Hello again

As promised I am writing again soon, I have a number of photos that I would like to share and discuss a little.

I encourage everyone to offer suggestions and thoughts and even constructive criticism, so please feel free to share your thoughts, and not just on the photos, please consider this an open forum for discussion!

On to the photos!

The first one is from of a series of photos I took of some delicious cupcakes and strawberries – among other things.

 

I purchased some colored cardboard sheets and set up my studio lights.

Mostly I tried to separate the subject from this make-shift background, using a light between the two, and varying between having two other lights from the front-left and right.

I also changed some of the backgrounds from time to time, trying to match up the colors that just jump! The white balance may be a little off, but these colors were really interesting to work with, I hope you like the results.

I may have shared these Johnnie Walker photos, but I thought I would re-post some.

Once again these were done with the studio lights, and a very similar setup to the food. The biggest challenge with these photos was trying to subdue the harsh glare and reflection off the glass. I finally decided that the glare gave some reality to the photo and left them as is.

These are purely experimental shots and I am sure the owners of the brand would prefer that these images do not infringe on copy-right laws.

The Macaw is one of my favorite photos, it was really an accident, but hey!

In other news;

I recently attempted my first maternity shoot.

This set up was quite tricky as I needed space to manoeuvre. Needless to say I moved the lights around a lot, trying to achieve different results.

I am hoping to do a shoot soon – this time of the little girl!

While on my mission in the garden I spotted this stick-insect/praying mantis making a break for safety. The light was horrible, and I was really too lazy to set up lights, so these were the best shots I could get. Macro really poses its obstacles!

I also happened across this dragonfly as it buzzed around. Fortunately it settled long enough for me to capture some photographs! The light was great that afternoon.

 

What do you think, any thoughts on macro photography? Or the photos?

These are a few shots of the birds that frequent my garden. I love watching them!

They don’t always present at the most convenient times though, so sometimes the light is just too harsh and the shadows all wrong. But it’s great to practice!

And finally. . . 

I have some self-portraits that I did a few days ago. 

I really tried to get the lighting just right, and I will keep trying as I am not quiet happy with the results. 

Once again, please share your thoughts, comments and criticisms. 

On another note, the main news today is that Barack Obama is serving a second term in the US presidency. 

I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing, however I have to admit that Obama is a worthy opponent, and has not steered the country wrong. And there is some talk that it is the presidents who stand for a second term have more chance at following through on their original goals. 

Here is hoping that Obama will prove worthy of his many supporters. 

This last photo is a random shot that I took at a party a few weeks ago, just thought it was a little different and so I would share it.

Hope everyone is faring well.

Chin up

Ciao for now

Hello!

Wow, it's been ages since I last posted!

I realize I've been very inactive over the last few weeks. Exams have hit me, with the usual speed. The last couple of weeks I have been surrounded, and often lost in a pile of textbooks and notes. The study matter is ghastly and repetitive; I have to recount theories and the proponents of depressing negativity and bias. All the while attempting to remember them, almost verbatim, so I can spew them back to the lecturers.

"Polly want a cracker?"
"Squawk!"

Anyway - it is great to have some sunlight again, and although the temperatures are higher than ever (a whopping 33 degrees Celsius today), the warm weather is preferable to the dreary overcast days that have been hanging over us the last few weeks. 

And yet as I type this the clouds thicken overhead - Mother Nature does have a sense of humor! 

What weird weather we've been having, and not just SA, the whole world seems to be quivering. Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, freakish weather seems to be the norm nowadays.

Thankfully, after wallowing and lazing for a little too long, I've found myself a regular rhythm. The studies have certainly given me loads to do, but I need a break now and then. Staring at pages and scribbling notes can be so tedious; can anyone say 'carpal tunnel syndrome'?

So, feeling the itch to be creative and do something practical, I started working in my garden, trying to restore it somewhat - on a budget. Obviously there are the photographic opportunities that having a nice garden bring. From the bird life to macro, the possibilities are infinite. 

