Coming Home...

Jacques and Priscilla
Grahamstown

"What should we do?" Priscilla asks as we arrive at the railway lines.
She's nervous, but hiding it well. If I hadn't met them before, I wouldn't have suspected. But I have, so I know that her quiet demeanour is just a mask for her nerves at being in front of the camera.
"Do what you always do," I tell them. "Be yourselves."

And slowly, but surely, it happens. The nerves fade as Jacques takes her hand and they walk together, talking, laughing, and trying their best to forget that I'm there. Which is perfect for me - as I tell them, "I want to capture the way that you are when you're together." As their focus shifts from me to each other, I can see their poses adjust into comfortable familiarity. Priscilla smiles at first and then laughs at Jacques' jokes, and his soft voice is joined by a wide grin, which is echoed in her smile and her eyes.

The railway lines that I've chosen to start off their engagement shoot are more than just a pretty backdrop - they're a part of their story, a symbol of the journey that led them to this point, and it hasn't been a short one. It's spanned George and Cape Town, and now Grahamstown, and it's just the start of their journey together. But, Grahamstown is a beautiful place to start a life together, and to show them that, I take them to my favourite part of town, just as the fog is rolling in.

The two of them lean into each other as they sit in the long grass looking at the spectacular view of the town at sunset before it disappears into the all-encompassing fog. This is where they are for now, and who knows how long they'll stay, but just looking at them I know that wherever they are, as long as they're together, they'll be home.

The Traveler

The Traveler
A Fictional Account of a Sunrise Photo Shoot
With Amy Caroline Goodenough

There is something wonderful about the world at 5am. Before the sun has touched the horizon, long after the night has ended but before the morning has begun, the tip-tapping of heels and crunching of gravel beneath my feet acts as my anthem. It is as relentless as the humming of the insects that rise to greet the morning as I do, and about as voluntary. My legs move on without my mind – it’s left to wander cities and streets of memories as my muscles move me ever forward.

Sometimes there are lights that guide me, other times the darkness is my sole companion. A car will occasionally race by, blinding me, taking advantage of the empty road in a way that I can appreciate, the lingering scents of petrol and burnt rubber the only impressions that they leave. I breathe in the aromas as they blend into the still cool air and hold them in my lungs, a reminder of civilisation.

I will wander roads for days at a time, never conscious of the direction in which I’m heading, never knowing where my feet will lead me next. The world is my roadmap, the flora and fauna its markings as well as my shelter. I carry little with me but memories that weigh me down and keep me grounded.

Seven Super Shots

I have been feeling down lately. In fact, it goes beyond that really. I have been feeling depressed, run down and nostalgic. You know those moments where you wonder if the choices that you made in your life were the right ones? Yeah, I have been feeling a lot  like that recently. And I have been looking for something to cheer me up.

And then I came across a challenge that was posed by my friends over Neil and G Go Walkabout, a couple that I met and became friendly with in Korea. It is, above all, a photography challenge. But it is also a challenge that allowed me to indulge in the nostalgia in a way that does not actually make me feel sad, but in a positive light. 

All of the photos were taken over the last two years and all with my Canon 550D, and some are not as good as others, but they all bring back fond memories. Which, I think, is what I need right now.

A photo that takes my breathe away

I still remember taking this photograph, standing on a wooden ledge overlooking the islands of Tongyeong, South Korea at sunset. I remember thinking to myself how peaceful the world was, how beautiful it can be, and this is still one of my favourite shots from my year in Korea. I like to think that it kind of epitomises the year that I spent there.

A photo that makes me laugh/smile

One of those technically not so good photos that I was talking about earlier, but oh does it make me laugh. This was taken during my trip to Durban last month, when I got to see Robyn for the first time in what felt like forever. And Robyn has this amazing energy about her. She goes out of her way to make you happy, and just thinking about this whole day makes me happy. This photo makes me happiest of all though. Love you Robyn, you monkee.

A photo that makes me dream

This could be anywhere. It could be a desert, it could be an ocean. Those people c ould be anyone - it is almost impossible to tell who they are if you don't know them. And I like to look at the photo and imagine myself in the Namibian desert or at some exotic coastline instead of just Kenton On Sea. Boring old Kenton on Sea, which apparently is not quite as boring as it may seem.

A photo that makes me think

This photograph was taken at the Uitsig Animal Rescue Centre in Cape Town. And this is a rescued dog. Looking at him always makes me wonder what kind of life he must have led, what kind of people he must have had and what kind of people would give up on such a beautiful, wonderful creature. He was so incredibly friendly and loving, and it just hurts to think of him as an abused animal, though that is what he is, because it is hard to think that anyone would want to hurt such a beautiful animal.

A photo that makes my mouth water

My first meal in Thailand was at the restaurant of the Mimosa Spa and Resort. I had never had Tom Yum soup before, and this Chicken Tom Yum was my first experience of real Thai food (as in made in Thailand rather than just bought at a Thai restaurant). And it was incredible. I could have eaten it all day. I certainly ate every bite  of this despite the spiciness (I am such a sucker when it comes to hot food). It was totally worth it!

A photo that tells a story

This photo was taken during the Grahamstown slutwalk. For those who do not know what a slutwalk is, it is a protest that happens around the world that supports the fact that women should not be judged by how they dress, and that dressing in a certain way does not promote or warrant rape. This was one very brave woman who turned  up to the event in lingerie to make a statement, the only one that I saw. And I thought that she was absolutely amazing and that the image made the perfect statement for the event.

A photo that I am most proud of

It's a weird one to be proud of, and it may just be that I am particularly proud of it right now in this moment. This photo was taken only a week ago in Grahamstown at the abandoned train station. It is the first HDR photo that I have taken and really loved. But that is not why I am proud of it. It's because, when I look at it I think of my Mom's dad who passed away while I was in Korea, my grandfather who adored trains, who studied them and collected them, and who I think would have absolutely loved this photo. And that makes me proud of it. The thought that grandad would be proud of me for taking it.

And now is the point where I am going to pose this challenge to other photographers and other people out there. There are a couple of people that I would like to specifically direct the challenge at, but I think that anyone who enjoys photography should participate. I know I found it to be both fun and worthwhile, and I got to rumage through the photos that have been taken  over the last year which is always a worthwhile effort.

So, some people I would like to direct the challenge at are Shaina from Foodie Getting Fit and Nikita from SnowPony on Parade in addition to some others who will be tagged on Facebook. Let me know when they have been posted - I look forward to seeing them!