As ek die laaste 2 maande, soos pa in pa se laaste brief gevra het, elke keer ‘n “dop” moes drink  as ek iets goeds van pa onthou het, sou ek nie vandag die sober Zelli gewees het wat pa geken en groot gemaak het nie.

Ek mis pa nog so baie. Eintlik om die waarheid te se, al hoe meer. Die “vakansie” is nou lank genoeg.

Iets wat ek besluit het, is dat ek nie sal dwaal op vrae wat ek nie kan beantwoord nie. Ek sal nie my energie en tyd spandeer op die laaste, klein deeltjie van pa lewe/dood nie.

Ek sien pa op soveel plekke raak. Ek sien waar pa ‘n verskil gemaak het.

Ek wens pa kan terugkom…en soos tjaart gese het, vir ons lag dat ons gehuil het dat pa weg was.

Ek sien nog pa se lag-plooitjies.

Ek lag steeds dat pa altyd gese het ek moet onthou om my oe toe te maak wanneer ek gaan slaap.

Ek sien nog pa se sterk hande….ek het besluit ek sal minder kla dat ek pa se liggaamsbou gekry het.

Ek mis dat dat pa my “asgat” noem en dit fluister om te sien of ek nog fyn kan hoor.

Ek sal voortbou op dit wat pa agterlaat.

Ek sal celebrate wie pa was.

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Ek het hierdie 2 mense so ongelooflik baie lief. xxx

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Hello everyone! It’s been a while, but I’m back after my travels and rest time, ready and excited for an awesome new season ahead! Just a few word from my traveling:

What a privilege to travel. I always feel a sense of freedom. A freedom to learn from others…and to learn about myself. I get challenged by the different ways of doing/thinking, cultures and scenery. What challenge me the most? What do i do automatically  because of where i grew up/my family/my culture and my ways of thinking?

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It’s 3h24 in the morning and i just wrapped up this seasons work!!! What a feeling!

It truly was an amazing season with lots of new friends…and leasons thats been learned! Thank you to each and every client and follower of my work. You make my job extra awesome!

I have about 4hours 30min to finish quite a few personal things, but….then I will be on my way to the airport to go to south east asia for a full 6 weeks! Im going to discover, grow, plan, enjoy, delve, rest, see, taste and so much more. If everything works out according to the plan, I will get to see Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore. Wow. Almost sounds unbelievable as i type it!

Thank you so much to all my friends who helped me through this very busy time. I was blown away by your selfless acts. You know who you are.

But what i am actually trying to say, is that i will be back in Aug, all rested, tanned and full of new ideas and inspirations!

Mooi bly en dan gesels ons sommer gou-gou weer!

PS: I am still deciding weather i will blog in this time, but i am sure i will be too excited not to share as least a few highlights of the trip! Keep your eyes pealed!

PSS: This is post #250!

Lots of love.

This image is from a previous “mini-airoplane trip” to Springbok. But, i will leave the stories for another day…!

I grew up here.

Ek is en bly maar ‘n plaasmeisie.

xXx

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I am such a proud “tannie Lizelle” today! A huge congrats to my brother and his wife with their first, beautiful child!

(You might remember them for their beach/bikini pregnancy shoot!)

Name: Makus Lötter

Born: 8h00, 16 May 2011, Stellenbosch

A healthy 3kg

Fingers: 10

Toes: 10 (i think, i did not personally see them yet!)

Birth marks: On his cute little tummy

Very proud parents: True

Proud grand parents: True

Super proud aunt: Definitely true!

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As some of you might have seen last week on my Facebook or Twitter, my oldest brother MG, did an race called the Cape Epic. When he told met that he was going to take part in the epic a few months ago, I had NO idea what it was but could see from the look on his face that this must be something out of the ordinary. Okay, so for those of you who also do not know what this race “entails” see below:

It’s 8 days of mountain biking over 707km. (the one day is a 145km stretch!!!!!)

