iPhoneography
I made this image immediately after my ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video. Luckily it was warm in Cape Town that day, but as usual, the water was Ice Cold so I needed neither a bucket nor ice!
Ice Bucket Challenge Self Portrait
Ever since I can remember my Mother would draw. Sometimes with pencil, and sometimes with charcoal. It was a repressed passion. Not by anyone, but by circumstances called life as a career woman with children. After her retirement she has become very prolific in her creativity taking up the most difficult of painting, being watercolor. She has exhibited in shows, galleries, museums, and sold her works and prints. To everyone's joy she always paints birthday cards. Original watercolors. Here is an image of a card she sent me from an image I made while on a Safari in Kruger National Park in South Africa. I treasure these and do not take them for granted. She is an artistic inspiration! My365Project - 146/365.
Abstract Art at the Gym - 140/365
I spend a lot of time at the gym so it is natural for me to see image making opportunities there. While I will always maintain everyone's privacy, I frequently see still life image possibilities. This was one of those. I made the image with my iphone. I quickly twisted it while pressing the shutter. This was the result after many failed attempts. Abstract Art at the Gym - 140/365
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
This is a Venture into the Abstract
I listen to a lot of photography podcasts, read a lot of photography books, and also see the work of many photographers. I was listening to a photographer on a podcast about discovering and working with more abstract images as a way of self-expression. Abstract usually translates into, you either love it or hate it. There's usually no in-between. The image above started out as an abstract image that was a mistake. Literally my shutter went off as my camera was moving after making an image. I saw the result and decided to put some work into it in several image programs. The result is what you see. Like I said, you probably love it or hate it. Enjoy either way.
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.
Read More"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
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.
Last 2013 Winter Sunset in Cape Town
I heard some debate to day on the radio whether or not this was the last day of winter here in Cape Town, South Africa. Regardless of whether it is or not I decided to go out with my iPhone and make an image of the potential last sunset of winter. The sunsets here never cease to amaze me. I guess that's what is experienced by living directly on the beach. To that end I thought a lot about the experiences I've had here and the realization that we, as individuals, do not experience enough beauty, nature, people, and travel. We tend, and by that I include myself, to allow too much of our lives to go by un-experienced! And also un-appreciated. As they say here in Cape Town, "sho, shame man." This place and the people here are amazing. I'm sure some will be long time friends. Are there problems here in Cape Town, yes, but probably no more that any other large city in the aggregate. People in Cape Town know how to live. They experience life to the fullest because they enjoy life. Take for instance the Braai. We in the U.S. would call it a Bar-B-Q. But here it has little to do with eating. It's about people getting together, building a fire out of wood and waiting hours until that wood turns to red embers prior to cooking. In the meantime people are talking, sharing experiences and a little bit of drinking. Do I miss family and friends back in the States? Of course I do, but the experiences that I have had and made here, and have yet to experience are, and will be priceless. And I plan on sharing those with others when I get back to the U.S. So what started out in my mind as just going out and making a simple image has reminded me of all of the advice that you hear in song, in writings, and in the movies. Go out and experience life. Take that risk. Travel to that place that you've always planned on visiting, but haven't. Most of all, live a life without regret!
What is out there?
I made this image the other day on a beach run in Melkbosstrand. I saw the the little girl just standing there with her cute hat on and thinking that she must be wondering what is out there. I asked the parents if it was ok to make her image, and made several images with my iPhone. Yes my iPhone. "The best camera is the one you have with you." In this case it was the iPhone. I edited the image in a program called Snapseed that is free and owned by Google. I've had it since it came out and I actually paid for it. Oh well, it was worth it. It's what I use to edit most of my iPhone images. It allows for a lot of creative control and not just some standard filters. The point of the post though is not the image, the editing program or the camera. The point is that you can usually find the best images or ideas in your own backyard, so to speak. Not literally your own backyard, though it may be in my case, but somewhere that you have unencumbered access, is close, and one that you are very familiar with. We all have these locations. I'm looking out my window right now and I see a Kite-Surfer preparing his kite for a ride. I am sure that if I go out there I will be able to find something to shoot. You get the point. Find the spot you know like the back of your hand and concentrate on that. Push yourself to make good images. See you later. It's a beautiful orange kite!
Many things on my plate today. Bank account, car registration, and fixing my Visa. My work Visa is good for three years, but they stamped three months at the airport. So out of all of these nightmarish projects in a foreign country, which do you think would take the longest. Banking, no, I have a personal banker in the Premier division of FNB, a subsidiary of Barclays. Took 10 minutes to open my account and they'll send someone to deliver my debit card. Twelve dollars a month for unlimited transactions and rewards points. Take that Washington Mutual! Visa problem, no, another 10 minutes. Mistakes on their part go to the front of the line. How about that. Registering a car in your name is a NIGHTMARE! But, at least you can gift a car and not pay the tax of 14%. My old boss was gracious enough to give me his Mercedes! I'll bet all of the private car sales are gifts! Stopped by this cafe in downtown Capetown. It was unique. It had a Steampunk decor (Marisa) and they roasted and ground their own coffee (Ana & Janelle). The Roaster and Grinder were huge. When you paid your bill it came in a pewter mug. Very cool. I congratulated the owner and asked if I could make some images. He was flattered. Also looks like I may have an apartment. Really hard to come by in Melkboss. Only three condo complexes. Lucky enough to find a large, very modern one bedroom across a neighborhood street from the beach with an unobstructed view and most importantly, sound of the waves. Mesmerizing. No more iPod with fake wave sounds. Comes a small little yard that includes a slab where you park your car and a beautiful electronic wooden/stainless steel gate. It's almost art. Anyway, would have rather have had a two bedroom but the price is right. Furnished, all new stuff, stainless and granite bath and kitchen for R7500. That's about $789 including utilities. Pictures to follow if I get it. Later.
I've started shooting a lot more with my iPhone. I'm very impressed with the image quality and even more impressed with the various programs for shooting, editing, and custom ing your images. Here is an image that was edited and processed with multiple programs.
