Way To Go

Some Folk Just Need A Little Direction

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Early last month I was making the most of a brief lunchtime walk through City Square here in Melbourne, when I fixed my radar on a person walking several metres in front of me. She was in her late fifties - oh, all right, maybe she was in her early sixties but not a day older. She was striding purposefully through the summer crowds. And she caught my attention because of what she was wearing.

So I went into overdrive, zig-zagging between shoppers, tourists, lunchtime office workers and children on school excursions. I wanted a picture of the back of the woman's bright red T-shirt. Not just because it was emblazoned with the world Melbourne, but because the black strap of her bag went diagonally through the letters spelling out the name of this city.

I found myself within range and took two or three quick shots. Then, as she stopped for a traffic light, I took another that was a better frame. At the intersection, I finally caught up with her and fessed up, with a big grin, that I'd just photographed her without her knowledge. She was very sporting and when I showed her the images, she gave me her approval.


As you can see clearly in this shot (above) the corporate logo is Me!bourne with an exclamation mark instead of the L. I asked if she and others in the distinctive uniform were part of a new city initiative designed to help tourists and Christmas shoppers unused to the layout of the city. She said with a smile that it isn't a new role and that she and several others have been in the service for a few seasons, as part of the Melbourne Ambassadors programme.

It's all part of the wonderful Australian hospitality. If you're lost, they'll give you the finger. No, no, not THAT finger. They'll point you in the right direction.


Visit the creative team behind That's MyWorld Tuesday.

In Gourd We Trust

Success Goes To Their Heads

Nigerian motorcyclists are wearing dried pumpkin shells on their heads after a law was brought in forcing them to wear helmets. Protests were staged after police impounded thousands of motorbikes because their owners were not wearing helmets.

FOOTNOTE: Shell shocked.

Post Of The Day

Today, this regular weekday segment returns for the first time in 2009. Today's joint winners are Sam with Margaret and Cowgirl with Plum Jam And Shooting Stars. The other top contenders were Simon Cotter with These Days; Sandy Carlson with Finding The Train; Mountainear with Missing ‘Em Already?; Laughing Orca Ranch with It’s A Myth; Kym with The Wonder Of It All; Deborah Gamble with We Are So Vain That ….; iMac with Tapped and Camikaos with Thank Everything It’s Friday. Do pay them a visit and leave a comment if you have time.

You can nominate a post too. Just leave a comment here with the URL or link - and tell us the name of the blogger you are nominating. Righty-o, then, it's over to you ....

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

On rainy weekends in Woolloongabba
They chant the lyrics of the Beatles and Abba
But sometimes they go in fits and starts
With Sergeant Pepper and the Lonely Hearts

21-Gum Salute

Lucky It Wasn’t A Sting Operation

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

There were plenty of bees buzzing industriously around these blooms on a tall, shady gum tree in Kings Park, Perth, last Sunday.

I should not have gone in close, but throwing caution to the winds, I stuck my head in between the branches in the interest of art.

I have a very strong memory of the pain (and the shame) of being stung on the butt in my childhood, when I took the advice of an older friend (who should have known better) and threw stones at a beehive in the garden of our home at 3 Dumayne Avenue.

Yes, that was on my mind when I went against my better judgement in Perth to take this shot. So I’m thinking – do I opt for safety and walk away from this one or do I tempt the worker bees and go for the shot?

No question about what my decision was going to be. Pink bearded blossoms around beautifully formed Australian gumnuts, framed against a graceful arc of the olive-green leaves won me over completely. A bee sting lasts for a few hours, but a splendid range of colour captured on camera lasts forever.

Right, honey?


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

Beam Me Up, Scotty

It Ain't Star Trek, But It Sure Is Private Enterprise

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Just before I stepped on a Qantas jet to Perth recently, for a family wedding, I received an interesting query from Baino. She wanted to know if I've ever been guilty of taking a lousy picture.

Yes, of course, Baino. There are some shots – not too many, thank goodness – where I think the result could have been a lot better.