And this was a big deal from me…because it was a big deal for my brother. He practiced for hours and hours, even though he has a tough schedule running the family farm. I was so excited and proud of him for tackling this huge challenge and working towards a goal. I saw him the day they started, once during the race and then when he finished. I felt like one of those mommies next to the rugby field when their 7-year old plays their first rugby game. All emotional and of course my brother is the best among them all! He was just nice for letting 252 other teams crossing the finish line before them. (600 teams started)

He did excellent and i LOVED seeing him living a dream and reaching such a huge personal goal.

Sjoe eks lief vir jou MG! Jy sal maar altyd my beste oudste boeta bly…

MG and his Epic team mate, Gerhard Huiskens. Gerhard has 30 years of experience and just finished his 3rd Epic race!

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When i got the change to do this flash workshop, i knew i wanted/needed to do it. I needed to understand my flash fully, especially for reception photos. I am so happy i did the course, because I understand my flash and its settings so much better now! But…I won’t bore you with the technical details. (if you are a photographer and do not know the ins-and-outs of your flash, please contact Sybrand!)

Here are just a few from the 2-day workshop:

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Social media became such a buzz word. Before i attended this 1day “social media” workshop last week, I new it was important and powerful…but I never new it was THAT powerful! In short, it is changing the way we communicate…and the way I think about my business.

After just the introduction video I already felt better informed. Do yourself a favour and go watch it HERE. With this platform to work from, i think every one at the “social media workshop” was receptive to what is to be learned around this subject. Awesome team Iaan van Niekerk and Christine (Meintjes) van Niekerk shared what they have learned through experience in their businesses. Since I’m not the person to go read up on “technical” and new computer things, it was great to cut to what is important, why it’s important and how to apply it effectively.  The workshop covered the broader idea of social media and then they discussed specifics like Facebook, Twitter and Google Analytics. And what was great, the attendees  was such a diverse group, from photographers, videographers, interior designers to people from Media 24. Basically anyone with a business!

Please inform yourself around the idea of Social Media and how it can be business-dynamite. If you would like to attend/need more info on the Social Media workshop by Iaan and Christine, please contact them directly HERE.

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If you would like to join my brand NEW FACEBOOK PAGE, please click HERE.

…and on Twitter, click HERE.

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Nicole makes the most beautiful aprons!!!! I first saw one when one of my friend, Willemien, received one at her kitchen-tea. I fell in love with it! Nicole is the master behind them. When i photographed her and her husband, Attie, i asked her if i could photograph her aprons as well, since they are such masterpieces. At the time she had 3 that was done, so here they are. To see more, please head over to her blog! There are some real treasures to share.

Please contact her at +27 (0) 82 504 7043.

Her blog: http://nicolevanheerden-homemaker.blogspot.com/

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Rudi en Karen are those kind of people that you feel like you have known them for years, even though you’ve just met them!

They already have some cabins and tents one that farm (basically in Botrivier’s mountains, just about an hours drive from Cape Town.) They  now expanded to a restaurant / events venue as well. I joined one afternoon for their opening and could not resist taking some images! Edmund (the chef of Kol-Kol) made us some great canapes.

Enjoy and maybe i see you there someday, because i certainly will go back again!!!!

(“Visi” also likes kolkol, have a look here)

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I’ve had the privilege of shooting a rehearsal of “Stripped.” (See their ad here.)If you do not have plans for tonight, do yourself a HUGE favour, get a ticket from Computicket (only a few left!) and come to Baxter Theater! See you there!

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Ek was sommer baie opgewonde om Sarie Bruid te koop hierdie jaar! Hulle het 2 van die couples wat ek afgeneem het se pragtige troues in die tydskrif gepubliseer!

