I decided that I need a snapshot camera. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my Canon 5D and lenses, but it is just not practical to ALWAYS have it with you for personal photos. You know, snap shots and video clips; things thats worth grow as the years go by.

Not too long ago I printed a whole lot of small photos for my room. Ever so often i catch myself smiling at one of them, wondering around in that days memory. Whenever someone enter my room, it is the first they notice. They look through all of them, ask questions and point to the ones they like. There could have been soooo much more photos. And then i read the Facebook status update of a friend that said, “Happy birthday dad. Love your people while you can.” Her dad passed away a couple of years ago. Shocker! If we did not have family photos taken last year, I would not have had any decent photos of me and my dad for instance. These things are important and sometimes we just need a wakeup call. The photos on my wall are not all good exposed, perfectly positioned or even pretty. But they are worth SO much to me.

I want to challenge you. Go take some pictures of the ones you love. It does not matter if it is with a fancy schmancy or your cell phone. Print them, hold them, cherish them, and make sure those people know how special they are to you.

And if you want, please mail me one of your fav photos with a few lines why it is so special is to you. (It does not have to be a good quality photo.) Just a moment, a love, a memory, a laugh. If i get a few, i might just put together a quick post of them, so that others can also share in the awesomeness.

My new camera that I want to try and take everywhere I go. I bought it from Orms.

(Thanks Fritz for all your excellent advice, knowledge and patience!!!)

A part of my photo wall.

My first snapshot photo of a friend in her PJ’s, just because I can: Schantel (my flying partner and photography friend)

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!

Hierdie is een van die cute-ste honde op hierdie aardbol! Hy het so baie persoonlikheid, het sy oulike scruffy look (selfs is hy baie mooi skoon en versorg) en is sommer in die algemeen net cool…en het dan nog ‘n super hot-shot fotograaf “mamma!” Ek het Rensche so deur die fotografie op die internet “ontmoet” en toe vinnig gesien toe sy na ‘n vriendin se troue toe gekom het in die Kaap. Toe ek Johannesburg toe gevlieg het was dit my beurt om te gaan hallo sê. Rensche neem regtig ongelooflike mooi foto’s, so maak seker julle gaan loer na haar blog! You will be blown away. En as jy in die Gauteng area trou, kontak haar!!!!

Geen shoot is beplan nie, maar ons moes darem net met rambo en haar “Canon 50mm f1.2 lens” gaan stap! Hoe lank nou al wik en weeg ek oor die 5omm f1.2 en ek moet met julle deel, ek het letterlik 1 foto geneem en ek was oortuig. Ek is gaaaaande oor die lens en het toe net daar en dan besluit ek gaan vir my ook een koop. Tot nou toe het ek met die 50mm f1.4 geneem en het hom verskriklik baie gebruik. Niks beat die kwaliteit van ‘n fixed lens nie-dis awesome! Maar voor ek julle verveel met die detail: Ontmoet vir Rambo en Rensche!!! (en die awesomeness van die 50mm f1.2)

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I found this image yesterday while going through some of my personal photos and loved it so much I just had to share it! It was taken on a very cold afternoon when my brother and I went for a walk on our farm in the Overberg. He must have missed his afternoon nap…

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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Ek is so opgewonde om hierdie post met julle te deel. My eerste (betaalde) shoot vir ‘n magazine- vir SARIE! Is so lekker dat daar altyd nuwe goed op die horison is. Hou die lewe so lekker interessant!!!

Die shoot was van Alta Joubert en haar opeet-oulike-en-mooi-kinders. Alta is beter bekend as een van die energieke dames van Lollos. As jy jong kinders het en nog nie van Lollos gehoor het nie, stel ek voor jy gaan sommer nou na hulle webwerf toe om bietjie meer te leer. Sarie het ook op hulle webwerf ‘n link gesit: Sarie Link

Teen die tyd wat die shoot verby was en ons alles opgepak het, hoor ek hoe verskoon Alta haarself om “die gemors op die TV” te gaan afskakel wat haar kinders gesit en kyk het. Dis vir my AMAZING om te weet dat Alta omgee oor wat haar kinders kyk, want dit beteken net een ding; sy lewer nie “gemors” aan ander mammas se kinders nie.