But here’s the analytical reply to the question. I have never had second thoughts about composition, because I think that is instinctive. In other areas, yes, there are times when I definitely think I could have done better.

Occasionally I’ll look at a shot and think I could have produced a different result by trying a different shutter speed or selecting a different aperture.

For instance, I took this shot just before Christmas. I was in the city, in a hurry and the light was fading fast as it was close to nine o’clock at night. That’s when I spotted this bloke, looking like a cross between a Mercury astronaut and a Roswell alien. He was standing on an elevated platform, speaking through an amplified synthesiser and treating passers-by to some pretty interesting dance moves.

He was about fifty metres away from me, but since I was heading to the Bourke Street Mall, I crossed the street to get a bit closer. I fired off two quick shots without using my flash, but as you can see, I should have opted for a quicker shutter speed.

However, I never delete shots that are NQR (Not Quite Right). I leave them, like imperfect paintings, to remind myself that photography, like painting (one of my other major hobbies) is a constant learning curve.

You can always get better – and that is the bottom line for any form of creativity. In keeping with the theme of this bloke’s costume, never let improvement become an alien concept.

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

War Footing

To(e) Infinity And Beyond

A woman called police in China after her boyfriend refused to warm up her cold feet. But the man immediately rang officers to say his girlfriend was too demanding. The policeman who responded to the call persuaded the boyfriend that it was a man's job to warm his girlfriend's feet but told the woman not to leave her feet there for too long.

FOOTNOTE: Foot fault.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

My maternal uncle Bill designed never-ending pistons
But he said he was baffled when they never went the distance
So he turned his attention to electric cars
His last postcard said he was on his way to Mars

Hop To It

Mate, There's A Kangaroo On Ya Runway

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

As most of you would know, we've been away on the west coast for a family wedding - which is why I haven't been able to visit your blogs and collate the normal Post Of The Day nominations. But we're back home at Casa Authorblog now and life is (slowly) returning to normal.

This shot was taken as our flight was about to leave Perth airport. As usual I was craning my neck to look for interesting sights when I spotted this other Boeing 767 through a window. You can guess what happened next.

Yes, I had to jump up, get my camera out of the overhead locker and take this shot, specifically for Camera Critters. Mrs Authorblog, she just pretended she didn't know who I was.

The flying kangaroo, as the recognisable Qantas symbol is called, simply had to be photographed for this post. So there I was, in an aisle seat, twisting and contorting myself so that I could shoot this just to the side of Mrs Authorblog's stunningly beautiful profile as she sat in the window seat.

By the way, here is a trivia question for all of you. The term for a baby kangaroo is exactly the same as a character from Friends. Do you know what it is? If you don't, scroll to the very end of this post for the answer ....


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

ANSWER: A baby roo is called a joey. (Sorry, Ross and Chandler.)

The Sunday Roast

He's All Heart - Literally And Metaphorically

This week's interview is with Rune,
who writes the blog Visual Norway.

The first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

I started blogging in 2006. My first blog was written in Norwegian - Rune's Tx Blog. Two years before I had gone through a rather serious operation and felt a need for more information about my condition. I had done quite a bit of research on the subject and hoped that I could be of assistance to others in the same position. At the same time I wanted to learn a bit more about what blogging was all about – and I needed a bit of self-therapy. That this blog now has changed dramatically is another matter. I use to say that the blog writes itself – I’m only the observer.

My second blog, Visual Norway, was started soon afterwards. I had renewed my old hobby of photography and needed a place to show off my pictures. I was the only reader for quite some time, but that didn’t matter too much since I had quite a bit of fun making the posts. Luckily for me though, things have changed and I ’m no more alone. On the contrary – I get complaints from the family about the amount of time I spend on this. However, with "the global village" filling my in-basket, I have quite as much fun doing comments as writing posts.

What's the story behind your blog name?

