The Spring Challenge - 30 September

This is the final picture for the Spring Challenge. I took this one on a family shoot. I felt this sums up the feeling of Spring...

The Spring Challenge - 29 September

The Spring Challenge - 28 September

This is a shot of the paint palette I use whenever I feel the need to put some colour on a canvas or a wall. I find it abstractly pretty... If there is even such a term.

The Spring Challenge - 27 September

The Spring Challenge - 26 September

It's been raining for more than 2 days now! After a very dry year thus far, it is as if I can hear the earth giving a sigh of relief. I wish I could share with you the smell and the crispiness of the air... but I'll just share a drop of rain instead.

The Spring Challenge - 25 September

Every day as I walk up the steps to our Studio, I sneak a peek over the wall into the yard next door. They have this beautiful lemon tree and as friend of mine would say: I do not covet, I just admire intensely...

The Spring Challenge - 24 September

The SPring Challenge - 23 September

I tend to doodle. A lot of paper has been wasted this way. This one started as a @ sign, that became a spiral...

The Spring Challenge - 22 September

Since Namibia is know for it's desert and arid landscapes, I thought I will share with you my favourite succulant plant. In Afrikaans we refer to it as a "woestyn roos". I have no idea what the correct name is, but it featured on wedding in the bouquet and as part of the decor and has been apart of every garden I attempted. They are easy to plant and replant and do not need a lot of attention... Perfect for those of us who might forget to water the garden every so often.

The Spring Challenge - 21 September

With spring comes the desire for new clothes. I stood in the fitting room with 2 jeans in my hands. Same cut, same colour, same price, same size... So I made the choice based on the button.

The Spring Challenge - 20 September

Currently reading "The Robe" by Lloyd C. Douglas. It is the fictional story of Marcellus Gallio, the Roman officer who was in charge of the crucifixion of Jesus. He then wins Jesus' robe when they toss lots for it (John 19:23-25), which changes his life and sends him on a search for the Truth.

The Spring Challenge - 19 Septemeber

My husband showed up with a beautiful bunch of flowers after work. He made my day!
I especially love the red/yellow roses.

The Spring Challenge - 18 September

Some women have a weakness for shoes, I have a love for scarfs. I own quite a few, 32 when I last counted. Each of them tells a story or has sentimental value. Out of all my scarfs this one has to be my 3rd most favourite. It was bought in Spain, on our honeymoon two years ago and I am wearing it today.

The Spring Challenge - 17 September

I am not good with admin. I am not good with routine. And I am not good at remembering to charge the batteries. It has happened quite a few times that I will grab my camera and run off to do a shoot, just to realize that my flash batteries are useless. Today I share a picture with you of one of the many things that keeps me humble, keep me on my toes and sometimes just annoys me:

The Spring Challenge - 16 September

The Spring Challenge - 15 September

I did not pick up my camera on Sunday. I had a photo-free day and although I can use the "though shall not work on the seventh day" reason, I have to admit that I was just plain lazy.

However, this photo I took on Friday evening:

The Spring Challenge - 14 September

"Wedding-Season" has started and for the next few Saturdays I will be capturing Weddings. Beautiful brides and handsome grooms. Confetti, champagne and speeches. Make-up, shoes and first dances.

For most of these my husband, Herbert, will be my assistant photographer. On Saturday he played this role perfectly! Here he is on a hill to capture a "big-picture-shot" of the ceremony.

To view the end results of our work, you are welcome to visit the Susan Nel Photography Blogspot

The Spring Challenge - 13 September

My sister, Elsabe, has the privilege to study in Scotland at the  University of Edinburgh. One of the highlights of my week was a Skype date with her on Friday Evening...

The Spring Challenge - 12 September

In about a 50 days we will move into our very own house. We've been renting for the past two years. We could not ask for a better Landlord&lady and one of the many privileges we enjoyed was the freedom to paint the walls as we wished.

