Klondike

No Paint, No Gain

See Why Dawson City Has A Colourful History

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Tonight I'm in Dawson City, heart of the Klondike - and I thought it would be the perfect subject for today's Photo Story Friday post. First of all, I'd like to provide an answer to the many friends who asked what I'm doing here in the Yukon - there is a very simple answer. I'm extremely privileged to be here as a guest of Yukon Tourism.

I've spent time in this territory before, but this is my first time up in Dawson. It's a place I've read so much about and an area whose history I know so well. As we drove towards the outskirts of the city today, after a 460-kilometre journey north from Fox Creek, I must admit I felt as if I was actually entering a place I knew well, even though I had never set foot on her soil before.

I dropped my bags off at my room and immediately I did what any self-respecting photographer would do. I picked up both my cameras and headed out to capture the essence of this frontier town. Did I want to drive? Naaaah. As most of you know, I prefer to walk, because this way I can stop wherever I want and shoot whatever catches my eye.

Mate, let me tell you there is a lot that catches the eye here. I chose not to walk down the historic streets. Instead, I chose a pathway beside the mighty Yukon River that was the scene of many tales of pure adventure during the gold rush. I chose to walk alongside the fast-flowing waters to my left and shoot a frame every few steps, because I was totally intrigued by the paintwork on the buildings along the main street.

It was just after seven o'clock in the evening, but the light was perfect, as I'm sure you'll agree ...


It's handy, on a trip like this, to have two cameras. I have my 18-125mm lens on one Pentax and my 70-300mm lens on another. This enabled to me shoot a variety of focal lengths and compositions without having to stop and constantly change lenses on one solitary camera.

The first shot in this sequence was taken looking down the main street, while the second was taken about 100 metres away. Having the 300mm lens meant I was able to compose a really tight shot, highlighting the contrasting colours of two adjoining shops.

In the last shot (below) I zoomed in from a long way away. Initially, the red T-shirt and the olive green T-shirt worn by the two blokes on the white chairs had caught my attention. Then I noticed the other bloke walking towards them, so I just waited till he walked into the frame. It's a completely candid shot and it's interesting to note, in retrospect, that all three people are looking in different directions.

Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.