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Kauai Muffins are Just Evil!

Here in Cape Town there is a restaurant chain of really good natural, and healthy food called "Kauai". They also have a restaurant in each branch of the Virgin Active Gyms here in South Africa. Needless to say, I am a frequent customer as I usually end up going home after my workout around dinner time. The Evil part is that these wonderful muffins are sitting right up front. They are delicious, but I am usually able to resist the temptation. Nothing artistic. Just another moment in my life. My 365 Project 113/365

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"Dogs at Sunset-Cape Town"-My 365 Project 112/365

"Dogs at Sunset-Cape Town"-My 365 Project 112/365

"Dogs at Sunset-Cape Town"-My 365 Project 112/365

It's so common to walk out at about anytime on the beach here in Cape Town and see people and their dogs. This is a very dog friendly culture. It saddens me that I cannot have my dog over here. He's just too old to make the trip, but I know he'd love it! I really liked the way I was able to silhouette them against the sunset. "Dogs at Sunset-Cape Town"-My 365 Project 112/365

Koozie from Hawaii

Koozie from Hawaii

Some people complain, or ridicule trinkets that people bring them from trips and vacations, and many times rightfully so. It actually takes thought to give someone a meaningful gift. Meaningful does not have to mean expensive, just relevant. I made this image because it is an image of a thoughtful gift. This was given to me by my sister on her recent trip to Hawaii. Knowing Hawaii, I'm sure it was expensive as well. She knows that I enjoy my one or two Sam Adams beers every evening. Now in Cape Town, that would be Jack Black Lager. I can now slip my beer into my Koozie and think of her and home. Thanks Sis!

Biesmiellah in Bo Kaap - My 365 Project 102/365

There is an area of Cape Town called the Bo Kaap (Upper Cape). The Bo-Kaap is an area of Cape Town, South Africa formerly known as the Malay Quarter. It is quintessentially a Township, situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre and is an historical centre of Cape Malay culture in Cape Town. The Nurul Islam Mosque, established in 1844, is located in the area. Bo-Kaap is traditionally a multicultural area, rich in history and situated on the slopes of Signal Hill. The area is known for its brightly coloured homes and romantic cobble stoned streets. It originated during the third quarter of the 18th century, when Cape Town began to expand along an east-west axis. The first houses in this neighbourhood were probably built in 1790 but between 1795 and 1820 an increasing number of lower income families including many artisans began to make their homes here. The influx of Malays into this quarter probably began in the 1830s when slavery was abolished and Malay residents who had been forcibly brought to the Cape began to make their homes there, and by the middle of the 19th century it was already known as the Slamse Beurt, or the Islamic Quarter. It owes much of its character to the nature of its domestic architecture, mostly single storey houses with flat roofs painted in a variety of pastel colours. A number of mosques with picturesque minarets are still in daily use. The Quarter was probably a major factor why the Cape Malay community managed to retain its identity as a group. Unfortunately the quality of its environment began to deteriorate after WWI, and in 1944 it was declared a slum. This led a number of prominent Cape Town citizens to form a group for the retention of the Malay Quarter, with the support of both the then Historical Monuments Commission as well as the City Council. Initially much of the suburb was purchased by the City Council, but as public opinion began to swing in its favour, so then the Government began to set aside funds for the rehabilitation of this area. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 15 April 1966. (Wikipedia) (http://www.sahistory.org.za/places/malay-quarter-cape-town)

My experience in the Bo Kaap started with aimlessly driving the streets of Cape Town when I got here. The colorful houses and culture was a photographic marvel to me. I organized a photowalk there and had everyone meet at a restaurant called Biesmiellah. Sanna, the lady on the far left told us that Biesmiellah is the oldest Malay restaurant in Cape Town and has been in business for thirty eight years. The Chef on the right has been there all thirty eight and his assistant for twenty seven. The food is amazing and every time I go I just have Sanna bring out "something". It's funny that many Capetonians knew nothing of The Bo Kaap, and were careful no to go there. I can tell you from experience that it is a totally safe place especially during the day with all of the tourist photographers making images of the colorful buildings. Tour busses stop here. What a wonderful place! My 365 Project 102/365

Owners of Biesmiellah

Owners of Biesmiellah

More images of The Bo Kaap from a previous visit.