I would like to share my favourite wall in our home. Each of the words has special meaning to me and my husband. It took me a whole weekend and a few evenings but unfortunately I will have to cover it up before we leave, and will not be able to take it with me.

However, I am looking forward to the blank "canvas" waiting for me in our new house...

The Spring Challenge - 11 September

Personally I have always been a fan of candles. It creates an soft ambiance, makes the evening just a bit more romantic and brings with it warmth.

My Mother-in-Law has this tradition of lighting a candle when one of her children has to write an exam, a friend is in hospital or someone is going through a tough time. The candle itself has no special powers or carries no symbolic meaning for her, but the constant fragrance it gives off just reminds her to pray for that person.

Today, as many around the globe - and especially the US - are reminded of the great tragedy of 9/11, I think it only fitting to capture a candle.

The Spring Challenge - 10 September

Just outside our studio there is a beautiful lavender bush. Walking past it I usually run my hand through as the smell is so soothing. But recently I had to be careful because with spring comes Honeybees, and I am allergic them. Although these little striped bugs are dangerous to my health, I find them pretty and somehow fascinating. There is something "fairy-like" about them and they never look dangerous in children's books.

Today I share with you a "perfect spring moment" just outside our studio :)

The Spring Challenge - 09 September

To understand today's photo you might want to go take a look at the TED talk: Before I die I want to... by Candy Chang

http://www.ted.com/talks/candy_chang_before_i_die_i_want_to.html

The Spring Challenge - 08 September

On Sunday afternoon I had the privilege to do an e-shoot for Ronelle, a dear friend. Her and Dylan are getting married next year and I will be the photographer for their wedding as well...

The Spring Challenge - 07 September

The Spring Challenge - 06 September

You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming - Pablo Neruda

The Spring Challenge - 05 September

Today I thought about the five senses.

My sister-in-law, Nino, recently posted about her love for music and how she experiences the world through her ears much more than through her eyes. As a music-lover myself I can understand this, but  my ears are definitly not the sense I am most tuned in to.

You might all think this is obvious as I am a photographer, and surely a photographer is much more enclined to focus on the visual aspect of things. Yes, this is true... I think in pictures, but this is not the sense that I am most sensitive to.

The sense that determines whether I like or dislike food, clothes, and coffeeshops is "touch". I am a bit texture sensitive...

The Spring Challenge - 04 September

So I have a friend, Lizl. Almost every Wednesday for the past 2 years we have met for a cup of coffee. We keep each other accountable, share our dreams and fears and sometimes we solve the world's problems. In the process we seek out new restaurants and coffee shops, go second-hand-book hunting at Uncle Spike's or give a second opinion on the boots in the window that cost way to much, but you want so bad anyway.

Today was Wednesday...

Thank you for your friendship! My life would be so boring without Wednesdays...

The Spring Challenge - 03 September

And then there are days where work is play. Bernardus and Charlene are friends of ours and had their baby girl 5 weeks ago. I asked them to stop by the studio sometime so she can meet her aunty Neeltjie. I took a few pictures of her... Don't you think she is absolutely gorgeous?

The Spring Challenge - 02 September

Today, while shooting something completely different, my eye caught this dead bush. It was only when I took a closer look that I saw that it's seeds were in the shape of flowers. Pretty, don't you think?

The Spring Challenge - 01 September

I collect rocks.

At least, I have a whole pile of rocks in my house. To me they are memories of places I have been, the people I have met and the great times I have had. I have rocks that are white, rocks that are black and rocks that have speckles. There are rocks that look like Africa and rocks that look like eggs and I even have a rock that looks just like a giraffe. I have a rock that I picked up when we were in Italy and one from our honeymoon in Spain. Rocks given by friends who traveled to far off places and rocks that I picked up on the beach.

And yesterday (01/09), as I was watering the garden, I saw this rock that looks just like a heart...

The Spring Challenge

I recently realized that although I take a lot of pictures, very few is for my own scrapbook. I decided to give myself the challenge to take one picture a day, for the next month, that is just for me and then I'll share it here with you. So here we go...