authorblog

Goodbye To Blogging

2009-09-25T01:01:00.001+11:00

That’s All, Folks

Yes, blogging has been a great adventure. Yes, it was a thrill to get almost nine thousand page views in a single day. Yes, it was a great honour to be chosen as one of Google's Blogs Of Note.

Most of all, it was wonderful to be part of a vibrant, talented community.

But I’m going to be concentrating on my novels for a while. I'll still have a strong online presence and if you would like to keep an eye on my photographic essays, you can get twice-daily updates at my Red Bubble site.

Goodbye, good luck and God bless you all.

Standing Tall

2009-09-25T01:00:00.001+11:00

High And Mighty, In The Last Hour Of Daylight

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

It was just one of those days when you never know what the light is going to do next. It had started out as a fairly cold morning, no more than a chilly four degrees before sunrise. Then daylight took the sting out of the wind and by the time I got to the river’s edge late that evening, it was positively balmy.

There was only about half an hour between the time I shot the first image in this series and the last. Strangely enough (no, it wasn’t planned) the very first and last shots were taken within a few metres of each other.

To start with, I noticed that the sun, about forty-five minutes away from the horizon, had thrown some interesting light over the Rialto, the second-tallest building in Melbourne. That’s when I shot the first of these images. Then I meandered around the area of Flinders Street and Federation Square for about half an hour, before making my way back towards where my car was parked.

The sun was long gone, but the mottled sky had a few flashes of silvery-gold. I could not resist the chance to switch the camera back on and take one last image for the day.

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

If Music Be The Food Of Love .....

2009-09-25T00:01:00.000+11:00

The Legend Of Zorro

Authorities at the Sea Life London Aquarium, which piped the music of Barry White into a tank to encourage two sharks to breed, say the tactic has paid off. Formerly shy shark Zorro has become a marine love machine, with staff warning guests about his frisky behaviour.

FOOTNOTE: Frisky business.

Verse And Worse

2009-09-24T12:30:00.000+11:00

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Algernon Peters
Bought odor-eaters
He put them in his boots
And the pockets of his suits

Pomp And Splendour

2009-09-24T01:00:00.000+11:00

A Taste Of History (Right Here On Our Streets)

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

It’s not often I get to photograph a door that is actually in rapid motion!

I was walking across Princes Bridge, looking across the river, just to ensure I wasn’t missing any great sights, when I heard the familiar rumble of an approaching tram. Normally I wouldn’t have given any form of public transport a second glance, but the unusually dark colour caught my eye.

I immediately realised it was a tram that was specially painted to advertise the Pompeii exhibition that has been extremely popular here in Melbourne for the past few months.

Taking a shot, you might think, was no big deal. But there was traffic on both sides, there were cyclists, there were skateboarders, there were pedestrians. And it seemed as if they had all descended on the scene at precisely the time I wanted to photograph the tram for The Doors meme.

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

When In Rome .....

2009-09-24T00:01:00.000+11:00

Some Charges Are Very Hard To Digest

The deputy mayor of Rome has offered an official apology to a Japanese man who was charged $1,200 (including a $200 service charge) for a meal at the famous Il Passetto restaurant in the Italian capital. The couple later turned down the offer of an all-expenses paid return trip to Rome from the Italian government.

FOOTNOTE: Check the check.

Verse And Worse

2009-09-23T12:30:00.000+11:00

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Can an emu
Moo?
Can an aardvark
Bark?

J Is For Jerra Jerra

2009-09-23T01:00:00.002+11:00

Don't Blink Or You'll Miss It, Mate

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

One of the joys of long interstate drives is having enough time on your hands to stop and shoot some images every times you see a sight that takes your fancy. Which, in my case, is fairly often. Oh, okay, make that VERY often.

In June this year I was driving through the lush Riverina, the picturesque farming area in New South Wales. Every time I cross the border from my home state, Victoria, I am surprised by how green it is in NSW, and this time was no exception. Even though it was early in the Australian winter, there had not been a lot of rain in Victoria, but across the state line, things were emerald green.

The first image was shot at the tiny Jerra Jerra Creek just outside the town of Culcairn, while I navigated my way to Wagga Wagga and then on to Temora. It was a good road, although there were some sweeping bends, so I had to make sure every time I stopped to take some shots that I was in clear view of traffic coming from either direction.

This abandoned building caught my attention, but because it was on a fairly straight stretch of road, I was able to pull over easily and shoot a couple of frames to emphasise its desolation and the sense of abandonment amid the green paddocks just off the highway.

