For nature - and open spaces - and rain, rain , rain

I left on Friday to go camping with the kids and the Voortrekkers. This time I went along not to help with one of the groups but as official camp photographer and social media. Therefore I took photos of every group , walked kilometers between them and posted the pics on Facebook as every part of the weekend and day went along. The parents absolutely adored it as they had a few into what was happening as never before

I have to say that it was absolutely great to do something I love the whole weekend - although the fact that it became hugely overcast early on Saturday resulting in rain and rain and more rain that made light and taking photos rather difficult at times. It also of course made camping with 195 primary school kids a lot more difficult. It was cold too - but trying to get little boys to wear jackets and shoes seem to be a bigger challenge that one may expect. It's a good thing the kids and most adults slept in rooms and not in tents although some of the adults did pitch tents and brought caravans.

I just love being a bit in nature, see past the city horizons and appreciating the beauty. Yes, it was still hard work (I also did what was needed at times - everything from first aid to helping a tiny bit in the kitchen) but it was fun. There were the most beautiful moments that nature showed us during the weekend - mostly I think thankful to the unpleasant weather.

This was dawn on Saturday morning - cool and beautiful.

This was dawn on Sunday morning - really cold and it poured the rest of the day too - so much so that there was no formal closing of the camp due to heavy rain.

In between there were moments of brief sunshine and rain at the same time.

I love that I could spend time seeing my kids, sometimes from a distance between their friends. I have realized once again that A has the best of the pick as her friends, that C is very selective with who he spends his time with and that L adapts better than one assume he would.

I also love my favorite photo from the camp - from one of those sunshine/rain moments - just like life I guess. Gold after the rain.

So - which is your favorite photo?

My 2 favorite weekend pictures

In my moms garden - it has 11 strings this year

The best R16,95 spent for giant pavement crayons

Monthly photo challenge

I am at last again joining Marcia in the Monthly photo challenge - and I am 1 pic short of the 5. I am going for a pedi today and there is no way I would take a pic of my feet yesterday. Self portraits are my worst  - I hate them, therefore it was a great challenge for me. I took all of them with my new nifty fifty - still finding my feet with it.

Hands - my office coffee mug and my mani colour from Saturday still in great condition.

Doing something I love - doodling, my at the moment passion.

Something I love to wear - my Janna Clifford long stelm rose pendant and chain (anniversary gift from Hunter) and an ever popular Big Blue skirt.

Saturday snapshots

So yes, I  missed last Saturday's snpshot linky but alas, sometimes life (and work) gets into the way of blogging. For this week, I had to search my old files as I have been too sick to think about taking photos and too busy to care. But I do like the little selection I have for you. The theme this week is Letters/words

The letter "q" - an easter egg hiddens in our little under tap water bowl

The letter "y" from, yes, you've guessed it YMCA from the Princess' ballet concert (she is centre front)

The letter "k:

And my word for the year, "Hope" which has stood me very well so far

Spetember Saturday Snapshots - week 2

So it's time for our little photo challenge again with Marcia and Mandy . I decided to do it again - take 5 minutes and take the 5 pictures like I did last week - but this time at our own home.

So without further ado - my textures and patterns:

Tree trunk in our garden - can you see the face?

Brick patterns and lines. Love the sense on perspective.

I edited this one in black and white to bring out the leaf pattern.

I love the textures on the sea shell mobile.

Lovely simplicity in the pattern on the pation table.

So are you playing along yet? And which one is your favorite?
Mine is the sea shells shot.

September Saturday Snapshots

So, I have committed to play along with Mandy and Marcia for their September Saturday snapshots. The first week's theme is "colour" and I decided before hand to take new pictures as I have sadly been neglecting my photography in the last few months. By Friday morning I still had nothing, so I popped in at the flower seller accross the road from the Princess' school, took some pictures and also filled one of my weekend goals.Seeing that tomorrow is officially the first day of Spring here in the Southern Hemisphere, I think it is very appropriate. So presenting you with a flower rainbow:

Yellow

Orange

Pink

Purple

Blue

Want to join in? The themes for the weeks are:
 1 Sept - Colour (or color for the non-UK English speakers :)) - specific colours/ monotone/absences of colour
8 Sept - textures and patterns
15 Sept - sound (this is going to be fun - interpret as you wish)
22 Sept - letters
29 Sept - dirty/ messy

And just for a laugh, yes - I am also doing this:

National pride

South Africa is on a total high today after winning our third gold medal at the Olympics last night. It might not seem much for my overseas readers, but taking into account we won one silver in Beijing this is just fantastic. Add to that that only one of the wins (Cameron van den Burgh) was predicted and it makes it so much sweeter.

