Apologies for the quietness...

Hello dear Followers :) We are back!
Apologies for the quietness over the last few months, however, just because we were quiet, doesnt mean that there wasnt anything on the go.

Part - or rather mostly - of the reason for the quietness was due to my hockey being played, July and August are always very busy months when we are preparing for inter-provincials, and doesnt really leave time for much else. I was partaking in the tournament held at the Randburg Astro, but never fear, we still had our cameras out there in the sport department and Rob was doing his thing. :)

    

This is a prestigious event that is held on an annual basis, moving from one province to the next. We were very fortunate to have the tournament in Johannesburg this year, for a lot of support and for us to do some much needed shooting. We were crowned victorious at the end of the 7 days, beating Western Province 3-0. Thanks to Rob for being there on the side of the field for every game, and shooting these wonderful images. For more pictures from the tournament, please click here

Huge thanks from a personal point of view must go to the ladies of DIMENSION SPORT for keeping me in one piece to make it through. Click here to find out more about Dimension Sport.

After this, life goes back to normal and we are able to dust off the new cameras acquired at the beginning of the year and start shooting again. 

Up next is a family shoot that we had the privilege of shooting. The Van Zyl family are a very fun loving, out going and spunky family. All the ingredients that make up an exceptionally enjoyable shoot. 

Heidi contacted us to do this family shoot for them as a gift for her husband Johan - he has been sitting with very old and dated photos of his family on his desk, and Heidi thought it would be the perfect birthday present. 

So off we went one August afternoon and this but just the tip of what we captured... :)

From one beautiful shoot to another. With a long standing relationship between Gen Frank Photography and Caballero Riding School, we were invited to celebrate their 10 year anniversary with them, and what a special occasion it was. Although we were guests at this function and had a lovely time spending the morning with these exceptional owners, landlords, teachers, students and parents, we could not help but capture such a wonderful milestone and achievement. 

Thank you for inviting us to share this beautiful day with you all. :) Congratulations and here's to many more years!

   

   

For more pictures from the Caballero Riding Schools 10 year anniversary - click here

After this, we made our way to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens for a birthday party - Pirates and Fairies only. This was the 2nd birthday of little Caylee-Shae. We had the pleasure of doing a shoot with her when she was just a few weeks old, and look how much she has grown! 

What a gorgeous little fairy she is!

For more pictures of the Pirates and Fairies that attended this party click here.

Glad to have caught up with you all on what we have been up to over the last few months, and we are just about to get busier as we head into the summer months!

Dont forget to book us should you want a photoshoot, or email us at genfrank@gmail.com for more information.

As always, Live...Love...Remember

Picture from the weekend 12

HAPPINESS IS.....

... and this little girl is just bursting with it all. Such a carefree spirit with so much love to give... kisses in the morning and cuddles at night. Unconditional love no matter what... I think we can all strive to be a little more like them sometimes...

Live...Love...Remember

Picture of the weekend 11

Ok, so this one isn't exactly a picture from this past weekend, *blush* but it forms part of effects that we have been playing with for a while now. 

We thought we would share it with you anyway in our picture from the weekend... :)

What an amazing experience this was for us... testing our bodies to the limit and doing a lot of voluntary and involuntary soul searching... Maybe.... one day.... the book will be published :)

Live... Love...Remember

Picture from the weekend 10

Hello everyone... :)

Its again been a while since we have posted one of these pictures form the weekend, however, all good things take time ;)

Here is our latest picture from the weekend, it was taken a few weekends ago, was out playing just before the sun set, and managed to capture this. Its taken a while to get up here due to the fact that I just didnt know how to do what I saw that evening justice in an image... and it finally came to me today. :)

Live...Love...Remember

HONG KONG - where East meets West

2 months later, and you finally get to read about our unforgettable trip. This trip was  undertaken by the 2 'members' of GFP. As a business venture to purchase new equipment, and as a travel adventure, to explore and shoot images for ourselves and our new and progressing business.

Although we have put some of these images up in various places (facebook, flickr), what we have decided to do is showcase some of the more personal images from the most exciting 2 weeks in 2012 so far.

We had been planning this trip for 18 months, and with a 6 month delay, the time finally arrived. 15th March 2012, and we were off on the 17:00 SAA  flight to Hong Kong!

A flight is a flight is a flight, and with a fair amount of airmiles under our belts, we took it all in our stride, Rob sleeping most of the way, and Gen catching up on all the Twilight movies she had missed. See, flights are good for SOMETHING ;)

Land in Hong Kong, and you are in a different world. Harsh to say... but everything works, everything is clean and everything s pretty much automated... heck, even the toilets flush by themselves! A quick Burger King lunch ( not yet brave enough to try the Asian cuisine) and off we went. We were staying with a friend (Claire :)) who has lived in Hong Kong for a long time, and had to make way to Discovery Bay, wherever that was. "Following you!" would soon become a familiar phrase, as I had absolutely no idea which way was up and which way was down, so had to trust my ever patient tour guide... Tour Guide Rob :)

Arrive in Discovery Bay, and once again, you feel like you are in a completely different place, definitely not Hong Kong. Discovery Bay I would liken to some sort of Wisteria Lane, no cars allowed, only the public tansport buses, and  golf carts. Yip, thats right... the folk of Discovery Bay all drive golf carts. Interesting place indeed.