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

In The Slow Lane

2009-09-23T00:01:00.000+11:00

He's Coming Out Of His Shell Now

A tortoise survived crossing five lanes of London's busy M25 motorway - and has been christened "Freeway". Driver John Formby spotted him and pulled over to rescue him. He said: "I thought it was a bit of debris. I went to swerve it but noticed it was moving - then saw it had a head."

FOOTNOTE: Head start.

Verse And Worse

2009-09-22T12:30:00.000+11:00

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

When his horse grew leaner
The judge named it "Subpoena"
Then he christened his porpoise
That's right, "Habeas corpus"

The Gift Of A Voice

2009-09-22T01:00:00.000+11:00

That’s Not A Disability, That’s A Real Ability

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I shot this about a week ago, on one of those interesting Melbourne days when you’re not quite sure what the weather is going to do next. Spring was not yet a week old, but the sky was patchy, blue in one area and moody grey in others.

When the sun shone unimpeded, the caress of its rays was balmy. But when the sun slid behind cloud cover, it seemed as if the temperature dived substantially. I was shooting some images across the river when I heard someone singing Simon and Garfunkel tunes.

I looked around, wondering where the sound was coming from. It took me a few seconds to work it out. Then I spotted them - there were two blokes positioned in a corner of the pedestrian footbridge that spans the Yarra River.

The guitarist was able-bodied. The vocalist accompanying him was in a wheelchair. Were they related? I don’t know. But they sure knew how to harmonise.

Visit the creative team behind That's My World Tuesday.

Starring Role

2009-09-22T00:01:00.000+11:00

Will His New Name Fit On His Passport?

A movie-mad Norwegian bus driver has changed his name to Julius Andreas Gimli Arn MacGyver Chewbacca Highlander Elessar-Jankov. The Oslo man, formerly known as just Andreas Jankov, says it was the best way he could think of to pay tribute to his favourite screen heroes.

FOOTNOTE: Chew backer.

Post Of The Day

2009-09-21T18:30:00.002+11:00

Today's winner is Aims with Floundering - Or Is That Foundering. The other top contenders were Terri Terri Quite Contrary with Church; Hilary with September Days; Quarter Life Crisis with Juggling Act; Mountain Mama with Gray Skies And Purple Flowers; Crystal Jigsaw with Alien Planet; Sandy Carlson with two posts: Fog and My Wild Friends; More Than An Electrician with Thanks Again, Ernie; In The Gutter with All This Post Needs Is Some Popcorn. 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 ....

See my photography at Images Sans Frontiers and Red Bubble.

Verse And Worse

2009-09-21T12:30:00.000+11:00

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

If you live near Wonthaggi
Your jeans won’t be baggy
But near Castlemaine
High heels are a pain

Say It With Flowers

2009-09-21T01:00:00.000+11:00

Creativity Gets A Springtime Boost

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

So spring is well and truly here and three weeks after the end of winter, we've already had those warmer, longer days that inspire us to spend more time outdoors. The roses at Casa Authorblog will soon be in full bloom, although there have been isolated buds and blooms here and there.

But these images were shot with the permission of a Melbourne florist, just outside the shop, about ten days ago. Somehow, it seems just about everybody feels more creative as the bite of winter recedes. The displays seem bigger, more inventive and the colours seem more welcoming.

Maybe it's just my imagination. Or maybe there really is some truth to the theory that inspiration comes when surrounded by colour ....

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

Weigh To Go

2009-09-21T00:01:00.000+11:00

Your (Big) Bun Is In The Oven

The world's biggest burger has been unveiled in the US - weighing in at more than 13 stone (82 kilograms or 185 pounds). The owner of Mallie's Sports Grill and Bar in Michigan, Steve Mallie, said it took eight hours to bake the bun big enough to hold the burger.

FOOTNOTE: Burger meister.

Verse And Worse

2009-09-20T12:30:00.000+11:00

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

A cowboy by the name of William Scooter
Accidentally sat on the sheriff’s six-shooter
But had he sat on a cactus (like Kevin)
He too might have ascended into heaven

Shark-Infested Waters

2009-09-20T01:00:00.000+11:00

It's The Fin Edge Of The Wedge

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Some "wildlife" shots are tame in comparison with others! So I have to admit that I did not go swimming with the sharks to take this shot. It's just part of a mural here in Melbourne. The nature of the artwork is marine life, as you can see below ....

And while it's the sort of artwork that evokes images of "Finding Nemo", I have to tell you quite categorically that there is nothing fishy about the quality of the images.

Lucky it's all decent quality, although I could not spot a signature on the huge mural. You're going to ask me what size it is, right? I'm thinking about three metres tall by five metres wide. And no, there were no damp squibs, although there were a few damp squids!