Baie dankie aan Pieter en Sulani asook Robert en Roelene dat ek julle kiekies kon neem! Hier is die stunning voorblad van die tydskrif lyk, geneem deur welovepicture:

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Die laaste 2 jaar was af naweke soos hoendertande. As ek baie eerlik moet wees, het dit my bietjie begin vang. Ek is MAL oor troues en wanneer ek by ‘n troue is, geniet ek dit baie, maar dit bly moeilik om nee vir jou vriende en familie se. Eintlik het ek net bietjie sleg beplan. Troues word so ver vooruit gereel dat ek net nie daaraan gedink het om vir my af naweke te “book” nie. Ek moes toe die besluit neem om af naweke te book. Ek het gaan sit en een naweek in elke maand vir my gemerk as ‘n af naweek. Ek het net weer besef verhoudinge is net te belangrik om heeltyd te werk.

Na byna ‘n jaar was hierdie naweek my eerste self-geneemde af naweek. Toe my plaas-mamma (aka stiefma…maar dit klink te stief vir hoe lief ek haar het) my bel om te vra of ek nie DALKIES af is nie, was ek so ongelooflik opgewonde om ja te kan se. Dit was my ouma (eintlik stiefouma…maar ek is heeltemal te lief vir haar om haar met die woord stief te vereenselwig) se 88ste verjaarsdag. Byna die hele familie genooi na ons plaas in die Overberg en as ek moet begin uitbrei oor hoe lekker dit was, sal julle ekstra 10min moes uitsit om dit te lees. Maar dit was ongelooflik lekker.

Ek het weer in die kamer geslaap waarin ek groot geword het (hierdie huis is nou ‘n gasterhuis op ons plaas, Arolela, gaan loer gerus!!!!) en bande is “vervars” met die fam. Wat ‘n fees. Verseker aan te bevele.

Nou eers bietjie meer oor my ouma. Ek kon skaars glo ouma Annetjie het 88 geword. Sy is een van daardie vrouens wat net eenvoudig in jou hart kruip en daar bly. Sy is wys en gebalanseerd, met ‘n moed en wil vir die lewe, wat ek nastreef vir wanneer ek ook al meer lyntjie en ligter hare verdien het. Die lewe het al paar woeste houe vir haar uitgedeel, maar sy het die vermoe om deur dit te werk, te leer daaruit wat sy moet en dan gaan te gaan, met nuwe “added” karakter en woema.

Ouma, ek kyk regtig op na ouma met baie resprek en wens ek kon ouma elke dag  ”drukkie, soentjie en geselsie.” Net seeninge vir al die nuwe dinge wat voorle. Ek bid vir guns en tonne pret by die nuwe huis!!! Liefde L ***

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Dis met ‘n dankbare hart wat ek nou kom neerflop in my kantoor stoel. Drie kliente het nounet pakkette kom haal. My werksarea is steeds chaotic met al die “to-do-lists” van die afgelope paar maande en ek moet nog vir my Karoo-vakansie inpak, maar my hart is rustig en opgewonde, albei in een. Ek en ‘n vriendin het nounet die siesoen-einde gevier met ‘n pizza en te sterk koffie.

Ek onthou hoe ek aan die begin van die siesoen diep moes asem haal en vir God vra om my te help; ek het nie eintlik geweet hoe om die jaar aan te pak nie. Die vorige jaar was rustiger en ek het geweet hierdie een sal sy eie uitdagings en lekkertes he. ‘n Mens weet nie wat vir jou wag nie…en weet jy wat? Dis ook goed so. Talle dinge sou ek eerder kies om nie deur te maak nie, maar ek het soveel daaruit terug gekry. En die lekkertes is net soveel lekkerder omdat dit die verassings-element het. Ek is ‘n bietjie meer heel, bietjie slimmer, bietjie sterker…

Een van die grootste goed wat ek moes leer in hierdie seisoen, is om ‘n gebalanseerde lewe te lei. Of miskien moet ek eerder se, die ongebalanseerd-heid is uitgewys. Klein goedjies, soos om te onthou om vir myself af-naweke te book. Of om bietjie meer te oefen en bietjie gesonder te eet. Of om eerder te praat van ‘n familie “fotosessie” as ‘n familie “shoot.” Nou ja, ek is verseker nie ‘n master op enige van hierdie velde nie, maar dis mos lekker om eendag terug te kyk en te lag oor die goedjies waaroor ‘n mens so gestress het en ‘n mens se dagboek vol geskryf het.