Aforementioned budget is also a small part of the motivation for getting my green thumb on. 

I have nearly 2 dozen animals. From birds and parrots to reptiles, dogs and cats. You can imagine how much they all eat!

While they do occasionally serve as great models, not to mention their companionship, I'm sure you can imagine how much work they are, and how much they eat!

With so many animals, many who prefer fresh fruit and veggies, it seems practical to grow what veggies and fruit I can.

So with the idea of a veggie garden in mind I set out to tame some of the beds, create some mulch and compost and so on. Also, to be honest over the years the garden was neglected - for all the usual reasons (ahem – excuses).

The beds weren't tended and the flowers were, eventually, mostly strangled by the stronger, greedier plants. And several vicious creepers that were especially neglected, proceeded on a steady rampage to take over  the front yard.

This neglect coupled with the failure of our garden service to arrive with any precision or reliability meant that the garden destabilized into a mass of interwoven shrubs and creepers crowding for light and air, squashing out most of the flowers and turning the beds into arid sand. 

Needless to say the garden just didn't look nice.

Yet persistence and patience seems to be paying off; I have succeeded in taming one of the beds. Turning the soil and planting a few seedlings for ground cover and flowers. Pruning what had grown out of control has restored some order and beauty to the beds. It has also given a forgotten, but tough rose bush the chance to bloom.

The debris in its plenitude has given me a chance to start some mulch and compost. 

So far they are growing and looking good but I can’t say I have ever had any luck with plants; they tend to die on me. Here’s hoping that these ones don’t!

I have planned out and budgeted for the veggie garden, but I am also trying to make some compost to help out with that - the area I have chosen may have slightly poor soil, so I want to cover my bases. This all works fine as I have planned to gather what I need and do the work over several months, appealing to the budgetary constraints as well as those of time and practicality!

This all works to another motivation for my handyman activities; to attract more birds (ahem, models) into the garden. 

I've rigged a fair sized branch off my massive mulberry tree and stuffed it into a garden pot, and thus fashioned a bird feeder of sorts. It stands alongside the bird bath and I hang seed-feeders off of the branches. 

It is great to see the birds come flocking to the food, and the variety of species is increasing. They provide endless photo opportunities with their antics. I would like to start adding some fruit and maybe more seed variety to encourage even more species to stop over and pose for me. 

Ahem. 
In other news. . .

South Africa is in quite a state at the moment, although it seems like we are not alone; the US is finally reaching the culmination of its voting frenzy. I wonder what the future has to hold for the next president? 

The rest of the world also seems be facing political tensions, freak weather occurrences and general economic dismay as the EU digs itself into a deeper financial chasm and prices sky-rocket world wide.

Closer to home there is political unrest, corruption, riots over wage disputes and yet more rhino murders.

Sad how some humans can degrade themselves by condoning the brutal, barbaric and senseless murder of these amazing creatures!

I have been lucky enough to witness rhinos in the wild, but I wonder; will future generations have the same opportunities? 

On the political side, I rather think that it is time for a power shift in government. I have tremendous respect for the ANC. It has fought hard and long, and it has achieved much for our nation.  And even should they lose their majority, they are not prevented from continuing their good work. 

Yet nearly 20 years on they are still in power. My understanding of politics, of a multi-party democracy such as ours here in South Africa can be summarized thus;

There is always opposition. This opposition exists, in part, to serve as a 'watchdog' for the nation. 

Secondly, and this can be observed in other, older democracies; power needs to change hands from time to time. That is not to say that once a party has lost majority it can never rule again. Indeed it is the exact opposite. 

I may be wrong, and indeed the majority would seem to say that I am, yet the recent spate of corruption, nepotism, preferential treatment and blatant disrespect for laws would suggest that it is time for a humbling and a paradigm shift. 

Any thoughts? I welcome comments and opinions. 

Oh well, I will stop whining for now, I see I have written far too much as usual. I promise I will post again soon, next time I will include photos!