Making up a meaningful name in English for a non-English speaking person is quite a challenge. Since the blog was meant to be a photo blog based in Norway I felt Norway had to come into it somewhere. The same went for the photo bit. I tried various combinations and ended up with Visual Norway. If not all the pictures are from Norway, they have at least been taken by a Norwegian!

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

You get to ”meet” quite a number of people from all over the world. You may not agree with all of them, you may not even like all of them, but you get a chance to learn something from them and see their point of view. In addition, you get to learn about places far away, see what these look like and very often learn some of the history. Since I’m a hobby photographer, I also get to see a lot of pictures (and even post some!) and learn from the others. I have also got some very valuable comments and connections concerning this. I feel that my photography is steadily improving.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

a) Spend some time on the writing on your post – sloppy writing gets you nowhere.
b) The same goes for illustrations. Use your own or follow the rules if you use what you find on the Net
c) Visit other blogs and learn from them
d) Make comments, but make them sincere. "If you don’t write 'em you won’t get 'em".
e) Skip advertising in your blog – especially the kind that leads to another site at some time.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

Not an easy one since there has been so many. I might mention some of Abraham Lincoln stories about growing up in pre- and post-war USA, but since he has removed them I can’t give a link. Concerning photography I could mention many of the post made my Jim Moore, for instance this one called A Few Tips About Sunrise/ Sunset Photos. I have learned a lot from him.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

I think it must be this one from March 2008. Although it was posted on my Norwegian blog, it is bilingual with both an English and a Norwegian text. It was called A Bridge Of Life and was my first post to the monthly "Bridges Between" meme we started at that time. It told something of my own condition and of how crossing the smallest bridge can be a major personal victory.


Today's Sunday Roast with Rune Eide is the 50th in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sky’s The Limit

Even Agent Mulder Would Have Been Foxed

Thousands of callers in Germany swamped a UFO hotline after mistaking festive mini hot-air balloons for an alien invasion. Werner Walter of Germany's Central Research Network for Unusual Sky Phenomena said the red and gold lights were caused by a new Chinese-style balloon.

FOOTNOTE: Balloony Tunes.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

My second cousin (twice removed) Harrison Logan
Sure fancied himself as some sort of shogun
But he never had a dynasty that needed his ruling
Although as a gourmand he was famous for drooling

Soldiering On

Commemoration Of A Short But Treasured Life

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Making the most of the photo opportunities during a trip to the west coast, I took this shot just as I was leaving Kings Park in Perth, last Sunday. It was a scorching hot day with the mercury hovering close to the 100 Fahrenheit mark and after spending about an hour in the sprawling 400-hectare park (that’s about 1000 acres) I was keen to find some shade when I spotted this sight.

Commemorative trees for soldiers have an interesting history here in Australia. About 20 years ago, while driving from Melbourne to Adelaide, we passed through Ballarat and I noticed little plaques beside a long row of trees on each side of the Western Highway.

The next time we did the trip, I measured the distance and was surprised to discover that the Avenue of Honour, as it is called, stretched for more than 20 kilometres. It is by far the longest of its kind in any Australian city or town.

Each tree was planted in honour of a Ballarat citizen who volunteered for active service, with a plaque bearing a cross for each one killed in action. I did a rough calculation based on the estimated distance between each tree and I have to admit that I was astounded by the result.

I estimated about 3500 trees, but I researched this calculation yesterday and found that the official figure is almost 3800 trees.

This solitary tree, on the other side of the country, is living testament to a much-loved son killed in 1918, in the last months of World War I. He was not just a son of the family whose surname he shared, but a son of this nation as well.

Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Aftermath".

Volt From The Blue

Maybe It Was Meant For An AC/DC Concert

A Chinese man who installed a burglar-proof iron door was shocked to find it contains enough electricity to light up a 40-watt bulb. An electrician checked the door and found it had 149 volts running through it – but he was confused about where the power was coming from as the door was still charged even after the building's electricity supply was cut off.

FOOTNOTE: Power struggle.