Ek sien soooo ongelooflik uit na die break. Ek gaan 10 ure ‘n dag slaap en as ek weer in die middag wil slaap, dan gaan ek inkruip en my ma vra om my voetjies in te tuck. Ek weet sommer die veld gaan lekker ruik, my ma se “wors-mash-beet-en-groente” ete gaan vorentoe smaak en die sterre gaan ekstra skerp skyn. Ek sien uit na verhouding bou met vriende en familie.

En dan sien ek uit om terug te keer werk toe. 6maande terug het ek aangegaan oor my cool kliente, maar nou is dit al weer 6maande later en ek kan steeds aangaan oor die feit dat ek dink ek die coolste kliente het. Dankie julle! Julle maak my werk ‘n fees.

Hoe ek die nuwe 10-11maande se trou-seisoen gaan ingaan…Met ‘n ‘n hart wat afhanklik is van God. Een vol dankbaarheid, hoop, met die wete dat Hy goeie planne in stoor het…en tonne liefde.

Happy Julie vir julle almal, sien weer begin Augustus! (Of miskien moet ek eerder se, tot ek nie meer dit kan hou om nie te blog nie!)

*PS: Vir die van julle wat bietjie deurmekaar is met die Karoo en die Overberg…my pa’le is in die Overberg en my ma’le in die Karoo! Die 2 plekke “sagste” vir my siel. ***

En soos hulle se, ‘n blogpost is nie ‘n blogpost sonder ‘n fototjie nie!

If you say Facebook is not a great social network media-then i beg to differ!

To take this story very far back: Since forever I really  wanted to fly with …. well, basically anything with wings! (For my bday last year I went skydiving!) About 3 years ago I even made a little ad to put up at the Stellenbosch Flying Club saying that I would do a portfolio for anybody who is willing to take me flying. Nothing came of it. But I knew that one day (and hopefully even more in the future) I will have my chance.

A few weeks ago, a photography friend, Wil Punt, said something on Facebook about the fact that he went flying over Stellenbosch. I mentioned that I rrrreally want to fly too and that Im glad he had the chance. THEN! A message from another facebook-friend who invited me to go fly with her and her dad near Johannesburg if I ever happened to be in the area. It so “happend” that I was on my way to Joburg that specific weekend for Rousseau and Lana’s wedding! I was so over the moon that it worked out!

Schantel is an awesome photographer and you should definitely head over to her blog. Her dad (Johannes) and herself went out of their way accommodate me and spoil me with lots of awesomness. They are the kind of people who give with their whole heart and I can only pray that they get back in ten-fold what they so freely give away.

If you ever need “door-to-door service for consignments of various sizes by road”, please do go to their Brookfield Courier website and contact them!

Here are some from our trip:

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I’ve always been proud being called a South African. Thursday, 24 June 2010, I was even a bit “prouder.” I’ve experienced a soccer match at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town – South Africa. It actually was a little bit overwhelming. I am still digesting everything I saw and heard and who knows what else. This probably is a once in a lifetime experience and I am so glad I had the chance to go.

We left quite early the afternoon to meet up with some friends and just walked around and enjoyed the “gees.” Painted faces, colourful outfits, vuvuzelas, wigs and laughter was to be seen and heard everywhere.

And I just enjoyed it so much walking around with my camera and…NEW LENS! A bit more about this later.

…and oh yes, before I forget, the game was between Netherlands and Cameroon.

Thanks to Maré for this photo!

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Jolene en Cobus het vir my hierdie artikel wat in die “Wedding Collection” tydskrif was gestuur. Dis was sooo ‘n lekker Karoo troue. Ek is mal oor nuwe ervaringe en ‘n Sutherland troue in die sneek-hitte was een van daardie wat ‘n mens nie sal vergeet nie. Om hul blog post te gaan loer, kliek gerus HIER:

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Dankie aan Gideon & Sonja, LeRoux & Mariette en Emil & Tarryn wie my cool models was!