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!
Cape Town
Cederberg Wilderness Area, South Africa
I tagged along with my group of friends to go to the Cederberg Wilderness Area for a four-wheeling excursion. The Cederberg is about 200km North of Melkbosstrand where we all live. That's roughly 120 miles on a two lane crazy road with trucks, bicycles, people walking and anything else that will move. That's just how Africa is. When you get into that area there is a small town that you go through called Clan William. Not much there. Some gas stations, restaurants, school, etc, however, there is a very famous resort called Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat. Supposedly this is one of the top ten resorts in the world. It's out in the middle of nowhere. Cederberg has beautiful terrain.
Big red rocks precariously balanced on top of each other and a relatively dry climate.
After going through some relatively mild roads we got to a small town named Wupperthall. Wupperthall was established by missionaries and many of the people there are descendants of the founders and either live off the land as subsistence farming, working for the preserve, or work in the shoe factory.
We walked around the town for a while and encountered several of the locals which were more than willing to pose for photographs. This young man wants to be a photographer, so we chatted a while, and I gave him my card so that I could send him his photo. I like to do that with everyone I photograph. it's the least I can do.
We left Wupperthall and that's where the adventure really began. Granted the road was not marked well and the map was difficult to read. As luck would have it we took the wrong way of two choices. We went down into a valley with no exit out. We would not find that out for another two hours. Shortly into the ride one of the vehicles had the road give out under the rear wheel and tipped into a very large hole. The Jeep was almost on it's side with two wheels on one side in the air.
We finally got out after talking about how we'd be sleeping in the vehicles and being seriously worried. It's not like a tow truck could even get to us. We finally got to the end of the trail as far as we were concerned after I was chased by a farmer's hogs when I was opening some gates. Not fun. We turned around and got back to we made the wrong turn and headed back to ClanWilliam where we had some burgers a went home. Another remarkable adventure with great friends. To be honest most of the time we laughed off our predicaments because we live and work in the paradise that is Cape Town! Can't wait to do it again!