Lobby Group

Reflections Can Create A Familiar Composite Image

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This shot was taken in the lobby of the Perth Sheraton, earlier this week while we were on the west coast for a family wedding. I was in a hurry as I walked to the car park in the company of Mrs Authorblog, but as we crossed from the reception desk to the doors, this sight caught my eye.

I was concentrating on several other factors, so I couldn't immediately identify what it was that attracted my attention. But I knew that I had to take the shot. I had walked through the lobby of the hotel several times in the previous 48 hours, but the sunlight had never produced this effect before.

Mrs Authorblog, being a good sport, waited for me, although I must admit that I have a faint memory of her rolling her eyes and tapping one foot on the marble floor. Let's put it this way. Some husbands have a wandering eye for, well, eye candy. I have a wandering eye for art, wherever and however unexpectedly it may appear.

As always, I had my camera bag slung across my shoulders, so it only took me a few seconds to take the shot. It was only after we'd flown home to Melbourne and I looked at the solitary image on my computer screen that I realised what had attracted my attention in the first place.

The image, in totality, looks as if it has been shot in some mystical cathedral. Look carefully and you'll see what I mean. The dark shape of the simple wooden crosspiece now appears as a bold crucifix, dominating the middle of the frame.

And, quite in keeping with the spirit of the theme, the striking colours of the painting on the left, when viewed through the doorway, now look for all the world like an ethereal stained-glass window.

Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

I went for a drive with my great-aunt Joyce
So regal at the wheel of her pink Rolls-Royce
But when the cops stopped her and listed her faults
I made sure to pass her the smelling salts

Cloud Controller

Finding A Window Of Opportunity

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes you "see" a shot where you least expect it. And I guess it is just as important to recognise the opportunity as it is to drop everything, pick up a camera and take the shot.

I took this in our room at the Sheraton in Perth a few days ago, when we were on the west coast of this huge country-continent. My Ray-Bans ("sunnies", as we call them here) were on the table and I was just getting a few things organised before my nephew’s wedding when I noticed the clean reflection in one lens of the sunglasses.

The temperature was closing in on 39 Celsius, which is about 100 Fahrenheit, so it wasn’t surprising that the sky was clear, unsullied blue as far as the eye could see. And given that we were on the 17th floor of the Sheraton, my eye could see a very long way across the beautiful Swan River.

I chose to focus on the gold rim of the Ray-Bans, which I thought would draw attention to the reflection of the sky, graced with only a single cloud. Had I waited, the cloud would have changed shape or disappeared entirely.

I didn’t move the sunglasses to get a better view of the reflection, simply because I believe that the true test of a photographer is the ability to shoot any scene in any light at any angle and at any time. On this occasion, I was lucky, because the colours of the electronic room keycard, the hue of the wooden surface of the desk and the golden shapes of the coins were perfect for what I was trying to achieve.

Just for the record, those are two-dollar coins, the second-smallest in Australian currency. In the photograph below, you can also see a few one-dollar coins on the right of the frame. The two-dollar coins are only fractionally larger in circumference than our little five-cent coins. Maybe this was the "money shot" in more ways than one.


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

Troupe Withdrawal

Who’s Tripping The Light Fantastic?

Morris dancing could be "extinct" within 20 years – all because young people are too embarrassed to participate. The Morris Ring, which represents 200 Morris troupes across Britain, says the number of dancers is dwindling while their age is increasing.

FOOTNOTE: Dancing keen.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Forget your wheezes, forget your sneezes
Embrace the West Australian breezes
But pack your sunscreen and your hat
Or else the heat will knock you flat

Glass Vegas

That’s A Real Pint-Sized Subject

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

If you’re wondering why I haven’t been visiting and commenting on your blogs recently, there’s a simple reason. I haven’t been home. I’ve literally been on the other side of the country for a family wedding.

We boarded a Qantas Boeing 767 for the four-hour flight to sunny Perth, capital city of Western Australia. It’s not quite as far as the flight from Toronto to Vancouver, but I’ll just point out that Perth’s time zone is closer to Singapore than it is to my home city of Melbourne.