Our first weekend in Hong Kong was a bit of a whirlwind... dinner at the best Thai restaurant in DB, breakfast at the Jumbo floating restaurant, which lasted till 3pm, drinks and adventures at the Hong Kong cricket club... Stanley Market, Lunch at The Boat House, sundowners at The Boat House... ferries, taxis, buses and the MTR... this was most certainly going to be adventurous 2 weeks!

As I sit here today, the next 2 weeks I cant remember in the exact order that it all happened, but what I do remember, is that the Monday after the first hectic weekend, was CAMERA BUYING DAY! *happy dance*. This was the day we had waited for for quite a while. After making the 30 min ferry ride from DB to Central,  then catching the next baby ferry (two dollar!) across the harbour  to Kowloon side, walking the streets of Kowloon, with every second person asking if we wanted/needed a tailor... not too sure what this may have said about our choice of clothing... but we just 'politely' declined and carried on walking, only to be targeted by the next one. Relentless I tell you! Map in hand, its pretty easy to get around, and we eventually found the shop we were looking for, the camera we were looking for, and most importantly,  the price we were looking for. After signing my life away ( wink wink) I was the proud new owner of .. da da... a Canon 7D. *big smiles an handshakes all round* not really, but you know what I mean :)

Im not too sure what  happened after that, its all much of a blur really... I think it goes something like this... Rob buying a new baby camera, walking back down to Nathan Road, and snap snap snap away. The sound of the new camera is just so different to my baby one.. I could have snapped away all day.

Here a few of the 1st lot of snaps, hustle and bustle of Kowloon and Centrals streets.

Over the next 2 weeks, from more bus rides to eventful taxi drives, more walking and ferry catching to more MTR-ing and definitely more picture taking, we experienced this city for all it was worth. We took on viewing the Pink Dolphins, braved a few local bus rides up to the Tian Tan Buddah and across to Tia O Fishing village where you get to experience the more local and quiet part of Lantau Island. We strolled around for hours just taking in the life these folk have... so simple and uncomplicated is our perception of it all, however, they may look at us and think we have the best of lives... i dont think anyone is really and truely ever satisfied with what they have.

Anyway, the travels and adventures continued... The Hong Kong Botanical Gardens and Zoo - nothing like you have ever seen before... I mean a zoo in the middle of a concrete jungle??? A trip up the Peak Tram to see  the light show down below - but were sadly  greeted by nothing but a beautiful white sheet of cloud... lucky there was a Burger King up top which served as our dinner for the evening. Eventually the clouds did clear and we managed to see the view from the Peak - pretty darn stunning if you ask me!

Next up was what most people live for in Hong Kong.. the  Rugby 7's. We hadnt planned it that we were there at the same time, it just happened and we went along with fate, purchasing tickets *cough cough* in SA before we left then crossed all fingers, toes and eyelashes the 3 of us could muster  that we hadnt been duped and would in fact get these elusive tickets. Which, luckily we did, after walking Wan Chai for almost 2 days to meet the guy, we finally got them... and off we went.... to THE MOST debauturous party ever! What a fabulous time we had, and its definitely a MUST for anyone visiting Hong Kong at towards the end of March.

Off  to Kennedy Town where Claire works and off to meet the kiddies... the 'travellers' as we were branded would come and visit them and tell them about the journey they were on... and even coach a spot of hockey. Can never quite get away from it.. its in the blood!

Hong Kong at night is a very different place... the lights come on and the town dresses up for you. What a beauty. Temple Street Night Market with its very different and unique stalls, was followed by watching the lightshow from Kowloon side, which, incedently, would include a wonderful jumping shot taken by  the locals... we have yet to publish this little one ;)

Monastaries and Nunneries are also a definite must when visiting these parts of the world. They are so serene, so peaceful and so into another world, you almost forget that you are in the 21st century surrounded by concrete. We found these to be a wonderful place to soul search and and just be.

Our last evening saw us having a little spoil... well, Rob actually spoilt Gen, but we both had a magnificent time. Up on the ICC, looking down over Kowloon and Central, watching yet another light show and sipping cocktails... what more could a girl want?! Such a treat that will be remembered forEVER!

 

So, thats about it in a nutshell.. what an incredible time and cant wait for the next one! There are, I have no doubt, some bits that have been left out.. either intentionally *wink wink* or unintentionally... lets meet for a cuppa....... :)
Thank you thank you to our beautiful friend Claire... most amazing person ever and thanks for having us 'round'. :)

Live...Love...Remember