Experimenting with Self Portrait - 157/365

Lately I love experimenting with my photography. Another experiment at a self potrait.

Band at Cape Town Art Walk - 156/365

Cape Town has First Thursday's, which is an Art Walk night in the City Bowl District. Art Galleries are open late, clubs open early. The wine flows because it's almost cheaper than water here. Stopped into a club and listened to an all-ladies metal band just off Bree Street. My365Project, Band at Cape Town Art Walk - 156/365

The Start of Winter in Cape Town 155/365

The clouds, the cold, and the angry sea signal the start of Winter in Cape Town, South Africa. My365Project 155/365.

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

Had to get with "The Booties" - 153/365

When surfing in the Cape Town area i.e. somewhere near the Cape of Good Hope a wetsuit is essential. It's not just a nice thing to have. It is what you get when you get a surfboard. Booties on the other hand are not always necessary especially if you primarily surf in Muizenberg where the water is warmer than the Atlantic. Since I live on the Atlantic side they are necessary. My first surf at Big Bay with no Booties resulted in having to come out of the water every 20 minutes because I could not feel my feet enough to be able to stand on the surfboard. Notice that they are Reef Booties and Proudly South African made. Had to get with "The Booties" - 153/365

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

High Contrast Self Portrait - 147/365

Here is another self portrait. Hopefully, this one isn't scary. I always see people making images in a mirror so I decided to try. I wanted to make it more interesting so I converted it to B&W and ended up with a high contrast image. Images with shadows are much more interesting because it requires you to imagine what may be in the shadows. My365Project - 147/365

My Mother the Artist - 146/365

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.

Just Another Abstract Experiment -145/365

Another abstract photographic experiment. In my mind it all starts out when I see a grouping of colors, light, or shapes of normal mundane items and imagine then in an alternate way. Most of the time by adding movement. In this image, which was one of many attempts, I shot my instrument panel while rotating around the axis of my speedometer. My365Project - 145/365.

Surfers Corner on a Rainy Day - 144/365

Most of my friends know that lately I spend a good deal of my weekend time in Muizenberg, surfing. This allows for plenty of opportunities to photograph Muizenberg at different times of the day and in different weather. While rain keeps the average tourist away, it really doesn't make a difference to surfers. Wet is wet! Here's an image of a rainy day at Surfer's Corner in Muizenberg as the train passes by. It's called Surfers Corner because of all of the surf shops and surfing activity. The Corner Surf Shop in fact, is the first surf shop on the Continent. They are all separately owned businesses, but what makes it really cool is that they refer business to each other. My365Project 144/365

South Africa is Going to Hell! - 143/365

It is a relatively recent phenomena that South Africa has received the "Fast Food Spawns of Satan": McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, etc. Here in Cape Town it is all the rage. Before you know it South Africa will have similar obesity problems as seen in the USA. Too bad. The food is so good here! My365Project 143/365.

Lifeguard Stands at Melkbosstrand - 142/365

An image of the Lifeguard Stands in my town of Melkbosstrand. Melkbos is a Milk Bush and Strand is Beach in Afrikaans. It's like a little fantasy village. Unlike any other place in Cape Town. It was actually voted the best place to live in South Africa. A surf town. Neighborhood Watch. Kids walk and ride their bikes to school. People run and walk their dogs on the beach. Police and Armed response patrols are always somewhere close. Couldn't think about living anywhere else while I'm here. Lifeguard Stands at Melkbosstrand - 142/365

Sunrise at Koeberg - 141/365

Sunrise at Koeberg Station and Nature Preserve. They truly are spectacular.

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

My Bill Foote Designed Surfboard - 139/365

Bill Foote

The surfboard in Hawaii has a deep and spiritual history. In this modern era of mass produced popout boards, the custom Hand-Shaper is an increasingly rare breed of artisan who continues to respect the importance of carrying on the Hawaiian tradition of constructing sacred craft. Bill Foote… is one of those legendary Hawaiian surfboard shapers… where quality, innovative design, and customer enjoyment of his boards is what he really cares about and focuses on. Bill’s constantly evolving designs are borne out of a rare and unique depth of experience that spans over a 40 year period as a well respected and world renown Surfboard, Stand Up Paddle, and Sailboard shaper. My surfboard was designed by Bill Foote, cut out to his specifications, then sent to him for correction and approval prior to covering with material and then epoxy. Pretty cool actually. The company, Signature Surfboards was started by Neil Esterhuizen here in my town of Melkbosstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. He coordinated with famous surfboard designers around the world and created this line. I wanted to make sure to buy local and this was the best of all worlds. My Bill Foote Designed Surfboard - 139/365

After a Day of Surfing at Big Bay - 138/365

Here I am after a day of surfing at Big Bay. Big Bay is a surfing area in a neighborhood called Table View due to the Table Mountain view behind me. It's a really nice beach with a boardwalk, restaurants and shops. It was a beautiful day with nice beginner waves. After a Day of Surfing at Big Bay - 138/365