So... if we remember correctly we still haven't told you about 'the' trip. The trip that took us both far and wide - in more ways than one - to enter the next step of a passion called photography...

This trip was the beginning of the next step for us, a step to better pictures, a step to the next level and what a different place this next level is. WOW!
While on this trip, we purchased some new equipment, and mainly that of a new camera... the Canon 7D. We have written a post on the GFP launch of our new addition (read more here), but we haven't yet shown the fruits of what it produced in its first few weeks.

Keep a lookout on our blog in the next few days for highlights from this amazing trip. :) It will be a wonderful treat to revisit these amazing places through the photos.. we have been back for 2 months already and its feeling like a far distant memory.

Live...Love...Remember

Lee Family Shoot

This beautiful little family shoot sprung out of nowhere, but what fun we had on this Tuesday morning! :)

We were contacted by Yvette, a referral from one of our earlier GFP Family shoots, who wanted to have a baby shoot done with her husband and gorgeous baby girl of 4.5 months.

As always, we are eager, willing and most certainly able to fit shoots into our schedules, and we had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful family on the public holiday last week.

What a fun loving, easy-going and down to earth couple Antonio and Yvette are, with the cutest most beautifully adorable baby daughter. Eager to try all sorts of things to capture those special moments, not being too camera shy and ever so tender when soothing baby Lisa when she had had enough of that horrible big lens being stuck in her face for over an hour, we managed to get these beautiful images of a wonderful family together.

Thank you Antonio and Yvette for letting us in your home to capture these memories with you.

Live...Love...Remember

Week 14 : Excitement

Right, here we are, a marathon day today with most of the catching up on the outstanding themes.

Week 14 brought along with it the theme of excitement. Long, hard thinking was done and much um-ing and ah-ing made to try and figure out what we were going to shoot for this theme.

Chocolates, sweets, cakes, champagne, babies, weddings, engagements and even jumping came to mind, but the right image and feel just wouldn't come to mind.

THEN.... yes, you got it.... my child slave was summons and off to the park we went. The park you say? Well, isn't the park fun and exciting for kids? Most kids? Once again, the shoot followed the same pattern... an apprehensive yes to come to the park, then fun and joy when we got to the park, but that was short lived when he couldn't just do his own thing... listening to Aunty Gen sometimes isn't that much fun or exciting!

After having to contend with other kiddies raining on our parade (naturally as this is a free and open park) trying to get themselves in the pictures - no can do... model release issues, dodging the dogs running around and doing our level best to make it look like we were the only ones there, and lets not forget the ever popular cries of "You're killing me!", we finally manged to get some shots that we are able to use. All in a days work for 52 Project!

Week 14 ; Excitement

Thanks to our ever patient sister, brother-in-law and nephew... promise... you going to thank us one day!

Live...Love...Remember

Picture from the weekend 7

So I think we are about a month behind on everything... which we tried our level best not to become. The rigours of everyday life; work, sport, eating... and oh yes, lets not forget sleeping too, seem to take up a large part of the day. My new camera has unfortunately had to take a slight backseat... but she still makes her appearance every now and again :)

This weeks picture from the weekend stems from Mudders weekend birthday celebrations.
My mom had purchased these beautiful coloured button bead necklaces in order to promote a Proudly South African  craftsman. I just could not get enough of these beautiful works of art. From their simplicity to their colours, I just loved everything about them!

This kind of picture and everything behind this mans art, leads me back to : LESS IS MORE

Live...Love...Remember

Week 12 : HDR Themes

Week 12's theme was the popular and ever growing HDR theme.

In simple terms, high dynamic range imaging, or HDR is a range of techniques geared toward representing more contrast in pictures. Non-HDR cameras take pictures at a single exposure level with a limited contrast range. This results in the loss of details in the bright or dark areas of a picture, depending on whether the camera had a high or low exposure setting. HDR compensates for this loss of detail by taking multiple pictures at different exposure levels and intelligently stitched them together so the we eventually arrive at a picture that is representative in both dark and bright areas.

Our image for the HDR theme is a picture taken in Hong Kong. The more I look at this image, the more peacefulness and serenity I feel inside.
This picture is taken at Chi Lin Nunnery and what an experience that little space of earth is, among all those high rise buildings and hustle and bustle of the 21st century. It definitely feels like you have stepped into another world.

They are very strict with photographers and taking pictures in these religious spots, however, monasteries and nunneries have become a little more lenient with regard to this, as it allows for more exposure and more tourists, resulting in more money for the monastery/nunnery. The only objects that you are't allowed to photograph are the actual prayer buddahs and gods.

At first, when looking at this image, we weren't too happy with having the people in the shot, as sometimes we as photographers think that an image without people in a very touristy spot is 1st prize, however, I feel that these two people actually add more to the image. They add perspective and then image becomes a more conceptual one... in my opinion anyway... ;)

Week 12 : HDR Themes

Thoughts and comments always welcome and we would love to hear them on this theme in particular :)

Live...Love...Remember

Week 11 : Autumn

Hello Everyone... and now, the 52 Project big catch up begins...

Every great intention was had of continuing to do these posts when we went away, but alas, as the way of the world would have it, that just wasn't possible.

After being back for a week, we have managed to play catch up, and here is our Autumn post.

For this theme, we once again enlisted the service of my ever suffering nephew... and after attempting to do these images with some fading light the first time... which didn't work... take 2 went much better.

Well, as good as you can imagine...after homework of collecting the leaves for safekeeping in case the garden service swept them all up and left us high and dry, the novelty of throwing the autumn leaves in the air waring off and the fun and sun fading, it again became a bribing session from my side and wails of "Oh... when is it going to end...??" from his side. We also had some help from a good family friend who thought she would assist with the leaves, as the wind was apparently too strong for my nephew to throw and 'pose' at the same time.

After a few "just one more", and even more " now we have to collect the leaves again", we finally managed to get some good shots, and these are the few that have been selected to showcase our theme.

Week 11 : Autumn

Its always a great learning curve when doing a project like this and shooting with children. Maybe next time we may have to try someone elses child, to see how well we cope with a non-family member giving grief while trying to do a photoshoot... Anyone offering?
Thank you beautiful nephew for always being initially excited to do these projects, and to my sister and bil for never minding. :)

As always, thoughts and comments welcome :)

Live...Love...Remember

New Addition to the Family

Yes, we acknowledge and apologise to you, the readers that keep this blog ticking over... we have been on 'leave' for the last 2-3 weeks, but I promise it hasn't been in vain. We have returned to the country safe and sound and have lots of news to share with you.

A few months ago, we starting making big plans for GFP, plans to take what we do to the next level. The 1st step in that plan, well, it seemed rather obvious. We need to get new equipment. And what an adventure buying new equipment turned out to be.

After doing a lot of research as to which camera would suit our needs and budget best, we decided to buy the Canon 7D. Among all the fancy bits, the long explanations (verbal and written) as to the features on the cameras and what they can do, the choice between the 5D and the 7D was a close one, however, we chose the 7D as we were assured that for sport photography, this camera would perform magnificently.

So, off we went, purchased the camera and here she is... my new new! :)

We are so excited about this, as its a rather large upgrade on the 400D that we have being using in the early days and has served us beautifully. (note: the 400D shot these beautiful pictures of her big sister) 

Big sister has slotted seemlessly into the family and has already been thrown into the deep end, having worked ever so hard in Hong Kong. One or 2 little glitches, but nothing that having the owner read the user manual wont fix! Lazy owner.

Looking forward to many more wonderful days shooting!

Live...Love...Remember