Alien Invaders March Through The Valley

David McMahon

Alien Invaders March Through The Valley

A few hours after a couple of my colleagues declared that power lines were most definitely the most boring sight in the world, I decided to see if I could find an interesting perspective.

I drove out to a great lookout point, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) away from the city centre. There is a long, deep valley here and although I was hoping for a dramatic sunset, there was no flaring colour to work with.

Then I suddenly realised, as dusk faded, that all I had to do was swap my 18-125mm lens for my 70-300mm lens and use the wonderful series of shapes and silhouettes that surrounded the gentle arc of the power lines, against the monochrome of the sky.

By shooting from this angle and keeping the frame asymmetrical, I was able to highlight the shapes, while allowing the pylons to disappear into the distance.

I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 70-300mm lens. F5.6, 1/45 sec, ISO 800, focal length 300mm.

Featured in SKYSCAPES, November 2009.

Featured in 60s GLORY, November 2009.

Featured in A VIEW SOMEWHERE, November 2009.

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Alien Invaders March Through The Valley by David McMahon
Alien Invaders March Through The Valley by David McMahon
  • sfmilner

    sfmilner 20 days ago

    Greetings David; Excellent effect and title. Nicely done. I hope your friends changed their minds about power lines.
    steve

  • David McMahon replied 20 days ago

    Thank you very much, Steve. They did have a chuckle when I showed them this image – and it drew some VERY interesting feedback when I posted it on my blog at the time!

  • Diana-Lee Saville

    Diana-Lee Saville 19 days ago

    Pretty SHOCKING but I like it!!! :))

  • David McMahon replied 19 days ago

    Full marks for humour. The perfect spot for an AC/DC concert!

  • Diana-Lee Saville

    Diana-Lee Saville 19 days ago

  • David McMahon replied 19 days ago

    Thanks, Di

  • Diana-Lee Saville

    Diana-Lee Saville 19 days ago

    A good spot for a Frank ZAPPA concert too :))..lolololol…i am soooo funneeee

  • David McMahon replied 19 days ago

    I concede defeat – you take the points in this contest. But the atmosphere is electric!

  • Helen Corr

    Helen Corr 19 days ago

    it’s easy to find beauty in the obvious places – flowers, pretty people – i think the power lines are beautiful too!

  • David McMahon replied 19 days ago

    Thank you so much, Helen. My parents would be delighted to read that comment, because I was raised to appreciate beauty in the most unexpected places.

  • photoloi

    photoloi 19 days ago

    great!

  • David McMahon replied 19 days ago

    Thanks very much, PhotoLoi.

  • Shulie1

    Shulie1 19 days ago

    You can even make the unsightly into a work of art – great shot!

  • David McMahon replied 19 days ago

    That’s a huge compliment, Shulie – thank you so very sincerely.

  • Mike Oxley

    Mike Oxley 19 days ago

    Great shot, David. Might be a good venue for the Electric Light Orchestra, too.

  • David McMahon replied 19 days ago

    That’s a top pun, Sir Michael. Yes, ELO would have been very ``switched on’’! Or even Sir Cliff Richard, singing Power To The People!

  • Mike Oxley

    Mike Oxley 19 days ago

    Or Monty Pylon’s Flying Circuit…..

  • David McMahon replied 19 days ago

    I bow to genius …. but I’m glad this is not a ``power struggle’’!

  • Mike Oxley

    Mike Oxley 19 days ago

    Nope. Just keeping up on current affairs. Cheers!

  • David McMahon replied 18 days ago

    Like Buzz Lightglobe!

  • Cathleen Tarawhiti

    Cathleen Taraw... 19 days ago

    Congratulations, this is featured on the Skyscapes group homepage :)

  • David McMahon replied 18 days ago

    Thanks very much, Cathleen. That’s wonderful news. A great way to end the day here. My humble thanks!

  • valandsnake

    valandsnake 19 days ago

    great composition, well spotted. These technology/nature shots hold an endless fascination, well done and congrats on the feature

  • David McMahon replied 18 days ago

    Thanks very much, ValandSnake. Very kind of you. Glad you like the shot.

  • Cee Neuner

    Cee Neuner 19 days ago

    Great lines!!! :D

  • David McMahon replied 18 days ago

    Thanks so much, Cee – good thing it wasn’t a ``power’’ struggle!

  • retsilla

    retsilla 19 days ago

    very artistic!
    beleive it or not, there is a an RB group here

  • David McMahon replied 18 days ago

    Thanks so much for letting me know, Retsilla. That’s very kind of you.

  • Paula McManus

    Paula McManus 17 days ago

    fabulous! :)

  • David McMahon replied 17 days ago

    Thanks so much, Paula.

  • Evaldas

    Evaldas 17 days ago

    Nice.

  • David McMahon replied 17 days ago

    Thanks very much. Glad you liked it.

  • Richard Veal

    Richard Veal 16 days ago

    Well seen and captured.

  • David McMahon replied 16 days ago

    Thank you very much. I saw beauty in the shapes and the slack of the wires – and it’s great to see that this image has attracted quite a few comments.

  • PhotosByG

    PhotosByG 13 days ago

    Congratulations! Your photo has been featured in “A View somewhere…..”
    This photo was chosen because it was of a very high quality and it captured exactly the sort of work we are looking for in this group.
    Please keep up the great work and we hope you continue to add more of your excellent photographs to this group.

  • David McMahon replied 13 days ago

    Thanks so much, Graham – wonderful news. Hope you have a great weekend.

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