This shot was taken in Fremantle on the day of the wedding, literally between the ceremony and the reception. Family and friends alike decided to kill half an hour at a boutique brewery called Little Creatures. I was at the bar when a worker put a metal tray of glasses on the counter.

Immediately I put my drink down and picked up my camera instead. Sometimes the most ordinary sights can produce the most unusually rewarding images.

A couple of drinkers looked askance as I lined up this shot. I guess they just saw empty glasses. Instead, I saw swirls of light, gentle contours of silver-blue, soft colours and several tiny golden sparkles of reflected light.

It’s always a privilege for a non-legal member of the family to be called to the bar.

Hoare House

Maybe It’s Time For Sussex Education Classes

A local council in East Sussex, England, is set to ban "rude" street names such as Hoare Road and Cracknuts Lane. Lewes District Council has drawn up guidelines for new street names to avoid double entendres and unflattering place names.

FOOTNOTE: Streets ahead.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

My favourite place to eat spaghetti
Is in Fremantle, on the jetty
And if you just can’t spell the phrase
Never spill your bolognese

Y Is For Yellow

Never Be Scared Of A Photographic Challenge

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The shots for today’s post were all taken at a single spot, the historic Sandridge Bridge that joins the north and south banks of the Yarra River. This was initially the site of a timber bridge but by the late 1980s it was derelict and its future was the subject of lively debate.

In 2006, just before Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games, it was re-opened as a pedestrian footbridge, cutting diagonally across the river. A series of unique giant figures that move across the bridge and back each day; as well as a set of towering glass panels pay tribute to Melbourne’s multicultural past.

The significance of the figures, and the migrant spirit they evoke, was detailed in my photo essay Action Figures.

Because the bridge is painted in the distinctive hues of gun-metal grey and vivid yellow, I made my way there on a recent morning. My self-imposed challenge was to shoot a quick series of images for this post in a) less than five minutes and b) to do so in just a single crossing of the bridge.

This first shot was taken at the southern end of the bridge, where I was looking for an unusual angle and noticed that someone had wedged a green milk crate between the metal sections. Naturally, I had to take the shot not just because of the unusual object, but also because it gave me an extra colour and a bit more structure in the frame.


I was walking across the bridge at parade ground speed when I noticed the end of this chrome handrail. There was a pedestrian walking towards me, so I had to compose the shot and hit the trigger very quickly, or else he would have walked into the frame.

As for this view, I have absolutely no idea what the original purpose of these circular devices was. Maybe there’s an experienced engineer out there who can explain what they’re for. Certainly, it’s part of the original structure of the bridge, and they are placed at regular intervals, so I guess they served some long-forgotten purpose.

Right now, they’re simply an intriguing shape, size – and colour, of course.


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

Access All Areas

In India, All Kinds Of Doors Open For You

Central Calcutta, October 2006.
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Blow Hot, Blow Cold

It Comes As Nose Surprise

A school in England is teaching pupils how to blow their noses. The children, aged 5 to 11, at Broad Oak Primary School in Manchester have been shown a DVD telling them the right and wrong ways to act when they have a cold. But one parent condemned the exercise as "a complete waste of time".

FOOTNOTE: Hanker chiefs.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Give thanks for the genius of Allen Funt
Who taught us to laugh with each TV stunt
‘Twas never a Bob-error or even a Pam-error
But where would we be without Candid Camera?

Star Light, Star Bright

First Star I See Tonight

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

We were walking down Bourke Street in the city centre recently, showing the Christmas illuminations to overseas visitors. The seasonal decorations may not be on the grand scale of Hong Kong or Singapore, but they are always a big attraction, especially now that the summer evenings are so long.

I was on the other side of the street when I noticed this single star in a store window. We were on our way back to the car, but I knew I had to sprint across to take the shot.

I guess the thing that really caught my attention was not just the elongated shape of the star, but a couple of other factors as well. For one thing, it was the soft colours and shades in the window. And of course the clincher was that there was nothing else in the window, just the single star.

