Photo-A-Day-A-Thon

On the 1st August - myself and a few of my photographer friends (Clive, Shane and Johann) will begin a daily post of a random photograph - for the whole month. It's not the first time that this has been done on the web (and it certainly won't be the last) but now it's our turn to try and commit to this. So stay tuned to see what I come up (don't worry I'm curious as well? :D) and see if we can stay the course. The idea is not to capture the most amazing pieces of fine-art photography, but simply to open your eyes up to the opportunities that are around us each and every day; and to make use of our cameras - some of which are gathering dust on the shelf. The rules are simple; capture a photograph each and every day for the month of August using any camera on hand - it could be your mobile-phone camera, a simple point-and-shoot or your most expensive dSLR you have - it doesn't matter. Just get out there and take some photographs and share with us. Drop me a line here with your daily post if you join in?

Well it's all done and dusted. There you have it, 31 photographs in all. Thanks for watching. If you want to read what I learned from the whole exercise, apart from just having fun click here.

Today was Rea Vaya day in Johannesburg with the launch of the new Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT). Granted in had to be held under police escort so that the taxi's didn't burn the new buses or stone the people trying to get to work, but hey this is Africa. REA VAYA! (means 'We are on the move!' by the way)


My brother-in-law and I love to play some pool on a Sunday evening, while my father-in-law cooks up a storm for the evening dinner!


Last minute rush before the end of the day to come up with a photo for the day. I know I can always rely on my model in residence, Michelle.


'Mothers milk' (so to speak) on a Friday lunch-time. Nothing wrong with that eh?


After an unusual day of clouds and some rain, the sun had the last say finishing the day off in glory.


Shadows and Light. Reflections are trite. Scratches, no polish. Maid to admonish.


Wow, it's definitely a Dogs Life! What a pleasure to run like this...


You just have to love sunsets! :)


Poor Laura-Ashley wasn't feeling so well today, but she did give me a few minutes in front of the camera to help out with the photo for the day. Thanks little-one!


Michelle posed in front of the camera in the studio for me with those wonderfully coloured tights on. You gotta be quick to catch them though. :)


The flying rats of the city. They've already bred 3 or 4 times in the 9 months that I've seen them on this balcony. Yes, I'm struggling for photo's here. :) 10 more days to go!


On one of the Standard Bank buildings is this rather interesting domed roof which was letting in some wonderful light. Most of the workers were oblivious to it.



Crossing the overhead walkway to Standard Bank you encounter this eerily blue glowing bridge (particularly in the early morning when it's still dark outside). It's kind of alien-like - much like the environment itself! :)


This character was on the streets in and around Johannesburg. When I asked can I take his photograph he agreed and politely put his cigarette away. I had to specifically ask him to please put it back in his mouth as that is the look that I wanted.


Slums and slumlords go hand-in-hand in some areas of Johannesburg. Ironically enough this building 'lives' right next to the posh and modern Standard Bank building. Goodness knows what the conditions are like inside?


A slow-speed panning shot with my model-in-residence, Michelle. Who say's a photo has to be in-focus to be interesting?



Michelle and Laura-Ashley look out through the window-blinds...


In amongst the Impala...one of the statues commissioned by the Oppenheimers in the Anglo American square, Marshall Street - Johannesburg.


A composite of two photo's taken today, one an unusual statue in the Standard Bank building in 25 Sauer Street, and second one of my cameras shot under studio conditions in a light-tent.


Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe. Get it done by half-past-two. Thanks...


Johannesburg CBD has some really beautiful buildings and statues.


Breaking bread...for the birds


Around the house today so took to shooting some rather simple subject matter with simplistic results. Nevertheless here we have a backlit palm leaf for today's shot.


Spent the morning at Marievale Bird Sanctuary with Clive and it was very foggy early on. So with poor light I decided to try my hand at a nice slow shutter-speed panning shot.


Tasha's restaurant and coffee-shop at Melrose Arch has these really interesting light fittings, replete with cutlery. Fortunately you don't have to get yours from there! :)


An interesting looking sculpture glows in the early morning light in Sauer Street, downtown Johannesburg. I wandered around the block this morning and there are some great opportunties to be found, but settled on this one right outside the office.


These lamps (albeit not quite as funky admittedly :D) can be found in the underground walkway between the parking lot and the Standard Bank building. I plucked up my courage and ignored the on-lookers and took the shot.



25 Sauer Street, Standard Bank Building in downtown Johannesburg is where I work on a daily basis. Managed to get this in some great light and with a bit of cross-processing and tonal contrast pulled out some detail to make an interesting image?


Heading Home! After a day at work and two simple boring photographs taken during the day of a coffee cup and a keyboard, I needed to come up with something a bit more inspiring - and fast! So how about a photograph while travelling down the highway at 60km/h? :) Don't worry, it was safe. I see my car is due in for a service soon? :(


My father-in-law Tony, is a passionate chef. He loves to come over on Sunday evenings and cook up a storm for us and spend a bit of time with his grandchildren as well. Today I took the opportunity to capture a few of these moments with him as he explained to my wife Wendy how best to prepare the meal. I wanted to include his hands in this shot because without them he would be half the man he is and tragically he has already lost one finger in a terrible accident.


Today was greeted with miserably cold, wet rainy weather. The opportunities are still out there, just harder to get - so I took the easy route and did a few studio shots of my two gorgeous girls. Here's a cute one for my pic of the day, especially for my Dad who is 71 today! Happy birthday Grandad!