The Element of Texture in an Image

The Element of Texture in an Image

On my evening run I made several images and this one was a pleasant surprise. I initially wanted to get a view of my favorite subject, Table Mountain, from a low vantage point with a sweeping view of the beach in the foreground. When I got home and looked at the image on the computer I immediately realized that what I captured really was not about Table Mountain, but of the texture of the sand in the foreground. While the mountain is there and is certainly pleasing, I was more interested on how you could see the individual grains of sand which is the texture in the image. Surprisingly enough, I got this amount of detail with my iPhone.

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Table Mountain Sunset

Table Mountain Sunset

I saw a great combination of sunset and Table Mountain to get a bit of a silhouette of it and dusk. I immediately pulled over in Table View Beach to make the image. I've been looking for this for a while now. 74/365 #tablemountainsunset #tablemountain #capetown #tableview #capetownbeach #southafrica #za #capetownsunset #fujixe2 #365project

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Selecting a Wedding Photographer Part 1

I've seen many articles on selecting a wedding photographer. They are usually found in bridal magazines or Pinterest and are not written by photographers. That is unless the photographer is looking for work. To be clear and for full disclosure, I am not actively seeking clients. I am in Cape Town until June of 2015 and at this point I am concentrating on personal projects. I may take on weddings again in the future, however, I plan on being very selective on the clients I work with. I will never be a wedding photo factory. I could never do that. I am the type of photographer that desires to establish a relationship with people I photograph. You can't do that shooting a ton of weddings a year. To that end, my number one piece of advice would be my number one piece of advice to be to pay attention to how many weddings a photographer shots per year. I would not select a photographer the shoots fifty weddings a year. It is almost impossible to give personal and unique photography services to each client. High volume photographers are generally, what I call the photo factory and will have a cookie cutter approach to the weddings they shoot. You will pay less for the photo factory, but remember, this may be your once in a lifetime wedding. A good clue that you may have found a great photographer is one that either answers a phone or returns a phone message rather than doing everything by email. The one that wants to speak with you and wants to find out what YOU want is at least starting out in a good direction. So in a nutshell. Step one would be to make a list of ten of your favorite local photographers that shoot twenty or less weddings a year, have a phone contact and return your call in a couple of days with plans to talk about your wedding photography desires.

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My First Attempt at a Serious Panorama

"Melkbosstrand Sunset Panorama" 50/365. You really have to have this image fill the screen to appreciate it. This is my first serious foray into a Panorama. The sky was kind of ho-hum with my 35mm f1.4 lens on the Fuji XE-2 but all of the parts left and right put together with what I saw would be what I wanted. I made individual images and stitched them together in Photoshop. Then I turned them into the exact tone I wanted in Black and White. Actually a slight Gold and Selenium tone. I really like it. I really enjoy requiring myself to make an image everyday as it is pushing me to be creative. At least in my mind.

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Little Boy in Hout Bay...

Little Boy in Hout Bay...

I saw this little bot in Hout Bay, a harbor town just on the other side of Table Mountain from Cape Town. I had gone to a market that they have there especially so that I could do some photography at the market and the fishing boats in the Harbor. This boy's Mother was selling sea shell trays that you would put change, or your keys in. I stopped and asked if I could make some images of him and she said yes. I also bought to little trays. I will never make an image of someone if they ask for money, but if they're selling something I will always buy.

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"African Runner" Cape Town

"African Runner" 19/365
I was out for a run on my Cape Town beach, and making sunset images when I saw another runner coming my way. I waited for him to enter the frame anticipating a silhouette caused by the sunset. #365project #iphoneography #capetown #beachrun #sunset #melkbosstrand.

African Runner

African Runner

Broken Sand Pail

I was running on the beach in Cape Town last evening on Melkbos Beach when I passed this broken sand pail just left there by someone. The beach in front of my place is usually pristine. Not a paper, can, or any trash to be seen for miles. The ones who use it regularly are excellent stewards of the beach. The runners, walkers, dog owners, and surfers really appreciate this wonderful place. I had to make this image to show what happens when the infrequent beach goers happen to visit in droves during the holiday season. What I noticed when I was ready to make the image with my iPhone was that it may be more dramatic showing a ground level view, or what the smallest living creature may see of this left at their doorstep. I tried several angles using the sun in the back. It was difficult because I could not see the screen so low so I had to approximate my framing. This image is uncropped but I added some filters to make it more dramatic and enhance the colors. Quite beautiful for trash. I love contradictions in photography.

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