Walk on a Fiery Sunset - 248/365

I continue to post my 365 images as I get to them. It was tough enough to make the images let alone post them everyday. To that end I am still catching up and I plan to make a small book of all of the images. I'll have more information on that as soon as I get some information on details and possible publication methods. I want to get back to real photographs that you can hold in your hand and not just see on the computer. Nothing beats having an album.

I made this image one evening when I saw this beautiful fiery sunset and there were a couple of people walking on the beach. I wanted to convey how nice and simple life can be by just taking a walk with a loved one. I made this with my Fuji camera and I made three exposures and combined them to be able to get the bright light of the sun and the shadows in the same image.

Table Mountain Walking Sign - 191/365

I photographed for two reasons. First because it was pointing toward a crosswalk that did not exist, and secondly and more importantly the arrow lined up with Table Mountain in the distance and I thought it funny. As if to say to go hike Table Mountain.

Morning Clouds in Cape Town - 176/365

I love that my office is in Koeberg Nature Preserve. Very quiet. Walking trails everywhere. You never know if you're going to run into Zebra, Springbok, or many other species. Just be careful where you step. Many Cape Cobra's and Puff Adder's here. Not nice. In Winter they're hibernating so not a problem. Come summer they are out. I saw these clouds mid morning and I really liked the shapes and the color gradient as you looked farther East toward the mountains.

My Official AfrikaBurn Passport - 169/365

I got my AfrikaBurn Passport on check-in. Pretty cool idea! My Official AfrikaBurn Passport - 169/365. My365Project

Selfie after a Surf - 167/365

I don't ever remember wearing beanies in Miami. Only on the odd trip up North or an infrequent ski trip. In those cases I even had to borrow them. I certainly was not the type to wear one in ninety degree weather as is common to see now. That's just ridiculous. Anyway, the beanie is necessary here and I've collected a few already. This is a self-portrait after a surf session in the backyard.

Going Old School in Muizenberg - 166/365

The beauty and look of the Old School Longboard is Classic and ageless. While this board may not actually be a longboard (greater than 9'1") the shape and look fit the profile. So does the gray haired guy carrying the board. Surfers here in Cape Town have surfed all their lives. Many were taught by their Fathers or Mothers and have passed it on to their kids and Grandkids. While there are many places with better and bigger waves than Muizenberg in South Africa, it is definitely the center of the universe for the sport in Cape Town. Everyone learns in Muizenberg.

The Pope of Afrikaburn 2014 - 165/365

About a month after Afrikaburn 2014, there was a get together called Decompression. Another reason for a party. A lot of Burners were there. Saw some people I met in the Tankwa Karoo. This guy was just too good to pass up. The ireverance was just so colorful and appealing. Thanks Pope!

Melkbos Beach at Night 163/365

A Night Scene of the town Melkbosstrand (Melkbos Beach) where I live.

View of Table Mountain from Work - 161/365

I am fortunate enough to have my office in the middle of a Nature Preserve. Since there are virtually no buildings around, I have an unobstructed view of Table Mountain. View of Table Mountain from Work - 161/365

BMW Scooter - 160/365

This was a first for me. A BMW Scooter! I think I'd ride it.

Experimenting with Self Portrait - 157/365

Lately I love experimenting with my photography. Another experiment at a self potrait.

Springbok at Koeberg Nature Preserve - 154/365

Since we moved into a brand new Training Center, my offices are almost a mile from the site that you see in the distance. That puts our offices right in the middle of the Nature Preserve. There used to be all of your typical African Game in this area until the last Lion was hunted and killed in the Cape Town around 1910. Shame. This image was made right outside of our offices. The animal you see is a Springbok. Delicious, uh, I mean beautiful. They are very plentiful here and they are served in restaurants. Not as a paying customer but on the plate. They also make excellent Biltong, which is South African Smoked Jerky, only 100 times better. The Springbok is also the National Sports Mascot, or was until the current government wanted to remove all vestiges of the past in every way shape and form regardless if it was innocent of past disgressions or not. Now the only Springbok Team is the Rugby Team. The Cricket Team are the Proteas (a flower), and the Soccer Team is Bafana Bafana (the boys, the boys) huh? Anyway, so nice to work in a Nature Preserve. If you get hungry, just go hunt down a Springbok LOL! Springbok at Koeberg Nature Preserve - 154/365

