Portraits & Landscapes

 

 This week we were given two assignments.  The first was to take an environmental portrait, which is, as I understand it, a photo of someone doing something.  This was broken into two groups - a general portrait and a close up of exactly what was being done.  The second half of the assignment is to take a landscape.  Our lecturer is very specific about the fact that we shouldn't shoot the obvious.

I found the portrait part of this assignment quite difficult, mostly because I don't like asking strangers if I can take their photo.  The only one I did ask said no and that pretty much put me off entirely.  I even offered to pay the guy, a car guard at our local shopping centre.  Anyway...  I had lots of great ideas, but just didn't have the balls to go out there and do it.  Besides, I like taking pictures of children far more than adults...

Technically, I shouldn't use these pictures of my very talented sister-in-law, Tam (check her out on here), but only because I took them before we were given the assignment.  In my understanding, they fit the criteria pretty well and I do like them, so maybe I will use them.

The only problem with the top one, that I can see, is that I cut her left foot off.  I do really like this one below though...

 And even closer...

 What about this one?  Lovely eyes, but maybe missing a little sunshine...

 And this?

 Ever since our lecturer told us that she doesn't want pictures of our kids, pets or sunsets, I've been in a bit of a panic - what the hell else is there to take photos of?  And yesterday was mother's day, so perhaps she'll forgive me!!  I took these photos of Jake waiting for his Granny to come home yesterday morning.  I love his green socks sticking out...

 And those precious little, dirty little fingers.  Sundays are nail cutting day, by the way...

 Next up, landscapes.  We headed off to Tokai Forest after the most delicious Mother's Day lunch at Joanne & Paul's.  Looking for something different, with the main aim of having my exposure right.  It was quite tricky in the forest, with the mottled light filtering through...

 I think this is over-exposed, but I love the way I caught Jake looking up at the tall, tall trees...

 And after the one above, this one looks under-exposed.  Right?  Also love how tiny Jake looks next to the tall trees...

 Next up was a trip to the beautiful Buitenverwachting.  It was about 4:30 and the late afternoon sun was fading fast...

 Back lit vines...

 One of my favourite views - the cellar with restaurant on your left...

 a pretty tree... the hill in the background is where Jacques' ashes are...

 Leaving the farm, we passed by a field where the sun was lighting up these trees beautifully...

 I made one last attempt at taking my portrait, but the bigger pictures didn't come out so great.  I like this one though...

OK, if you stop past soon, let me know what you think!

Tons more to share from our BUSY weekend and I will do so during the week ahead, I promise.

Sending love,

Sue xxx

Time for me...

 I've been so busy taking photos for my assignment and have been neglecting sharing with you a few of our other activities.  We have been busy!  Jake made it through to the top 60 kids in his grade and top 10 in his class for the annual grade 3 spelling bee.  He was incredibly nervous, especially since family had been invited to come and watch and instead of sitting quietly at their desks, they were to be sitting on chairs, writing on white boards in front of the entire grade, plus family.

Jake was very nervous about it and went as far as telling me that he hoped he didn't get through to round 3, so that he didn't need to do this all over again the next week.  The 20 words they were given included, careful, penguin, recycle, dragon and princess - it was tough.  Alas, Jake didn't get through to round 3, but that doesn't change how very proud I am for having done his best and for getting into the top 60.  Well done, my little super star!

Jake's class was seated on the ground level, on the South African flag side.  Jake is sitting 5th from your left...

 He barely looks awake in this photo as he anxiously waits for his first word...

 They worked on a system, where they literally had a couple of seconds to write the word down and then turn their boards to show their teacher for marking.  Very nerve-wrecking for kids and parents alike...

 Last Wednesday was Worker's Day and a public holiday for us.  The cub group had organised an outing for the kids through to Simon's Town, where we went for a tour on a naval submarine - the SAS ASSEGAAI such an adventure!!

 Jake was beyond excited and couldn't wait to get below deck.  Only one child chickened out, so they all learnt a lot about how things work during peace and war.  All I can say is that I'm glad I never have to work on one of these babies - to say that the living quarters are tight would be an understatement...

 Heading down the hatch...

 In the seat to look out through the periscope...

 This was some kind of engine room, though I can't remember which...

 The torpedo room - the 3 kids with Jake are all cub newbies and haven't been invested yet...

 Going back up to the deck...

 It's hard to believe that you can fit 30 people into one of these things and that it can travel safely and almost undetected underwater...

 After our submarine tour, we had a little picnic lunch on the beach and the kids played and let off some steam.  We couldn't have asked for better weather...

A Mediterranean view, looking out over the naval museum...

