Boys rugby

Aidee is really getting into his rugby these days - and he's quite quick and runs straight with quite a wicked side-step.  He plays centre or wing (but has also managed to wangle being the hooker somehow when they have scrums - which are partially contested front row only affairs)

 

Evan on his way to the try-line - because the fields at Sandy Bay are quite far apart, and three of their four games overlapped (they each play 4 x 20 minute games at a festival) I only got to watch Ev playing one game, which was a pity; Ev likes the rough stuff.

The rugby tournaments are popular with the amateur photography clubs in Hong Kong (of which there are many) so this is what the side of the field can look like - not unlike playing at Eden Park or some such :-)

A new snoot

In the wee hours of last night's journey into this morning I built a new snoot by modifying one that fits on a studio flash so that it goes on my speedlight and can take gel filters.  The idea is to have it throwing a confined but diffuse pool of light, as you can see in the pic of me at the bottom (there was no-one else around to oblige ;-).  Late this afternoon we went to the beach to see if we could catch a couple of waves - it was lovely, cool, pleasant breeze - water was fine and there was a bit of swell - about right for Aiden and Ev (the boys were sporting their hand-me-down wetsuits - never a good idea taking kids out when they have wetsuits and you dont - brrrr by the end). So I took the snoot along (not that you really need it in that kind of space) and shot some tungsten yellow gel shots of the sort that Jens taught me years ago - I think they are pretty cool though - nutella on Aiden's face - "petrol" in the car on the way to the beach.

Some pics unloaded

One more - the road

I'm terribly chuffed with this photo - I think it is really cool.

My "Trent Parke" version of the endless beach

Trent Parke is something special.  He does these super high contrast, undercooked black and whites - this is my attempt at one - the endless beach, a small group of fishermen and then just miles of mist kicked up by the surf - love the Southern Cape.

Fishing off the old bridge - best route to deep water...

... but alas no fish.  Aiden and Ev had a blast throwing stones though.

Caitlin and Ross

Work took me briefly to PE - I spent the night with Carmen, Craig, Caitlin, Ross and my Auntie Beth.  They used to live in Pretoria, perhaps you remember spending time with Caitlin when you were a little boy.  Here she is at nearly 18, and below with Ross who would have been a very little guy when you last saw him.  I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them all again after so long - like a decade or more - a good family.  I took these in the morning before leaving - opted for black and white because I made a hash of the colour settings under the kitchen lights.

Canola fields on the road from Cape Town

I burned this photo out completely, but liked the outcome.  The pic below I love - but maybe you have to live here in HK to be blown away by the vistas all around in SA.  They were both taken on the road between Knysna and Cape Town.