Stare Case

Artist: David McMahon
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Stare Case

Sometimes I get asked why I enjoy taking photographs of “ordinary’” sights. I always smile when that happens – because there is really no such thing as an ordinary sight. It’s all in the mind really.

Beauty does not only exist in mountains or lakes. It literally is everywhere – but it depends on what catches our fancy. There is the ability in all of us to see wonder in everyday objects, not just in dewdrop-bedecked cobwebs that look like jewelled tiaras.

Think of the photographer’s role as being akin to that of a translator. I would not be able to understand Swahili, for instance, unless I had someone translating for me. And, along the same line of thought, a photographer can sometimes show you a sight that you might not stop and admire on your own.

So can you guess what I’ve photographed here? It’s simply a staircase. Just a handrail supported by vertical bars. And just a wall. But when you put them together, the sum total of what you see can sometimes be out of the ordinary.

To me, the real key to getting this shot right was to get the last vertical metal bar to line up precisely between the orange and olive green segments of wall in the far background.

I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my work in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 18-125mm lens. F 5.6, 1/15 sec, ISO 800, focal length 78mm.

Featured in JUST LINES, August 2009.

116-8630

Stare Case belongs to the following groups:

! 100% !, Abstract Realism, All Around the Styles, All the Colors of the Rainbow, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Alright, what is it?, aqua, lime or indigo, Australian Contemporary Photography, Creative Spirits of Queensland , Depth Of Field (2 images per day) - Read Group Rules Please, Friends of Bangor and North Down Camera Club, Northern Ireland, Friends of RedBubble, I ♥ Patterns, If it doesn't belong, Images & Ideas, Melbourne & Victoria, Metallic Junktion, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Mysteries of the Common(2 per day), PENTAX , Perspectives, Shapes & Patterns - Limit of 2 images per day, Stairs and Staircases, Technical Photography, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, The Art of Intrigue 2/24, This Is Relevant (2 per day), Tuesday Afternoon, Unconventional Artistry - 3 per day, Universal Innovation, Untouchables, Victorian Viewfinders and What A Shot ( READ RULE"S) Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

Helene Henderson

You are so right, David. This is beautiful.
David McMahon replied

Thank you very much, Helene – I could not resist the segmented colours!
IndraniGhose

When I first saw the image, I was thinking , ‘how well David has aligned the last vertical bar with the edge of the wall in the back ground’ and I found the same in your description. A little bit here or there it would have been an okay shot, this is perfect and a great capture. :)
David McMahon replied

Thank you for that kind complimen, Indrani. Alignment, for me, was everything in this shot.
cherylc1

Fabulous capture and beautiful color! Well said!
David McMahon replied

Thanks so much, Cheryl. I’m so glad you like the composition.
Malcolm Chant

You have some brilliant ideas David, I would never have thought of this, it’s brilliant
David McMahon replied

And you are very kind to say so, Malcolm. Thank you very much.
Helen Corr

beautiful retro colours! I also love the idea of translating!!! I think being prepared and happy to translate is key …
David McMahon replied

Thanks, Helen. I guess all artists are translators. And you;re right about finding those elements as the key ….
Cora Wandel

I agree with you completely, excellent work as always!
David McMahon replied

Thank you very much, Cora. Sometime the simplest sight can provided a multi-layered shot, I guess!
Vanessa Barklay

Great shot and colour David, I like ordinary things too :O)
David McMahon replied

Thank you very much, Vanessa. WE sure see eye-to-eye on that score.
sfmilner

Greetings David; I agree with your summary, very well put ! Great eye on the composition and framing and the use of the colors and forms ! Stunning work !
steve
David McMahon replied

Thanks so much, Steve. I’m so glad you like the composition and the use of colour. My thanks ….
kathy s gillen...

beautiful David, love the colors
David McMahon replied

Thanks, Kathy – I couldn’t resist the chance to depict those beautiful colours.
JUSTART

great work
David McMahon replied

Thank you, JustArt. Always grateful for the way you support my art and presentation.
JayneLogan

Fabulous composition and I certainly agree with your narrative .. photography has given us not only the gift of sight and seeing but a constant craving that is damned rewarding. Hey! I see you are a PentaX Man ! I sleep with my Pentax under my pillow .. LOL … Cheers!
David McMahon replied

Thank you very much, Jayne. Glad you like the narrative. And yes, my Pentax goes everywhere with me.
gerrardt

~your ‘visions’ are incredible….and your commentary on this is insightfully ‘spot on!’ ~~i couldn’t agree with you more! i am opening up and blossoming lately (finding and seeing that beauty is and was always ‘right here’ and exists in the simple things that are around me~~—but i had lost my connection to those things through conditioning and time…we think alike and i see so many awesome shots in your portfolio!!!!
David McMahon replied

May I simply take a bow after that amazing compliment? Yes, like you, all artists blossom when they immerse themselves in their art form, because it is a process of discovery.
Robert Verste...

excelent composition….less is more and i like it… :)
David McMahon replied

Thanks very much, Robert – glad you like the result. The shot just composed itself in my head!