Rocket-ships...

Posting two images I made of rockets in the US. Both were taken at the Kennedy Space Station in Florida. Until you are next to these things you can't really relate at just how big they are!

Prayer time...

Made this image as these three beautifully dressed ladies entered their temple for prayer hour.

                                                          Leica M9, 50 mm Summarit

Artistic buildings...

We love traveling, love to see new cities, places and people. With that comes of cause the view on how other lives. Being a city dweller myself I always like buildings that pushes the boundaries of acceptance.
Here are a few from a recent trip to Spain.

                                                         
                                                  City of Arts and Science Museum, Valencia

                                                                 The Eye, Valencia.

                                                   A hotel on the beach in Barcelona.

                                                        A shopping mall in Barcelona.

       
                                                            Apartment building, Barcelona.

Of cause Barcelona are most famous for the buildings of Antoni Gaudi. If ever there was a person who pushed the envelope on building designs, he was it! 

Waiting for the bus or someone to photograph me?...

At the Paparazzi bus stop in Grand Bay in Mauritius there is this bus stop witch just screams-out to be photographed.

                                                        Leica M9, 50 mm Summarit

M9 does international hockey...

On Saturday South Africa played the second International Hockey test against Spain in Randburg, JHB. I took the M9 to see how it will pass the test of documenting the sporting event.
Here are a few of the images. I posted some images bigger than normal so you can see the image quality better.

Now as you know, the M9 is not considerate a camera for fast action sporting images by it's critiques, - witch I will show not to be true.

                                                  The singing of the anthems.

I own the 50 mm Summarit and the 35 mm Summilux lenses so there is no "high-powered zoom" lens to bring the action closer. This made me use my feet more to get closer and not to stand in one place and "machine gun" the action like some of the photographers that was there.

I shot most of the game at F 5.6, some images with one and some with the other lens.

The nice thing about the set-up of the field is that the spectators are really close to the field, so you get a real feel for the game.

I got a few rolling eyes and frowns from the other photographers as I stood next to them at times with the M9 and they with the zooms and huge camera bodies.

Sure, the manual focus makes shooting action sport a bit more challenging, but with practice you get better.

                                               Celebrations as SA scores another goal!

Water was being sprayed on the field before and during half time in order to cool it down, - hence the darker and lighter patches on the images. Also I was walking around a lot and this being artificial turf the texture appears different from different sides.

                                                      It was 38 degrees on the field!

Spain attacks during a penalty.

The more I shoot this camera, the more I like it! By the way South Africa won the game 3-0.

Art classes with a difference...

In the years we have been working through our project, The Young Community Project, I have met and worked with some of the most amazing young people! (See the international interview regarding the YCS here; http://lavidaleica.com/content/giving-something-back )

Banele is no different. This young man studied Arts and work for various companies as an artist. You can see him all over Johannesburg doing his artworks, - sometimes on billboards and walls and other times doing sign writing.

Doing everything for money is however not for this young man. He teaches Art at several schools in Soweto to less fortunate children with no financial benefit to himself.

                                        Banele and one of his classes were he teaches Art.

When we went to film Banele at the schools were he teaches Art, I was amazed at how easy he interacts with the children, - he has such an easy way around them and they simply adore him!

In the time since Banele was one of our finalist he has accompanied us on many road trips around the country. He has an exceptional sense of humor and has always been a great ambassador for the Project.

For this young man, whom we salute today, it's all about putting a smile on someone's face every day and to help and build a better future for everyone. I am glad to call him my friend.

You gotta love them...

Children are one of the greatest blessing in this world. One of my brothers children chose to celebrate the New Year like this. This is the life.

                                                      Leica M9 50 mm Summarit

Sculptures and statues...

Where-ever I travel, I always look at the statues and sculptures that are scattered around the cities and countries. Some are more artistic than others to say the least and then there is the ones I think that were made to make you laugh and enjoy the part of life that say,- be yourself, be different!

                                                 A "must-smile at it"statue/art, Valencia, Spain.

                                                            A door and details in Prague.

                               A statue in the gardens near the Art and Science Museum, Valencia.

                                                          The Goldfish, Barcelona.

                                   The Space museum, Hong Kong with a giant crab in the pool.

                                       With the the soccer stadium in the background,Valencia.

                                      "Winged Man" in front of the Cultural Center, Hong Kong.

A view to lose yourself in...

We went with the family to Clarence in the Eastern Free State over the December holidays. This must be one of the most scenic places to visit in our country. Here is my boy and one of my brothers sitting, chatting and enjoying the view.

                                                        Leica M9, 50 mm Summarit

Waiting to close the shop...

Made this image in Mauritius of two ladies taking a break outside their curio shop.

                                                        Leica M9, 50 mm Sumarit

When days are dark...

What drew me to make this image is the look on the faces of these guys. They look pretty serious. The one man really look like his dog just died.

                                                          On a bench in Istanbul

Vista's all around...

While we were walking in the mountains around Clarence in the Eastern Free State, I made these two panoramas;

                               11 images stitched together, Leica M9, 50 mm Summarit

The mountains in blue at the back are in Lesotho with the little town in the foreground.

                               9 images stitched together, Leica M9, 50 mm Summarit

Yoda the DJ in the mountains...

Me and Yoda went walking in the mountains one day. I thought the T-shirt and the way he looked liked the print of Yoda was a classic. Of cause he is to cool to care...

                                                               Leica M9 50 mm Summarit

Skulls in a church...

Even as we saw the little church in a distance a strange feeling comes creeping up at the back of your neck.

                                 With graves surrounding the church, the feeling is a bit sinister.

As if Meatloaf himself was visiting, this bat-out-of hell was parked in front of the church.

Entering the church, you pass under this doorframe decorated with human skulls and bones.

                         A family crest is on one wall. Notice the crow picking the eye of the skull.

                                                                       On one of the pillars.

                                                   The chandelier in the middle of the room.

                                             From top to bottom, decorated with human bones.

                                                               A shrine in one corner.

Of cause this is the church in the Sedlec monastery from 1870 in Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic.
40 000 people's bone decorate this little church and make for an interesting attraction.