Contrasts In Style And Grace

Two Faces Of Melbourne’s Architectural History

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

These shots were taken while I was walking towards Flinders Street Station recently, on an afternoon when the wind was biting but the sky turned brilliant blue for a short while.

As I walked, just soaking up the atmosphere of this beautiful city, I suddenly realised that if I found the precise angle, I could capture an interesting shot of the city.

So amid the crowds, I waited until I could find just the right spot in front of the city’s main station. I used my long lens for this sequence, because I wanted a really tight frame that encompassed two different styles and two very different eras in the city’s rich history.

In the foreground is the graceful Victorian-style façade of Flinders Street Station, just to the right of the central dome above the main entrance. In the background is Eureka Tower, the highest residential structure in the southern hemisphere.

The station is redolent of nineteenth century grace, while the super-skyscraper that redefines Melbourne’s skyline has only been officially open since October 2006.

So there you have it. A single frame that presents both ends of the spectrum of Melbourne’s most recognisable buildings.


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Heart Starter

Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This shot was taken just over a fortnight ago, as I walked past Flinders Street Station. I noticed there were new posters affixed to the tram shelter between the station and Federation Square.

And I also realised that if I really walked quickly, I'd be able to get a clear shot of the poster through the traffic - with a tram in the background. I wasn't quite quick enough, because the tram was actually moving when I hit the trigger for this shot.

And in case you're wondering what the sticker says up the top of the glass of the tram shelter, it is: "No smoking in covered areas."

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Bright Prospects

Yours, For Just $12 - An Armful Of Colour

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

These shots were taken two weeks ago, on a glorious winter afternoon when the sun was shining brightly and there was no real bite in the wind chill. I detoured through the forecourt of Flinders Street Station, where the flower vendors always add a touch of colour to the day.

Sure enough, among all the long-stemmed roses and a wonderful assortment of other varieties, I spotted these beautiful orange crysanthemums. I had just hit the button on the first frame (above) but I wanted to compose a tighter shot. It took me a split second to adjust the focal length, when all of a sudden the light changed dramatically.

And I mean ... dramatically.

It was as if a burst of light had suddenly illuminated the orange foliage. But the sun hadn't just emerged from a cloud. I was puzzled, and looked to my side - and immediately realised what had happened. Someone standing near me had been blocking the direct sunlight and as soon as he moved, the blooms were bathed in blinding light.

Instead of waiting or moving to a better position (or waiting for a cloud to mask the bright sun) I took the shot anyway, knowing the saturation of light would give me an effect that looked something like an oil painting. I wasn't disappointed ....


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Station Airy

Get On The Straight And Arrow

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

You simply have to have your camera with you at all time, right? And sometimes the most ordinary sights can compel you to lift your camera and shoot, right? And there’s no such thing as a boring image, right?

The first shot was taken at Flinders Street Station in May this year. And as I hit the shutter it reminded me of a similar sight I had shot during a very rushed afternoon at an MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station in Singapore in mid-December 2007.

Life isn’t all about following the arrows, you know. It’s also about finding some breathing space, which in turn spawns creativity. These creative impulses are everywhere. But it’s up to us to pause and recognise them.


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