Verse and worse

The dance instructor, he was so miffed

When they told him he moved way too swift

So he took them round, from waltz to jive

Before the pupils could count to five

Going for gold

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 125-7680)

Sometimes the more unusual shots occur in places where you wouldn't instinctively look. There was a great sunset across the Yarra on a late-April evening, and after I took a couple of shots across the shimmering river, I turned my attention to the city skyline in the opposite direction.

Briefly, the golden glow transformed an ordinary office building into a huge vertical ingot - yet it didn't endow the surrounding buildings with any special effects. I guess I framed this tight image to concentrate on the contrast, to highlight the semi-abstract view, and to include the nearby spire of St Paul's Cathedral. And yes, the flawless sky can be seen as well, between the skyscrapers.

Who said city skylines are dull?

Verse and worse

Monsignor Noakes drank several Cokes

And fell in a heap beneath the oaks

The doctor (a swine) said ''You’ll soon be fine ….

But next time stick to Communion wine’’

Raise the red lantern

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: Malaysia2010-3575)

I shot this outside the Pavilion centre in Kuala Lumpur on a hot, humid January day this year. We had walked past the place the previous evening and my attention was caught by a beautiful floral display in the courtyard, as well as the lanterns that seemed to rain down from the atrium above.

But the real challenge was to shoot the red cascade from a different point of view, rather than simply front-on. By shooting it from directly underneath, it brought fresh perspective, as well as the reflections behind the lanterns. For me, the bonus was being able to see the clear glass atrium above, with the geometrical squares against the sky.

By the way, if you fancy your powers of observation, take a simple 30-second challenge here that I've posted on my Red Bubble site.

Verse and worse

So proud and tall above the marble plinth

Stood a lead-crystal vase of water hyacinth

No rose-like aroma, no clustered azalea

The botanist felt like a miserable failure

Studying for your bar exam?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 131-7720)

We had just finished dinner at the Hog's Breath Cafe when the lighting around the bar area caught my eye. By this time we were out on the wide pedestrian walkway, and I knew I didn't really have enough time to go back inside.

So I shot this from outside, looking through the wide glass window that allows passers-by to look into the cafe. I could have shot a really tight frame, with just the black silhouettes against the blue-lit bar, but it was much more fun to allow one of the wooden chairs to intrude in the foreground!

By the way, did you look close enough to spot the reflection on the top of the chair in the middle?

And if you want to take part in a fun title-writing contest on my Red Bubble site, just click here to enter (or simply view) the entries for a "numbers" image with a difference!

Verse and worse

The bloke next door is Big Tim Buck

He drives a massive haulage truck

He has two does and one buck (Hugh)

The deer farm helps pay Tim Buck, too

All the fun of the fare

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: USA2010-01July-0274)

If you're familiar with my photography, whether it is here on my blog or on my Red Bubble site, you'd know that I enjoy shooting familiar objects from unusual angles. (This is only a low-res version, but if you'd like to view the full-size original on my Red Bubble page, just click here.)

So when Mrs Authorblog and I took the Authorbloglets to the Big Apple in late June this year, we figured we had to take one of those open-top bus tours to see as much of Manhattan as swiftly as we could, while trying to cover all the major spots on foot. It's a good thing I'm used to firing off shots from a moving vehicle, after my experiences in the Yukon and certain other spots around the world.

This shot was taken from my vantage spot on the left-hand side of the top of the bus. I was using my standard 18-125mm lens, rather than the 70-300mm lens I always carry with me. It was more than sufficient to compose a tight frame of a familiar symbol of NYC, albeit from a point of view not often seen.

Verse and worse

Lord Balfour surveyed the gathering rabble

But called on his courtiers for a game of Scrabble

“Instead of sending soldiers to our stout wooden door

I’d much rather play for a triple word score.”

Lest we forget

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: USA2010-021July-0337)

This just seemed to be an appropriate image to post today. As you'd remember, my post yesterday was about an Australian veteran from World War II, but this shot is for my friends in the United States, as they celebrate Veterans Day.

