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
Read MoreI'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.
"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.
I can watch these guys and girls for hours out of my window, and I do! They are amazing athletes. Little did I know that I would be living in front of a small gravel parking lot, in front of a beach where some of the most famous professional windsurfers and kitesurfers practice. Some of them are bound for the Olympics and some are previous Olympic medal winners. Pretty amazing. I can walk through this parking lot on any day and hear a bunch of different languages. Great experience. And very down to earth guys and girls, as you would expect. 36/365project
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.
Read MoreCamper in parking lot of Cape Town Beach. Melkbosstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. 21/365 #365project #camper #capetown #melkbosstrand
Camper in parking lot of Cape Town Beach. 21/365 #365project #camper #capetown #melkbosstrand
"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 came home from photographing in Cape Town today to find the parking lot by my beach full of cars with Windsurfing gear on top. The Windsurfers were taking advantage of the roaring Southeaster and the break that is so famous right in front of my apartment in Melkbosstrand. My strength has always been action sports photography and it was the perfect day and time of day to make some images. I used my Canon 5D Mark III with a 70-200mmIS L lens with a 2X converter. I made the image at 1600 ISO at f5.6 and 1/2000th of a second to be able to capture him in flight. I've seen these guys pull off this move a few times when the waves were this high. Many of the guys that come to my beach are pro's and Olympic hopefuls from all over the world. This guy was from France. Image 18/365.
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.
I made this image from one of the many public beaches between my apartment in Melkbosstrand and Cape Town. I just happened to see Table Mountain with the Southeaster, or Cape Doctor clouds developing just before they roll down the North side and the wind begins to howl. I got out and really did not know what to expect from the scenery on the beach. It was beautiful and deserted. The wind was already blowing pretty hard and it was difficult to keep the camera steady. I had to sit down on a dune and secure the camera between my knees and my face to get this image. If I see this effect from home then I know the winds will reach me in about an hour if they're mild, or forty-five minutes if it's really going to blow hard. For the photo geeks out there, I used my Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm 2.8L lens @ 42mm 1/250 sec @ f5.6 to make this image. Oh and yes, this is an HDR image. Enjoy...
Table Mountain Southeaster Clouds, Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa
This past weekend I had a Meetup with the Photography Group I started in Cape Town. I love the Woodstock area and I especially love going to the Old Biscuit Mill on Saturday mornings. Such a cool vibe. I've seen a lot of interesting things on the way in and out of the area, especially the people and architecture. The main purpose of the photo-walk was to document and contrast the old and new. The area is slowly becoming developed commercially with Galleries, Restaurants and very nice shops and apartment buildings. The area mainly consists of a vibrant but sometimes nefarious Cape Coloured community. Most are hard working people trying to make a better life, but there is a gangster element that exists and thrives on the drug trade. I wish I could have spent more time there but the Police ushered us out for our own protection saying that if we continued in this area we could easily be assaulted or killed for our photography equipment. Of course we complied. What a shame. The result are a limited number of images from the community. A colleague and I made a plan to go back near dawn one weekend as most of the bad people are either too tired to do anything or still asleep! LOL
My photography group here in Cape Town, South Africa planned an excursion to West Coast National Park near a city in South Africa called Langebaan. I've been hearing for a long time that it's a must see place because of the flowers blooming in Spring here in the Cape. Yes Northern Hemisphere dwellers, it's Springtime here in South Africa. Langebaan is about 105km from Cape Town. If you want it in miles it's a little over 60 miles. We wanted to start out early to avoid the crowds and we planned well, or better said Sarah, the planner, set it up it perfectly. We were the third car through the gate. There is a special area in WCNP called the Pottsberg area where the Flowers are best and the area is only open in August and September as it is a fragile eco-system. I guess I shouldn't say that too loudly or someone will try to drill for oil on it. I was the passenger this time, in the back seat and it was great. We were headed down the road and I saw Ostriches that I wanted to photograph. The South African's I was driving with said not to be silly there are Ostriches everywhere. Well I finally convinced them to stop and I made these images of either an angry or a very sexually driven Ostrich.
Black Wildebeast in West Coast National Park, Langebaan, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
As we kept driving I still had my medium zoom lens on the camera and I saw what looked like a Buffalo off in the mist. It was running faster than the car, and I got my long zoom on just in time to catch only one image of a Black Wildebeast.
The rest of the day was just magnificent. The flowers were incredible and the scenery so diverse. A field of flowers at one turn and then boulders, cliffs, calm bays and crashing ocean waves.
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!
Last Sunday I had the pleasure of joining the Cape Town
Photographer’s group on an image making train ride from Claremont Station in
Cape Town to Simon’s Town. There were several scheduled stops along the way to
get out and photograph in small groups. It’s was a great concept that worked
perfectly thanks to the organizer of the outing. Photographers could team up, make friends, and share information all
in the safety of a group. I don’t care what city you’re in, if you’re carrying
a camera you’re a possible target, so there’s safety in numbers. The organizer
scheduled every stop at these little and sometimes not so little seaside towns
on the False Bay side of Cape Town. The train was pretty grungy, but it added
to the flavor of the trip and it was relatively cheap transportation. We
stopped at St. James, walked to Kalk
Bay, and continued on to Simon’s Town to have a prearranged lunch at a nice
restaurant. On the way back we stopped at Muizenberg which was the largest of
the towns. Each one of these towns has it’s own flavor, personality and history. Some looked English Colonial and some Dutch. I'm not at all knowledgeable on Architecture, but I know what I like and what is old, and it was all that. The other great thing about a group like this is that when we go out to make images, our subjects are also less suspicious because it is obvious that we belong to something. So it becomes non-threatening and much easier to get people to be OK making their image. All in all, loved it. A great trip and concept that I would recommend to all.