It was the perfect example of solitary beauty.

Visit the creative team behind That's MyWorld Tuesday.

Reviving Nemo

A Bit Green Around The Gills

Ginger the goldfish has amazed experts by surviving out of water for up to 21 hours. He was found lying on the floor by owner Barbara Woodward at her home at 7am. She assumed he was dead and, as she could not move the heavy chest, left the pet and went to work. But when she returned at 8pm, Ginger was still alive and flapping.

FOOTNOTE: Teenage mutant Ginger total.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

When I first learned how to play ice hockey
I thought my coach was speaking Jabberwocky
He swore a lot as he cursed his luck
But I just thought he was saying "O puck".

National Velvet

A Rose Touched By Gentle Sunlight

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

When we built this house, the Authorbloglets and I created the garden and planted everything that grows in it. This rose bush is in our back yard and it is the only one of its kind that we have - the best way I can describe the colour is to call it bronze.

It has an unusual scent as well. I'm not sure about the breeding background, but I'd love to know where the characteristics of this subtle scent came from. It's more like the buttery scent of a Fuji apple than the waft of a traditional rose.

I was tinkering around in the garden when I noticed that the late-evening sun was playing across the petals, endowing them with a quality that was almost like watching rich velvet. I had to resist the urge to touch it - and to get my camera instead.

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

Number Cruncher

Happy Anniversary, Alaska (Love Your Colours)

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

It's not every day you get to visit a place like Alaska. When I went there for the first time in 1999, I never thought I'd be making another trip back there. It's been a huge privilege to visit the beautiful state, especially for someone like me from the Southern Hemisphere.

Since this is the first Odd Shot of the new year, I thought it would be very appropriate to salute the fiftieth anniversary of the state by publishing this photograph.

Enjoy the party, Alaska. Shall I come round and help you break the ice?

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

Emergency Measures

Yes, Of Course It’s A Life-Threatening Situation

A woman in Manchester dialled 999 because she was furious she could not get through to vote on the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. Others in a string of ridiculous emergency calls included a priest complaining he was not allowed to use a toilet in a W. H. Smith store and a man who said shop staff had put unwanted mushrooms on his pizza.

FOOTNOTE: Ringing endorsement.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

In Camden Town there lives a clown
Who rides two golden Vespas
But Sergeant Brown will track him down
To charge him with double trespass

A Fault And Battery

I Can’t Weasel Out Of This One

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

On the face of it, the request was simple. It was Boxing Day and the toddler, the only daughter of our visitors from overseas, needed a battery put into her new toy. Santa had brought her, among other gifts, a lifelike weasel that constantly chased a green-and-orange ball that was about the size of a grapefruit.

Battery? Yeah, mate, no worries at all. So I produced a screwdriver of the appropriate size and the toddler’s father applied himself to the task. About half an hour later I noticed he was still trying to open the battery compartment. By this time he was frowning and yes, he was perspiring a bit. You see, it’s summer here and yes, the pressure was squarely on him.

You ever try telling a toddler that you’ll have a battery in the toy in a split-second? Big mistake, mate. B I G mistake.

So when he asked me to assist in the precision-based operation, I was more than equal to the task. I can do that sort of thing standing on my head. But five minutes later (okay, so maybe it was half and hour later) the toddler’s father and I had concluded that the battery compartment was faulty.

It. Would. Not. Open.

So the toddler’s mother and aunt took the toy back to the shop. The owner listened to them and sympathetically, he snapped open the toy to see where the fault lay. In less than three seconds he had opened it without any stress, placed a battery inside and the toy was working perfectly.

When they told him that their respective husbands had complained there were no instructions with the toy, he replied the instructions were so simple that they were contained in a basic, easy-to-see diagram on the box.

Hmmmm. The toddler’s mother and aunt were aghast. Immediately, they began to apportion blame. Yes, squarely on the shoulders on the toddler’s father and me.

