a new chapter

i can't believe it's been a year -- almost to the day -- since i last earned a salary. my last day at the bank was 31 march 2011 and on 2 april 2012, i start a new chapter of my work life at m2north. i'm super stoked to be doing something that i studied -- marketing and communications. whoop whoop!

it's been a great year. i have been humbled, challenged and learnt to be gracious. i've traveled by plane, train, subway, cable car, taxi, bus and by foot -- from the dry grass of texas to the concrete sidewalks of new york to the steep path up to golden gate bridge, san francisco. i've slept on the 19th floor of the new yorker hotel, a bunk bed in virginia and a blow up mattress on the floor of a study in austin. 

GOD has provided in amazing and mysterious ways. i am fully aware of the unique opportunity i've had to take as much time off as i have, and i am grateful. since coming home i've been able to make money in ways i never thought i would -- from taking photos to making scarves to baby sitting and scribing at conferences. daily bread. it's been rad. so rad.

sure, a part of me will miss lazy mornings, midday coffee catch ups, having flexi time and being able to help people who have needed it. i won't miss feeling un-routinised, running out of airtime and putting in petrol in R50 increments :)

stoked for new adventures. thank you LORD.

photographing judith

i have recently been "commissioned" {i guess that's the word?} to take photographs for a non-profit microfinance organisation. i am incredibly inspired by the work they are doing in south africa {and beyond our borders} and feel a huge amount of pressure to adequately represent the calibre of this work. i am really passionate about microfinance -- the reason i traveled to the states in 2011, and have been eager to get involved here in joburg. so you can imagine how excited i was when they asked me to photograph entrepreneurs and, in some cases, write their stories.

i ventured into newtown on thursday morning and met judith. she's a mother and a business woman who runs a sewing company on the third floor above a print house. at that time she was making netball kits for a primary school, work uniforms and roll-up banner bags for the printhouse. she has employed seven people who are fascinating to watch. i've done some rudimentary sewing in my life {buttons and sewing straight lines of infinity scarves} and am amazed at the dexterity of these women -- and men. as a gesture of goodwill, i gave judith one of my scarves, despite feeling like a total novice. she's wearing it in the pics :)

the brief was very specific: capture the process judith follows making a handbag which is to be sold in the usa, take photographs of her business place and some portrait shots. these will be presented at a conference in washington, DC.

i loved being able to see the benefits of microfinance firsthand. how it empowers people, creates jobs and adds value. i chatted with "innocent", one of the seamsters. he told me about his family and the many places he's worked prior to judith's company. his work is impeccable.

here are some of the pics. so honoured to have this opportunity.

weddingness

so....i shot my first wedding on wednesday {the public holiday} and it was so much fun. it was also special being able to celebrate with monique and donovan whose engagement shoot i did recently. they are such a wonderful couple, and i wish them all the love and happiness they deserve.

i was a little relieved to be second shooter for the day, so there was less pressure on me, especially being a "virgin wedding photographer". i am not going to lie...it's hard, hard work and i was totally exhausted after the ceremony -- only halfway. sheesh. but i learnt so much. and i got to use my brand new 50mm lens and my newly acquired external flash, which was a total lifesaver when the skies turned black and any natural light completely disappeared :)

anyhow, these are some of my faves {sneak peeks really}...

the truth about cats and dogs

i've been sifting through all my thousands of photos, trying to delete random ones {and i have many} to free up some space in my photo library. 

i am absolutely, unarguably a dog person. but when in the states, i shared a house with five cats and found myself falling a little in love with this one. cats are aloof, so when they show you love, there's a co-dependent part of me that feels accepted. cats, in essence, are bad for my self-esteem. at least with a dog, you are guaranteed love and slobber -- even when you don't want it. but cats are ethereally graceful and cool to photograph in a different way to dogs.

so thought i'd share a portrait of "grey" with you x

if it's not all right then it's not the end

last night i attended a preview of the film "the best exotic marigold hotel", hosted by barry ronge. it was a great film -- a stellar brit cast headed up by the always-dignified judi dench, a great screenplay and it's set in india. really now, is there any excuse to not see it?

there were a few things that resonated with me. i loved the humanity of the characters. the fine balance between humour and poignancy. most of all, i loved the message that it's never too late for redemption, second chances. 

sonny, played by slumdog millionaire's dev patel, who is the unquenchable optimist, has a great quote in the film: everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not the end. 

the voice

a couple of years ago, SHOUT for a safer SA was launched with a cover of "shout" by tears for fears. another track has been released as part of this awesome campaign to fight crime in south africa -- john farnham's "you're the voice", which is an epic anthem from the 80s.


here's the vid, and i challenge you to not feel inspired by the incredible {and diverse} talent we have in this beautiful country. please, please follow the prompts and donate to this great cause.

love in unexpected places

this is not photoshopped, promise. i opened up a pack of golden delicious apples and found one apple had an interesting discolouration on the skin...in the near-perfect shape of a heart. this is not the first time something like this has happened. i once opened up a pack of simba chips and found a chip in the perfect shape of africa. no word of a lie.

so i had to take a pic of my "lovely" apple. 

sometimes we find love in surprising places :)