Week 4, 5 & 6 - Brown

Time off

Hi

I took some time off to recover my creative juice...  In the mean time the real life happens ... 2010 is going to be a very short year in South Africa as a major part of this year is all about Fifa and scoccer...  South Africa is a great place with many very different experiences. 

Herewith some photos taken at an week end away at Neylsvlei...  It is an birding heaven with some 400 species of bird migrating there from all over Europe.

(Nikon D700, Nikon lens 80mm - 400mm, f7.1, ISO 800, 1/600s)

(Nikon D700, Nikon lens 80mm - 400mm, f8, ISO500, 1/1250s)

(Nikon D700, Nikon lens 80mm - 400mm, f5.6, ISO 500, 1/1600s)

Week 3 - Green

Growth

Hi

All is good - I am finding my groove back at work and overall all seems well... My only fustration is that it feels all the photos I take is bad and that even the ones I think is good, is getting bad votes!    Photography is such an exircise in staying humble ... maybe part of my fustration is that my photos in December did very well... even a personal best... Ga!

Is this turmoil lies the reason for my chosen photo.  To me it shows of that beauty can be found in growth... even the sharp ends of the leaves tell the story that the pain experience in growing is part of growth.

Thus shallow it en persist!  Maybe the next one will be the knock out photo I am striving for ... 
But oh, this journey is so hard...

(Taken with D700, Nikon 105mm macro lens, f10, 1/60s and ISO 200)

Week 2 - Yellow

Funeral

Life happens!

And so it did, more severe and quicker than anticipated...

We were happy go lucky doing the holiday thing when my mom phoned with  the news that our granny of 84 years passed away...  She had Altzheimer disease, in bed for 5 years and on a feeding tube for 2 years.  Her body was there but all the lights were off ... No recognition, no laughs, no tears, no caring, no treats ... none of the things she was so well known for.  I know, I know, it is better for her - life on earth had no further meaning for her.

But still, we will miss her.  We loved her.  She was soft and sweet...
Rest in peace.

I know, life happens!

I liked the photo because the coffin is central, but the family surround the main subject.

(Camera Nikon D700, lens Nikkon 80mm - 400mm f4.5-5.6, settings f11, iso 400, 1/100 s)

Week 1 - Red

Fire works crown

Hi

I took this photo on New Years eve at Umhlanga beachfront.  It is a tradition to shoot vast amounts of fireworks on the beach at New Years eve.  The fire work is symbolic of an high energy start to a new cycle in life.   

(Nikon D700, Lens 70mm - 200mm f2.8, f2.8, 1/15s, ISO 640)