So they swept home in high dudgeon. Triumphantly, they told us what had transpired. And the toddler’s mother, a wise woman, made a thought-provoking comment.

"Isn’t it strange," she mused aloud, while looking pointedly at the seiling, "that both your brains combined do not really add up to the power of one normal human brain."

Somehow, I don’t think she was toying with us.


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

How Many Candles For This Cake?

One More Won't Make A Difference, Nan

A great-grandmother in Britain has been celebrating her birthday on the wrong day for 99 years. Elsie Aslett's error was only revealed when her family asked for the customary telegram from the Queen. A sharp-eyed pensions official spotted a discrepancy on her birth certificate.

FOOTNOTE: Gran total.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Yes, she’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes
And she’ll be diving in the fountain while he strums
But her famous six white horses have moved to Royal Ascot
Where five are racing legends and one is just a mascot

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".

How Much Is The Fine, Officer?

Let's Say It's A Tidy Amount, Ma'am

Police in Germany banned a woman driver's car from the road - for being too untidy. The Vauxhall Astra was so full of junk, magazines, old clothes and even bits of furniture that they could barely see the driver at the vehicle roared down a motorway near Dusseldorf. The woman has been banned from driving it until it passes a tidiness test.

FOOTNOTE: Astra nomical.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Who could run faster than the great Usain Bolt?
No man alive, no, not even a colt
He's unmatched in pace while to glory he sprints
As the rest of us hobble and struggle with splints

It Figures

Still Life Mingles With Perpetual Motion

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes you just shoot from the hip and the results, while not perfect, certainly go some way towards rewarding your instinct. We were in the city with friends and family late in the evening and the atmosphere was pure Melbourne – families with young children, groups of tourists, buskers in Santa hats. It was simply one of those festive nights where relaxation is in the air.

As usual, I was lagging several feet behind the rest of the clan because I always seem to see an interesting sight (or three) to photograph. I was waiting to cross Swanston Street when these two children, running slightly ahead of their parents, raced up to press the button on the pedestrian crossing.

Then they suddenly noticed the three lifesize statues to our right. The three figures have been there for a few years now, representing workplace commuters in suits and carrying briefcases. Their faces are gaunt, their bodies impossibly skeletal, but they are striking pieces of art because they are so unusual. They are normal human height, but their bodies are not even as wide as a power pole.

The children immediately started touching the statues, fascinated by their dimensions and the expressions on their metal faces. I was only half paying attention because I was waiting for the light to change so I could catch up with everyone else.

Then I realised I had an unusual scene playing out before my eyes – if I was quick enough with my camera. Not only were the little boys beside me, a couple of tourists were also walking up to examine the figures. The light was difficult, because I knew the figures themselves would not stand out as the central theme.

Instead, I decided to concentrate on the movement of the four fast-moving human beings in front of me, as a counterpoint to the motionless sculpted trio. The lights of the shopfronts on the opposite side of the street would also work in my favour, for they would provide a sense of place and time.

And as I raised the camera to hit the shutter, I had another lucky break. A taxi drove past, leaving a distinctive yellow streak to the left of the frame, without compromising any of the figures. Now that’s what I call sheer luck.

Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.

Join The Mile-High Club

Yep, I'm Talking Real Fireworks In The Sky

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Photographing a fireworks display is always an interesting challenge. You can treat it as an exact science, or you can treat it as an abstract art form. That, in plain terms, is as simple as it gets.

Like a game of Monopoly, you can play the situation strictly by the existing rules, or you can toss the rule book out the window and treat the challenge entirely on your instincts.

So let's start at the beginning. What faces you are some definable factors as well as a couple that defy precise science. Let's begin with the things you can define. You have a vast sky above you. You are in total darkness. You know when the fireworks are scheduled to start. You know you will have an absolute cornucopia of colours.


But - and it's a huge but - there are things you cannot pin down. You do not know where the next rocket, starburst or aerial wheel is going to detonate. You do not know what colour is going to fill the sky next. You do not know what shape it will take. It's a big sky, mate, and the bottom line is that you simply do not know where to point your camera.