 The museum used to be a repair shed for big old sailing ships.  The one shed's now been converted into a church and that's where our tour began.  The murals on the wall were drawn by an old lady and depict various scenes of our naval history...

 A beautiful stained glass window...

 Our tour guide was great with the kids, he kept it short and fun.  He was very impressed with all of Jake's badges...

 Jake was dressed up in a fire suit to show everyone what has to happen when there's a fire on board...

 Hahaha - Jake still has some growing to do though...

 This was an old ration kit that's been somewhat preserved.  I think it's from world war two, if I remember correctly.  Squares of bubble gum down the side and back, matches in front, sugar, tea and coffee.  Little luxuries.  And I mean little...

 Jake was fascinated to see our old South African flag.  It's something that carries a very heaving meaning to so many people and really represents our apartheid days.  Although not a happy symbol, it is part of our history though and, therefore, forms part of the museum's displays.  Jake was quite relieved that he missed out on having to draw this flag at school like we had to...

 A combat helicopter...

 They have a simulator, where the kids could pretend to be on a real ship...

 And examples of mines that were opened up so you could see inside.  Jake thought these were really cool...

 We've seen quite a lot of Corky and Bi lately too.  These pictures were supposed to go up for Paul last week, but I ran out of time and now he's home safely.  And he brought us sweeties and chocolate for all of us.  Corky and Bi are usually at my mom's house well before 7.  Jo (or Paul) puts them in the car in the jammies and my mom gets them dressed and ready for the day once Jo/Paul has dropped them off.  Fortunately, this morning Bi was wearing pretty girly PJ's, she far prefers Corky's Buzz Lightyear and Noddy hand-me-downs.  This girl's got crazy morning hair - apparently very like mine when I was her age...

 She wasn't big on smiling for the camera this particular morning, but did smile for her toys...

 When I told Corky I was taking a picture of him to send to his Daddy, he had to include Mario and Luigi in the picture.  He now has his own and I must still get a photo of him with them...

 Jake was up bright and ready for the day ahead too...

 He and Bi were "quietly" building bricks together...

 Despite what the look on Jake's face says in this photo, he and Corky seem to be playing better just lately.  They're trying at least.  Fingers crossed that we're turning the corner...

And that brings you up to speed on all things non-photographic!  I doubt that life will ever calm down, we have plenty of birthdays coming up and Jake is SUPER excited about his party on Saturday afternoon.  More about that later in the week though.

Lots of love,

Sue XXX

Something tricky...

My assignment this week was a tough one for me.  It was something that I was unfamiliar with and therefore it has been quite a challenge for me.  Unlike the previous 2 assignments where we only had to submit 3 photos, this week we have to submit 12, but 9 of those are part of a sequence, so that was easier to choose.

Our lecture last week was all about motion and depth of field.  For motion, the challenge was to either slow the shutter down, where the back ground is blurred and the subject sharp, or the subject blurred and the background blurred.  To keep your subject focused and your background blurred, we attempted panning, where you move your camera with the subject - it's something I still can't get right and will continue to practise this.  

As far as depth of field goes, that's something that I understand and I enjoy messing around with it a bit.  Anyway, here are the pictures I've chosen as my favourites to print for tonight's class.  Oh, they're going up on a projector, so no pressure on quality... eeek...

I like the first picture above very much, I love how the sea looks so rough and wild and how Table Mountain is already basking in sunlight.  I think it might be a little dark though.

Same with the one below...

 This one for me has better light in is, but I'm not so sure that I like the layout...

 I quite like this one, what do you think?

 I thought bugs would be a good subject for my motion pictures too, so Jake and I headed off to Butterfly World for a little outing.  Motion...

 Very slight motion...

 Frozen motion...

 This guy seemed to be doing some kind of a dance for his dying buddy.  We saw him on our way out, so I felt really lucky to get these...

 Next up was depth of field.  Jake bought himself a pomegranate and it was just too pretty not to photograph...

 Playing with depth of field in the garden...

 More depth of field, this time with a bee in focus...

 I kept hoping he'd fly off and I'd get one of him flying from flower to flower, but like butterflies, bees are fast little blighters...

 This isn't really in sharp focus, but I managed to snap a gnat in the shot with the bee, which was kinda cool...

 Our main depth of field assignment was to find 3 objects of similar size and stagger them behind one another, then get the focus on to each subject at a time, changing the aperture as we went along.  It means 3 photos at 3 apertures each, 9 photos in total...

 Pretty flowers picked from the garden...

 I get this, I understand it...

Anyway, I have tons of photos of things that we've been up to as well, so I promise that sometime during the week, I'll have a post for you on something other than my course.

Sending love,

Sue XXX