La Machine - Long Ma the Dragon Horse finds Kumo the spider

[Manfred M]

These images show Long Ma the Dragon Horse tracking down Kumo the spider. Kumo has stolen Long Ma's wings and burned them, so needless to say Long Ma is not happy. Up until this point, these giant mechanical creatures have been doing solo acts throughout downtown Ottawa and this is the first time both interacted with each other.

Photography was extremely challenging because of the huge crowds - many thousands of people showed up to see these mechanical creatures. I was lucky, having showed up about an hour ahead of time, was able to get myself into a reasonably good shooting position. I shot two cameras; my Nikon D810 and used the 20-70mm lens and my Panasonic GX7, which I used with the 100-300mm lens. Changing lenses was impossible, even though I had other lenses with me; the crowd was that large and close together.


1. Long Ma approaches the National Gallery of Canada site.





2. Long Ma shoots out smoke and water. I like the way the smoke blends with the clouds in the sky.





3. A view of Kumo's face between Long Ma's legs.





4. What good is a Dragon-Horse that does not spew out a few flames?





5. Kumo rears up and repels Long Ma with its legs

[Mike Buckley]

I've never heard of much less seen anything like this. It would be great fun to meet the choreographer!

[Stagecoach]

Superb engineering complimented by some fine woodworking, and nicely captured.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Wavelength]

Must be very funny over there....

[xpatUSA]

Superb engineering [complemented] by some fine woodworking, and nicely captured.

The woodwork caught my eye too, Grahame. Looks like adze work and hammer+gouge'd features. Also interesting are the clamps and taper pins holding the wood to the beast's frame. Highly inscrutable.

Pictures weren't bad either, Manfred.