And here's another vital element to consider. Even if you are decisive with your camera and you have chosen the best possible speed in the circumstances, even Quickdraw McGraw would be hard-pressed to capture a starburst or a sky-high Catherine wheel at the precise moment it detonates above you.

So do you try and estimate the area of sky where most of the fireworks are detonating and simply concentrate your efforts in that wedge above you? Or do you try and follow each new launch from the ground, track it with your camera and hit the shutter as each explodes in turn?


Then there's the other big question mark. Do you use a tripod? Or should you opt for physical dexterity in view of the fact that a fireworks display is a public event and there are generally thousands of people around you who could a) block your view or b) bump into you and dislodge your carefully balanced tripod while you try and capture the best shots?

There's another factor to consider if you have the option of using a tripod. Quite simply, you are going to be bending over to use the camera for a prolonged period of time. Few tripods extend to the very height of your own eyes, which leads to an interesting clash of physical conditions.

You could be hunched like Quasimodo, with your spine partially parallel to terra firma, while your neck is twisted upwards as you try and get the best view of the sky above.

God created the human spine and neck to co-exist in the same vertical plane. Simple. Unarguable. So why use a tripod, especially if you're as tall as I am and you don't want to see your chiropractor the next morning?


So I chose to be mobile and to be flexible as I shot these scenes at the New Year fireworks display above the Yarra River on Wednesday night. The last time I did this, I used my 18-125 mm lens, which allowed me to get as close as I wanted, while giving me the option of getting an entire skyscape, simply because of the range of the focal plane.

This time I bravely (or foolishly, depending on your point of view) opted to use the 70-300 mm lens instead. I constantly varied my focal length and my focus ring as well. The first few images in this post bring you plenty of sky and a sense of place, but as the display drew to a close, I decided to zoom in fully and try - instinctively - for an overall effect that was "different".

Not an easy challenge, in a wide Australian sky where the fireworks could go anywhere. But I'm certainly pleased with the overall result. If you have time, do let me know what you think.


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

Have A Nice Trip, Er, Strip

Seriously, Officer, That's Not Funny

A clown wearing colourful pantaloons, huge shoes and a flashing police helmet was strip-searched by security guards at Birmingham International Airport. The man, 60, who was due to perform for sick children, also had his plastic handcuffs confiscated, and had his plastic scissors, toy camera, wacky glasses and bubble saxophone examined.

FOOTNOTE: Clown prints.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

O'Ryan he's a rich man, O'Ryan he's a laird
O'Ryan is a warrior who says he's never scared
He's two-thirds Anglo-Saxon but he speaks like a Celt
His tumbling locks are flaxen and he wears O'Ryan's belt

Growth Potential

Turning Over A New Leaf

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I shot this image a few days ago, but I thought it would be perfect to publish on New Year's Day. Yes, it's already past midnight here, for my first post of 2009. I guess it's appropriate that this image shows not just a new dawn, but nascent Nature at its best as well.

I was walking down a suburban street just after dawn, intent on photographing something else, when I noticed the strong light on the perimeter fence of this property. Then, as I walked past, with my mind on other things, I noticed the shadow of the sturdy plane tree, which I estimate would not be more than 15 years old.

As I lifted my camera to my eyes, I spotted the single green leaf sprouting from the camouflage-like surface of the bark. The angle of the sun and the strength of the light were perfect to allow me to capture not just the tree and the solitary leaf, but their reflections as well on a fance that looked for all the world as if it were lit by theatre stage lights.

From my family to yours, a very Happy New Year to everyone.

H-h-h-h-h-hands U-u-u-up

What An Utter Stutter

A robber with a distinctive stutter has been arrested in the US after he held up a store where he used to work. He wore a black ski mask to conceal his identity when he demanded cash at knifepoint. But a former colleague at the Dunkin' Donuts store in Lombard, Illinois, recognised the robber's voice.

FOOTNOTE: Voice over.