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

The Sunday Roast

2009-09-20T00:30:00.000+11:00

Many Things Blossom In This Word Garden

This week's interview is with Shay,
who writes the blog Word Garden.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

I started the Word Garden simply as a place to post my poems in an attractive manner. I compose longhand, in notebooks, and the blog gave me a way to organize my work by using the labels. I never really expected to have many readers, and I don't, but the ones I have mean a great deal to me.

I started my second blog, Objets, D'Art, to give myself an outlet that is less formal than the poetry blog. I invented an alter-ego, Barbara, who is a materialistic, conniving, social-climbing, shallow nutcase. I adore her, and have great fun writing in character. Also, she can spout off about things that I never would.

What's the story behind your blog name?

Word Garden is pretty self-explanatory, I think, especially when taken with my screen name Fireblossom. Objets D'art denotes small treasures, and is also sort of pretentious sounding. On purpose.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

The best thing is the friends I have made through my blogs. I never dreamt that I would make such significant connections with people because of blogging.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Blog for yourself. If you try to please everybody, you'll just drive yourself insane. It's YOUR blog. But having said that, I would add this: don't worry that no one will care about what you have to say. If it matters to you enough to write it down, chances are that there are plenty of people to whom your posts will be meaningful, too.

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

A November 2008 post by Kristin on her blog Jilli Java and the Garden of Eden, called Old Realities By The Minute. As a recovering alcoholic, sober 23 years as of this writing, I still need to remember how it was, and I often think of Kristin's post, because my story - and many people's stories - are so similar, and Kristin's post paints it so well.

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

I would have to say it is my poem Valentina, which is my favorite from among my own poems. I had recently watched a movie called "Hable Con Ella" or "Talk To Her", which got me thinking (more than usual, I mean!) about the nature of love and its transformative power. And how it is often messy and hard to define, especially to anyone outside looking in. I also wanted to write about a woman finding her power through an erotic connection.

Today's Sunday Roast with Shay is the 84th in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

Smooth Criminals

2009-09-20T00:01:00.000+11:00

Testing Time For Mob Underlings

Gangsters in Japan are being sent back to school by their godfathers. Under new laws, mob bosses can be sued for the misdeeds of their underlings – who must now pass a 12-page test paper which questions them on a range of banned activities, from bootlegging fuel to dumping industrial waste.

FOOTNOTE: Crime and punishment.

Verse And Worse

2009-09-19T12:30:00.001+11:00

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

An electrician named Errol
Put the whole town in peril
When he lost a lot of money on the colts
And stopped concentrating on the volts

Is It Up, Or Is It Down?

2009-09-19T01:00:00.004+11:00

Do Not Adjust Your Screen

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This week’s theme really got me thinking, because there aren’t really a lot of shots I’ve taken that would meet the criterion. I was starting to wonder how best to depict this – and then I remembered a couple of shots I took about eight weeks ago.

I just happened to be coming down the stairs from Southbank to the Langham Hotel here in Melbourne, when I noticed a Mercedes-Benz parked in just the right spot. Not only was it in great light and in a position where I could shoot it from above, but its hood also had a clearly discernible reflection of one of Melbourne’s most recent and most recognisable landmarks – the mammoth Eureka Building, which opened in 2006.

I took the first shot exactly where I stood and then I realised that if I moved slightly to my left, I would be able to shoot a segmented image. By this I mean the reflection of Eureka would occupy the left-hand side of the car’s hood, while the right-hand side would be absolutely clear of anything at all.

Now I can also explain why I was so lucky that the car was a Merc. The distinctive three-pointed star is a perfect point of reference. Not only does it divide the image into two clear segments, but it is one of the easiest corporate symbols to identify.

Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Upside down''.

They Really Value Their Neighbours

2009-09-19T00:01:00.000+11:00

Gotta Make It Worth Their While

The residents of Grand Avenue, Surrey, have earned the reputation as England's nosiest neighbours. Property price comparison site zoopla.co.uk found that home-owners on the street were more likely than anyone else to check out the value of their neighbours' homes.

FOOTNOTE: Hot property.

Verse And Worse

2009-09-18T12:30:00.001+11:00

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Professor Turner
Lit the bunsen burner
But the angle of his pose
Meant that he singed his nose

Standing Tall

2009-09-18T11:30:00.000+11:00

The Grace Of Architectural Contrasts

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

These two minarets stand proud and tall atop the old Forum Theatre. I shot this on Wednesday evening, as the clouds started to build up at dusk.

I had my long lens on, so I could have framed a tighter shot, but I wanted to include a contrast in styles and shapes. The spire in the distance is part of St Paul’s Cathedral.

St Paul's had a recent facelift, but the Forum, which is such a part of Melbourne's heritage and history, is suddenly starting (from the outside, at least) to look its age. Maybe there is a refurbishment plan around the corner ....

Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.