Dankie aan Danny Toüa (die stilleerder) wat my so baie gehelp het met hierdie eerste shoot! Ek hoop dis die begin van nog vele ander lekkertes.

Geniet julle!

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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!

What a cool post/interview they did with Nikki and Kappie! Just love this blog!

They did 3 parts of the wedding, so make sure you check it out! Click HERE for the link to the first one.

Danny & Garitha het Michai & Danny aangeneem om hulle seuns te wees.Die twee is reeds al so tuis met hulle mamma en pappa. Maar geen wonder. Ek het het nog nooit vir Danny en Garitha ontmoet nie, maar toe ek by hulle huis instap, kon ek die warm gevoel van liefde en aanvaarding voel. Vir die eerste 10min het ek myself net bekyk aan hierdie 2 kleine lyfies. So perfek. So reg om te groei, te leef, te leer en te blom. Dit was vir my ‘n heerlike ondervinding, dankie Danny & Garitha!

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Is ons nie net TE CUTE nie???

Ek doen nou 2 jaar voltyds fotografie en dis die eerste keer wat ek die voorreg het om ‘n familie die 3de keer af te neem! Die eerste keer was Günther nog ‘n baba, die 2de keer met sy 1ste verjaarsdag en nou kon my oe nie glo toe ek sien hoe baie hy al gegroei het nie! Wow! ‘n Ware seuntjie met lewenslus en die wil om te ervaar, te doen en te ontdek. Limmie het laggend gese dis nie lekker om vir my te sien nie, want dan weet hy hy moet geld uitgee. Maar, na ek saam met hom gestem het dat koffie anders proe as jy eers die melk bygooi, is ek weer ten volle welkom geheet in die Van Tonder huishouding. Ek en Ellena, het soos die vorige jaar na die shoot, lang fotografie stories gesels. Sy self het intussen begin fotos neem en sy is ongelooflik talentvol! Gaan loer haar werk hier op haar Facebook Page.

Hier is die middag se fotos, geniet dit saam met my!

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Matthew and Suraya were telling me about their wedding that was held in Singapore, and it sounded like a spectacular event! After all the planning and events, they decided they want to come to South Africa for their honeymoon. Neither of them have been to SA and we decided to do a road trip/shoot around Table Mountain. They only 3 places that was a must, was the Bo-Kaap and the penguins at Simonstown and something with table mountain in the back. So, stocked with Biltong and Koeksisters, we started off in the Bo-Kaap, went to Signal Hill, drove along Llandudno, Houtbaai, Chapmens Peak, Simonstown and then our final sunset destination, Blouberg with table mountain in the back. It was such a fun day with mr. Biltong and mrs. Koeksister!

I find it hard that we will probably never see each other again! But, here is the evidence of our little tour. (I felt like a real tour guide!)

BoKaap:

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Snow cat (or “Sneeukatjie”) is my newest addition to my equipment! It is a Diana F which is a faithful reproduction of the sixties classic Diana camera. It’s loved for its mysterious vignettes and soft-focus and forms part of Lomography. And I love it! My plan is to eventually buy a separate back for Snow Cat, which will allow me to take good old instant photos with it. For the moment it is a 120film camera, but i bought a 35mm back for it so I can use it with normal film/slides as well. It will obviously never-ever replace my Canon 5D Mark II, but I just love the look and feel of it and might use it for a shot or 2 in a wedding for variation. The lens (and actually the whole camera) is plastic and it only have 3 settings to focus: 1-2m, 2-4m and then 4m-infinity. For the light setting, you have an option between cloudy, semi-cloudy and sunny. Because you have to wind on the the film manually, double exposure is easy. I already shot 3 spools of films and tried the double exposure …and that really excites me!

The lab where I always develop my wedding photos could not believe that I handed in film. There is just something about the fact that you give in a spool and “miraculously” you receive photos when you go back in an hour! Ones you took, but have not seen yet.