I just love the video of Chad le Clos' dad Bert - pure parenting proudness. But it is the commentators that really have me fascinated with all the mistakes they make in their excitement. Here in SA we generally hear the British commentators but I has a chance to hear the American commentary on the Le Clos race yesterday morning. Gosh, it was funny- as Chad won she said, "Oh and Michale Phelps makes a huge mistake"  And that's it - not someone else won very deservingly because he was the best on the day. To Phelps' credit after his very visible disappointment just after the race in the pool, he snapped back to be the perfect gentleman and looser (well, in my books a silver at the Olympics is anything but a looser). In an interview on the radio yesterday morning Bert le Clos told South Africa that Michael Phelps is the best mannered lad he has ever met and that his mom has raised him so well. Now that is the Olympic spirit.

Even more of a surprise was our coxless 4 rowers - somewhere along the line the commentator gets confused between South Africa (an outright surprise) and Australia (a possible winner) and commentates most of the way in the race accordingly .To his own surprise he realizes as the race completes that it is in fact South Africa that won and not Australia and you can hear the shock in his voice..

Steering on with the national pride idea, I think we have produced a building that deservedly needs it's place in the international Architectural scene.

On Tuesday morning I was privileged to be able to go on an architects only pre view of the new //HAPO exhibition space/museum being completed at Freedom park. It is a building that has sparked a lot of talk in South Africa and will only open to the public later this year. So I will share just a few pictures with you.

A very photogenic building and I would suggest a visit once it opens. From what we could see of some of the exhibits they were busy with it will be exciting and interactive with a children's garden and story tellers to lead you through. If you are in any way a photographer, do go - it is extremely photogenic.

Sometimes you need to be a bit more

More than a wife, mom and career woman. You need to be more of yourself, of being creative. Of doing something that makes you truly happy outside of this all. Food for the soul if you like.

I have been thinking about what I like and would like to do to fill my happiness tank.I though about all the hobbies I have had in my life - making beads, needle work, painting , drawing, photography, mosaics, pottery, horse riding, yoga - a long list. And although I do the occasional yoga class at gym it is nowhere the quality and intensity I was used to. And horse riding is simply not practical at the moment. Occasionally yes, but intensity, no. Not with all I have to do and money wise. But I evaluated all and decided that I would love to do more in photography and discussed it with the hubby. I might do a course in the future. The occasion to feed my creativity cam soon and unexpected when my cousin invited me to a photography forum's event on Sunday and in the blink of an eye and one call the the hubby to co ordinate schedules and time, and I was in!

What I loved about the event was the casual approach and easy timing. Apart from the two challenges there was no stress to perform involved. The atmosphere is very much in terms of positive comments and teaching with encouragement. After introductions we had a nice brunch followed by our first challenge - to photograph the restaurant experience.I really like my photo below but I does not say restaurant, does it? I have to agree that I got distracted by beauty. And there's something in the corner?

This one shows a bit of the atmosphere of the place.

On to the next section which was a workshop where you had 4 options ranging from beginners, to portraits, to macros and unusual angles etc. I chose portraits because my interest is mostly in people and boy, did I learn a lot. They had a wedding photographer couple that showed us the ropes,with natural light, different light conditions, fill in flashes, slave flashes and reflector screens. Wow, a whole world. Also learned a lot about the light triangle and juggling with that.

What I think was my best shot of the light skinned model:

And the dark skinned one. I should have had my ISO on 200 and not 400 to have the very bright background a bit better in balance but I love how I got her skin to "glow" and not "shine".

