Really! Was This Necessary? 199/365

This sign was actually placed on a steel beam. I made the image because of the ridiculous nature of it. Is the beam going to attack you. Will you not notice that the beam is there without the sign being in place?

Ever Seen a Diesel Porsche 198/365

Here in Cape Town most all vehicle models are available in Diesel instead of Gasoline. I'm sold! More efficient and more powerful! But a Porsche? I found it unique as an American.

Brewer's & Union Bern Stein 196/365

If you don't know it already, I'll let you know up front that I am a beer snob. No Bud or Miller swill for me. In the wine producing paradise that is Cape Town there is a surge in craft breweries. This is but one of the beers that I like. Brewed locally by Brewers & Union in Cape Town. Funny story is that they have an outdoor pub in town with all of their beers and serve great burgers. It's called "& Union". They can't use the "Brewers" part because the part of the building that they rent is owned by a local church.

I Love Photographing Stormy Weather 194/365

I went on a photo walk with my photography group in Cape Town. We visited a wine estate called Hillcrest. www.winelands.co.za/wine-farms/ Hillcrest Estate is a boutique winery nestled in the Tygerberg Hills. We hiked around a bit and got to the top a hill just in time to see a storm moving in. I just love the photographic drama of storms!

View from The Club - 192/365

Virgin Active here is much like an LA Fitness in the States. They are everywhere. I go to whichever one is convenient at the time. The club I went to on this day is at the upper part of Cape Town toward Table Mountain. Beautiful view!

Table Mountain from Blaauwberg Rocks - 189/365

I made this image of Table Mountain from Blaauwberg Rocks, a rock outcrop about ten minutes from my house on the way to Cape Town. A storm was just rolling in. Not a surprise in winter.

Night Lights - 188/365

I made several images on this particular evening and after playing around with this one a bit, it appealed to me. I can imagine this as a very large print.

Roxy Teaches Girls to Surf - 187/365

One of the two places I plan on taking my family to learn to surf is Surf Emporium. It is owned and run by Six Time South African Surfing Champion Roxy Davis and her husband William. Roxy started her business with some loaner boards from her sponsor under some beach umbrellas at Surfers Corner in Muizenberg. Roxy and William are two of the kindest and warmest people you could meet. They have a genuine caring for everyone that steps through their door. One of the major parts of their business that sets them apart is their emphasis on a Girls "RoxyLearn2Surf" program. I am really excited to think that my Granddaughters will be able to learn to surf here with Roxy. Most importantly though, I am glad to be able to call them my friends!

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My Buddy Standing Guard - 186/365

Here's the image I was able to finally make of my Buddy from the neighborhood. He lives on the corner, but this is obviously his beach.

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One of my First Surf Coaches - 180/365

This is Darren, one of my first Surf Coaches from Roxy Surf School at Surf Emporium. I got a lot from Darren especially not to take things too seriously and have fun above all else. He was able to give me some more advanced tips after I was already able to stand up on the board again. Anyone who wants to get better at anything needs lessons and a coach. I plan on taking lessons and getting coached regularly. The Pro's do it. That's incentive enough for me! No matter whom I talk to in the surf community the pervasive desire is to have fun above all else!

My Awesome ECCO Everyday Boots - 175/365

It seems that here in Cape Town I always default to my Danner, or my ECCO boots. My ECCOs are pretty much my everyday shoes. I've had these in some similar model or the same for the last twenty years. Waterproof, comfortable, and tough! Is this an ad?

My Backyard Waves - 173/365

A really beautiful Cape Town, Winter day with nice waves literally in my backyard! The town I live in, Melkbosstrand (Milk Bush Beach) is a surf town with restaurants on the beach where kids ride their bikes, skateboard, and surf in perfect safety. Not what many people think of Cape Town.

Cape Town Fisherman - 159/365

I saw this Fisherman on one of my many walks on the beach. Had to be in Black & White.

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