This was shot in the first week of July this year, as we soaked up the atmosphere of New York City. But if you're curious about where this image was taken, displaying light and shade in an extremely historic part of the city, all you have to do is check out an image I posted on my Red Bubble site here along with my reason/s why it was one of the most significant moments of my trip.

Verse and worse

Doctor Perkin and the redoubtable Nurse Firkin

Found a defribilator that just wasn’t workin’

So they ripped out the paddles and called Doctor Carter

To see if they’d substitute his Bentley’s self-starter

Homage to a World War II airman

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 125-7670)

These two images are part of a series I shot while talking to a gentleman who served as a gunner in the RAAF during World War II. We spoke for a few minutes at Southbank, Melbourne, just before the Anzac Day parade on Sunday April 25 this year.

He wore his service medals anchored to the zipper pocket of the dark blue civilian jacket he wore - and he spoke about his time in the Pacific theatre of war. At the time, the telemovie "The Pacific", co-produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, had just begun screening on Australian television - and we spoke about the accuracy of its depiction.

His chest proudly bore  the Pacific Star, among other wartime ribbons. It is the second medal from the left, in the first of these images. I thanked him for being so generous with his time - and when we shook hands before he walked on, I thanked him for his service, too.

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 125-7670)

Verse and worse

Vincent van Gogh once painted a crow

Its plumage was white as the purest snow

And when Warhol returned from far-off Guadeloupe

He brought ten crates of canned Campbell's Soupe

We three kings of Orient are

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: Malaysia2010-3463)

Appearances can sometimes be deceptive. This might look as if it were shot in some fine theatre, with all the trappings of art and culture. However, it was shot in the basement of a shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur.

It was mid-January this year, but the pre-Chinese New Year festivities had already begun. All the street decorations were ablaze and every major intersection carried a colourful reminder of the auspicious time that was fast approaching.

When this play began, I was on the fringe of the crowd of onlookers. Anxious to find out whether I could use my camera, I caught the eye of a security guard, pointed to the camera around my neck and was delighted when he gave me a big thumbs-up. The light wasn't great, because it was not a true theatrical setting - but I was pretty pleased with the way some of the shots turned out.

Verse and worse

My first cousin Trent hitch-hiked to Kent

Leaving size 16 footprints wherever he went

He was sponsored by Kumar and well shod by Puma

And regaled the drivers with his great sense of humour

That ain't how you clock off

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON. (Image ID: 129-5731)

It's not a movie set. It's not a theatre rehearsal. It's not even a real person, so you can relax! This lifelike figure is suspended high above the entrance to the Pancake Parlour at the Jam Factory, in the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Prahran.

The figure clings to the hands of the clock - and I was immediately caught up by the challenge of finding the best angle and the most suitable focal length to capture it. From memory, I shot about five or six frames before deciding this one was the most dramatic.

Verse and worse

Before he embarks on each roller-coaster ride

Pastor Mullally must be firmly hog-tied

Or else he'll chant and invoke the heavens

While he continues to rant at young Pastor Evans

Please don't shut me out

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: SingaporeA2007-1603)

I shot this at Clarke Quay, Singapore, in mid-December 2007, during a brief stopover on my way to India. The quay is a lodestone for photographers, not just because of its range of colours, but also for the way it preserves the city-state's colonial past.

While trying to take in the huge range of colours, I suddenly spotted this muted scene - a simple facade with monochromatic windows closed against the tropical heat and humidity, flanked by the dark foliage of a large tree. The simplicity of it all had to be captured, right?

Verse and worse

My next-door neighbour, Mr Algernon Boyd

Was told by his shrink that he lived in a void

So now he tap-dances all the way down the streets

And tips his top hat to each lady he meets

Whose hairstyle is better, buddy?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: USA2010-01July-0472)

When I first saw this mural in Manhattan, I was only mildly interested - but when a passer-by appeared, I knew I had an extra perspective. I had to work quickly to take the shot, because as you know, New York can get very crowded and a clear field of vision can swiftly change.

From memory, this was shot in the vicinity of the Empire State Building. It was fairly late in the evening, but because we were there in summer, the light was still strong enough for me. Only just strong enough!