Then we were set the "one shot" challenge - we got one shot only and half an hour to take it in - thus release your shutter just once. This is more difficult than you think - we are all so used to taking many shots with digital and edit - now you had one shot, no editing and no testing. This was mine:

The comments that I got was that it is slightly over exposed but a very interesting and eye catching shot.

I loved the whole experience -not only having some time for myself for the day, but learning and meeting new like minded people. 

And I used my new knowledge to catch the super moon - out of hand with my little zoom lens (and cropped). Not great detail or super sharp, but certainly better than I did on Saturday night.

Now I have to comment on the forum, and post some photos (which I am terribly afraid to do) but I guess it is learn and take the criticism. After all, it is putting yourself out there that is the next step in growth.

The bridge

 

 We live quite close to a pedestrian bridge that cross the highway. It was completed last year just before the soccer world cup and lit up in the colours of our flag. I never got around to photographing it. For a while, it was changed back to ordinary lights but I have noticed that the flag colours are back - for the Rugby World Cup? Not sure - but looks pretty. 

Last night as I was returning from the "Moms night out" at the Boys' school, I stopped and took this shot - and as I did not have my tripod with me, I am rather proud of the shot.  I know it is a bit grainy but so be it.( taken at Iso1600, fstop 5,6 speed 0.6)

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

The usual Friday ramble.

I should post a nice Photo story Friday post - I have so much material after the holiday and I have promised myself to post our holiday snaps earlier as I have not even done December properly yet. But alas, life goes on and I have heaps of loose odds etc floating in my head.

• Little man C had an asthma flare up after a tummy bug he had on Monday and Tuesday. Really the timing can not be worse as our dear Lucy is still on sick leave. We have now reluctantly put him back on the Singulair after taking him off it while on holiday (and yes, the mood was more pleasant then). Hunter and I are at the moment sleeping apart - one of us with him in our bed  and the other in their room with Little man L.
• Really the sleep issues around SID is getting to us. We had 4 amazing nights sleeping through on holiday and only one really tough night with him - now we have had 4 really crappy nights with him. It seems that the weighted blanket helps at times, but not all the time. We have tried everything - kids you not. And even medicating now and again does not ensure a good night's sleep. I think I had one stint of 3 hours last night, the rest were minutes here and there. A mom with a son that is now 18 and has SID tells me he slept through only at 5 years! Gosh, I do not have the energy to go another year and a half...
• Lucy is doing well and is with one of her daughters recuperating. Really this is tough for us but with the help of Hunter, the laundromat for ironing and Rebecca our ironing lady, now cleaning lady, we are coping. We still have not caught up with laundry washing after the holiday - seems to take ages to dry now that it is colder (and a bit cloudy). Thanks goodness for our tumble dryer, 13 kg washing machine and the dishwasher.
• The Princess has recovered well from her little cold that started on our last day of the holiday but Little man L sported a nice runny nose this morning. Please kids remember staying at home from school is going to be tough right now!
• And on the Princess - we have a proud mommy moment to share. She won the Playball floating trophy this week - the first trophy to grace our home won by a child of ours. She is super excited and we are so proud.

• One of the tile reps that I deal with called me a few weeks ago after she heard from someone that a do a bit of mosaics, asking if I want some mosaics they are throwing out due to ranges changing. Look what arrived! A huge box. Feels like Christmas.

•  My trusty rather good watch's battery has gone flat and can only be changed by a fgew selected jewelers. Until I find the time to take it there I was completely lost without one - so I bought a little costume cheapo from Woollies - fake troll beads and all. Pretty, don't you think.

 

•  I picked up our second photobook from Qphoto on Wednesday - I am so happy once again and this time around they send me an email to come a day later. Good going guys! I have already started with 2008 - I am planning to go back to when digital got going in our home, or maybe further back with scans.

• I am so in love with my 55 to 250 Canon lens that I bought in December. So many of the great pics I took of the kids this holiday was with it. Catching them unaware is great. And what a great honor to have beautiful photos to make beautiful books.

•  We are having my mom over for Mothers day for a nice little braai and tomorrow night friends for Hunter's curry.

So with that, my FITC - have a great weekend. What are you planning?