Stroke Of Luck by David McMahon
Quite apart from the rare pink-orange hue of the Yarra River’s surface, what I really wanted to depict here was the wonder of how geometrical aspects crop up in scenes from everyday life. (1031 views and 31 favourites on 12 February 2012.)
Apart from the symmetry of the slender, dark oars and the diagonal motion of the vessel away from me, I was struck by the repetitive pattern of the bow wave that is echoed all the way across the hull.
And an interesting counterpoint to the many straight lines and acute angles is provided by the pattern of concentric circles on the left of the frame.
This shot was taken just before dawn in early July 2009, when the river took on an interesting coppery hue as it reflected the winter clouds high above. I was walking across Princes Bridge when I looked down and saw this crew rowing towards the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
I shot two frames, unsure of whether my reactions would actually be quick enough to capture the concentric pools of water left by the passage of each oar.
The thing I really like about this low-light, quick-motion shot is that you can still see the swirls and eddies left by the previous dip of the oars into the water. Fast swirls. And also, er, fast eddies.
I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my work in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 18-125mm lens. F5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO 800, focal length 125mm.
Featured in COLOURS OF WATER, July 2009.
Featured in TECHNICAL PHOTOGRAPHY, July 2009.
Featured in DAWN & DUSK LIGHT, July 2009.
Featured in ALL COUNTRIES: WETLANDS, PONDS, LAKES AND RIVERS, July 2009.
Featured in THE ART OF ROWING, August 2009.
Top 10 in YOU’RE ACCEPTED challenge, September 2009.
Featured in NIRVANA, October 2009.
Winner, ACTION IN THIRDS Challenge, January 2010.
Featured in ALL ABOUT BOATING, June 2010.
Featured in FREEDOM IN WORDS AND ART, September 2010.
Top 10, PEOPLE AT WORK CHALLENGE, February 2011.
Featured in ALL WATER IN MOTION AND REFLECTIONS IN WATER, April 2011.
Featured in HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY, May 2011.
Featured in #1 ARTISTS OF RED BUBBLE, May 2011.
Featured in HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY, May 2011.
Featured in PENTAX, September 2011.
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Tags
concentric, david mcmahon, hull, melbourne, oars, rowers, rowing, sport, vessel, yarra river
Comments
Excellently taken David.
Thanks, Colin. The thought struck me that it’s not often a person gets a chance to photograph progressive concentric circles!
– David McMahon
Bellisimo, extremelly well done!!!
Thank you, Lorena. Luckily I walked to the edge of the bridge, looked down and saw this crew!
– David McMahon
wonderful shot
love the pink-orange hue
Thank you, JustArt. Later this week, when I have some spare time, I’ll upload a shot from the series I shot of the sky. The colours were pretty good – and very unusual for winter!
– David McMahon
Excellent, David! The light is amazingly well captured. Love this.
Thank you, Maureen. I just waited until they rowed into the right spot. It was as if someone had painted the river!
– David McMahon
LOL “Fast Eddies”! Great shot, David. Very nicely done.
Thank you kindly, Mike. Glad it made you chuckle!
– David McMahon
This is really top work, with the color, subject, and wave pattern.
Thank you very much, Betty. I just had to wait a few seconds, until it all came together in one frame ….. a little bit of patience and a little bit of luck.
– David McMahon
This is beautiful.
Thank you, Lizalady. I’m so glad you share my opinion.
– David McMahon
what a lovely mellow light and pleasing image.. there is so much to see in the ripples and patterns..
Thank you very much. I was extremely lucky with the light that morning …. and this crew turned up just before I walked away.
– David McMahon
Love the light and the patterns… great work! : )
Thank you, Jenny. Lucky to be in the right place at the right time. A two-man crew would not have had the same effect, as far as the ripples go!
– David McMahon
David you are SO right about the unusual color … and SO SO SO right about the geometrical shapes … I LOVE finding them!!!!!! Well done, you!!!!!
Thanks, Lois. It’s interesting how these shapes crop up when and where you least expect them!
– David McMahon