Anyway, 2 of the films were normal coulor film and the other a slide film, which was cross-processed. (Slide and normal coulor film needs 2 different processes to develop and if you cross-process, the colours comes out all funny and cool.) Most of them were taken at Kalkbaai area and the other on our farm when I, my brother and sister in law visited my older brother on the farm. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!

This is Snow Cat:

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What an awesome privilege to be a shooter at Christine Meintjes 2nd workshop! I caught myself often forgetting to take photos, because I could not help to get lost in what she was sharing. It was very practical and “user friendly” and the decor by Leipzig Floral Design was superb! I could not stop taking photos of that! When they had their shoot, my job was to document the group (an awesome group of people by the way!!!!) but I ended up sneakingly taking some photos of the really beautiful and well styled couple as well.
Here are some of my favorite shots of from the workshop:

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EK het soveel fun met die 2 gehad! Jeanne het die hele tyd gelag en Etienne adore haar. En wat ‘n lekker vooruitsig is, is dat ek hulle troue ook gaan afneem later die jaar-hoe lekker!

Baie dankie aan Etienne so nefie, Jaco le Roux (wat ook ‘n baie goeie fotograaf is, gaan kyk seblief sy werk) wat my voorgestel het aan die super oulike couple. Lekker kyk!

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Maryke, Henry, William en Richard het die heerlikste fun-familie dag gehad en ek was gelukkig genoeg om dit te kan afneem! Maryke werk vir Sarie tydskrif se website afdeling en Henry is ook ‘n besige besigheidsman. Selfs al moes hy weer na die shoot gaan werk, het hulle tyd gemaak vir die fam. Awesome ne!?
>

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A while ago I heard that I was nominated for the 2009 Sony Pro Photo Awards competition and was so excited! Today I got a mail that said:

“Over 6000 images were submitted for the 2009 PROFOTO Awards by Sony, Southern Africa’s premier showcase of professional and amateur photography. The images were judged over a two-week period by a panel of local and international judges to determine the winners of the various categories. Now you have a chance to be a judge - and win a great prize in the process! View the Finalists’ Images by visitingwww.profotoawards.co.za between 29 March - 8 April 2010 and if the image you vote for is also voted “Image of the Year” by the panel of judges, you could win a fabulous Sony A500 DSLR Camera. To enter the competition, simply click on your favourite Finalists’ Image and fill in your details.”

I was SuPeR stoked to find 3 of my images between the “favourite Finalists’ Images!” If you like them, please do go vote for one of them! Concratulations to all the other photographers as well. There are some AWESOME shots, so please do feel free to vote for which ever photo you want. “Good luck” deciding on only one!

Click here for the link. Mine are on page 6, 17 and 22.

Yeah!!!!

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I was one of those people that did not know that human trafficking exists. Or maybe I just did not want it to exist.

Human trafficking/Sex slaves/People being sold in South Africa? Hmmm.  Then I thought, ok maybe, but not that often. And not in SA at least, maybe in other countries, yes.

Marionette van Deventer from Stop Trafficking of People asked me to take some behind the scene shots for their “2010 Human Traffic Campaign“. Their organisation was started at the beginning of 2009 by Corinne Sandenbergh and the aim of the campaign is to make people aware of what Human Trafficking is and also to give them practical ways in which they can get involved.

I loved shooting people like Shado Twala, Antoinette Kellerman, Thuli Zuma and the 2 girls from Freshly Ground, but I was SHOCKED by the statistics on Human Trafficking in SA, specifically in connection with the Soccer World Cup 2010. Please do yourself a favour by following this link. Quentin Krog and Floyed de Vaal, the crazy cool creative guys from Firestorm Production put together two videos that is both entertaining and freakishly informative.  It’s definitely worth the watch…and to Tweet…and Facebook…and to send to your mother…and friend…and the rest of the world!!!!

And if possible, act on it. To be shocked alone has never helped anyone.

Antoinette Kellerman

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