Last Saturday I traveled to Stellenbosch at the urging of a friend as it is definitely a place not to miss if you visit Cape Town. I was also advised that I may have trouble communicating as Stellenbosch is also VERY Afrikaans. Well, they were right on both accounts. I've seen towns, but what could be so special? When I got there it's as if I had been transported back in time with all of the Dutch and Afrikaaner architecture. Not to be lost in the conversation, it is the home of Stellenbosch University. A fact I did not know is that Stellenbosch University is where the South African National Rugby Team, Springboks, was founded. The town was founded in 1679 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, who named it after himself — Stellenbosch means "(van der) Stel's Bush". Humble guy. It is situated on the banks of the Eerste Rivier ("First River"), so named as it was the first new river he reached and followed when he went on an expedition over the Cape Flats to explore the territory towards what is now known as Stellenbosch. Yes, there were modern shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafe's, but all was in theme with the aged charm, of the town. It was a shame as most Galleries and shops were closed as I got there later in the afternoon after getting lost on the way. Not a surprise. There is wine everywhere. During 1690 some Huguenot refugees settled in Stellenbosch, grapes were planted in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch and soon it became the centre of the South African wine industry. I don't know much at all about wine personally as I am a beer snob, but I have been told that the South African wines are among the best in the world. Unfortunately, my stay was cut short as it was raining, so my time there was very limited. Here are a few select images. I will definitely be traveling back to Stellenbosch in the near future on a nice day. Hopefully I can find a bar with good beer!
Black and White Image of Table Mountain from Melkbosstrand, Cape Town, Western Cape, south Africa
It was one of the clearest days I've seen since being in Cape Town, South Africa. The day before I had climbed Table Mountain with a group starting at the Pipe Track to Kasteel Poort up to the top. We explored Tranquility Cracks and ended up descending down Corridor Ravine. All said it was a six hour trip with stops for photos, lunch, and just taking in all of the beauty. There was on point that made me a little nervous when I actually had to do some un-dramatic rock climbing to get to the Tranquility Cracks. It was though very dramatic for a flatlander from Miami that I am. A little coaching, and realizing it was the only way to go did the trick with no issues. The next day when the mountain presented itself in such a clear and dramatic way I set my mind to make some images intending for the final product to be Black and White. Here it is. Table Mountain in Black and White from my backyard in Melkbosstrand about twenty miles away. Here it is.
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!
Lone Tree and Wind Mill
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.
Cederberg Wilderness Area
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.
Wupperthall Shoe Factory Sign
Wupperthall Shoes
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.
Boy in Wupperthall
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.
Hooking up Jeep
Front view of Jeep
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!
I was very excited to go on my first real African Safari in South Africa. The location was Buffelsfontein, a private game reserve. Basically a huge area of land where the owners get a tax break for preserving the flora and fauna of the area and make some money on entry fees. This location had two options, one for a tour that they give on an all-terrain bus type vehicle and the other one is a self-drive, if you have a four wheel drive vehicle. No problem, right. We are in a Jeep. Now the guy at the start, supposedly the expert, briefed us on where to go. Now this is after he checked our Jeep and our tires. He told us that the sandy areas were packed down hard because of the rain and we should have no trouble. Famous last words! Everything was great for the first mile or so. We saw a family of Giraffes. Some Zebra, and other Antelope type things in the distance. Made several images that you can see here. Then we went down a hill and tried to go up the sandy part and dug in right down to the axles. To make a long story short we tried to put branches and sticks under the tires to get traction until we heard the ROAR! Several times. I don't know if you've ever heard a real lion in the wild roar, but it is chilling, especially when you are outside of a vehicle in the open and the lion is somewhere out there also. It sounds like a roar that you would imagine but with a very deep bass sound. You know that it is not immediately near, but from the vibration, you can imagine that it is not far away. With that cue we immediately got back into the Jeep and waited for a tractor to pull us out. We then managed to take a series of mis-directions, because of very confusing signage, and unknowingly ended up heading toward the Rhino and Water Buffalo area when we were quickly accosted by one of the preserve people, for the second time. As it turns out, had been successful in entering the Rhino and Buffalo area, it is likely that one of them would have attacked the Jeep and flipped it over. Well, we took that as a sign to leave and headed for a small fishing village called Langebaan for a great lunch. All in all a good time with good friends and remarkable memories.
My first three weeks in Cape Town were spent at the Bontkop Guest House in Melkbosstrand, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. The Guest House is impressively decorated and has a stunning view of the ocean and Table Mountain from almost all of the rooms. Ronel and Nico are the owners and make every effort to provide a home away from home for the traveler. Ronel provides a great breakfast every morning consisting of fresh fruit, coffee, yogurt, and granola to start. Then Ronel prepares a hot breakfast for everyone. Melkbosstrand is a beach and surfing town about 35 km North of Cape Town. It is easy to fall in love with this little community. I liked it so much that my mission was to find a place in town for the next two years. My original plans included areas closer to Cape Town, but after experiencing the laid back attitude and quiet solace of Melkbos it was a no-brainer to stay here. Staying at the Bontkop provided the convenience of being able to walk to the business section of town a couple of blocks away to either hang out and watch the surfers, or take in dinner at a number of great restaurants. My favorite was Dam Huis. "House at the Dam" was the first building in Melkbos and as it turns out one of the waitstaff lived at the house prior to it becoming a restaurant. Michaela essentially grew up in the house until 2003. A lot has changed since she lived there, but good memories still linger. The food is great and the service even better. Try the Fisherman's Casserole! The first image is a view of the shore and ocean just outside the Bontkop at dusk on a very stormy and cold day and night. I'll always remember the Bontkop and how Ronel and Nico looked after the new Capetonian from the states.