My Surf Emporium Hat - 152/365

Surf Emporium was the first place that I had my first private lessons and has also been the place that I continue to do so. The one thing I can say about the Surf community in Muizenberg is that while they all compete with each other for business, they are also friends. I bought my surfboard at Expression On The Beach. I bought some wetsuit repair glue and a shirt at The Corner Surf Shop. I purchased a carry bag for my surfboard at Lifestyles Surf Shop and that's after someone at Surf Emporium did not have the correct size and sent me there. Oh and by the way I went to Surf Emporium to get the bag at the recommendation of Expression On The Beach. So it's all like a family. And everyone is genuinely nice. My Surf Emporium Hat - 152/365

Surf Fisherman on Cape Town Beach - 151/365

I saw this Surf Fisherman on a cold afternoon run on my beach. No idea what he was fishing for. I made several images. Most did not show his hand with this gesture. It added interest. The others bored me as it just showed his body with the fishing rod sticking up.

Charity Event DJ - 150/365

I was invited to a charity event for the 2014 Youth Radio Awards. Do not know much about it but I thought the DJ looked interesting.

The Ugly Side of Cape Town - 149/365

This is an all too common scene all over Cape Town and South Africa in general. I usually do not make images of the homeless because they are gratuitous and a way too easy way to get some emotional response for your image. I do, though, need to add this to make the visual images that I make about my time here real. It can't be real without the ugly reality. Why does this situation exist on such a vast scale here? Well there are a lot of reasons for it, but most of it is literally uncontrolled illegal immigration from other African countries. There is virtually no immigration enforcement unless of course you attempt to do it legally. Then there is a vast network that has to be navigated. A blind eye is turned toward the illegal immigration. Mostly being self serving. The public statements are that these individuals cannot be aggressively pursued because their home countries assisted the ANC (Afican National Congress) during the fight against Apartheid. The practical reason is that every Black African that comes to South Africa somehow finds a very expeditious way to become a citizen just prior to elections and are able to vote. Most of Black South Africa votes for the ANC. This guarantees that they stay in power. So over a period of time the ANC has systematically moved a huge population of Black Africans to the Western Cape with the promise of jobs, economic prosperity, a better life, and has not delivered. Anyway, my discussion on the crazy history of this place could go on for a long time. More than my blog could stand, but I thought it important to discuss because the reason the man is flat on his face sleeping in the street at night is not totally of his own doing, and there are tens of thousands like him mostly living in the squallor of crime ridden squatter camps that would be an outrage in the USA. Very sad. The Ugly Side of Cape Town - 149/365

Just a Cape Town Chicken - 148/365

Went to the local Farmstall (Farm Store usually by the roadside) to get some fresh baked bread and jam. This chicken kept following me around so he was my subject for the day! Probably someone's meal for the night! Just a Cape Town Chicken - 148/365

Just Another Abstract Experiment -145/365

Another abstract photographic experiment. In my mind it all starts out when I see a grouping of colors, light, or shapes of normal mundane items and imagine then in an alternate way. Most of the time by adding movement. In this image, which was one of many attempts, I shot my instrument panel while rotating around the axis of my speedometer. My365Project - 145/365.

South Africa is Going to Hell! - 143/365

It is a relatively recent phenomena that South Africa has received the "Fast Food Spawns of Satan": McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, etc. Here in Cape Town it is all the rage. Before you know it South Africa will have similar obesity problems as seen in the USA. Too bad. The food is so good here! My365Project 143/365.

Lifeguard Stands at Melkbosstrand - 142/365

An image of the Lifeguard Stands in my town of Melkbosstrand. Melkbos is a Milk Bush and Strand is Beach in Afrikaans. It's like a little fantasy village. Unlike any other place in Cape Town. It was actually voted the best place to live in South Africa. A surf town. Neighborhood Watch. Kids walk and ride their bikes to school. People run and walk their dogs on the beach. Police and Armed response patrols are always somewhere close. Couldn't think about living anywhere else while I'm here. Lifeguard Stands at Melkbosstrand - 142/365