Burnt House #1

It was a while ago when we spent a weekend at Gross Barmen, a Hot Springs Resort on the banks of the Swakop River, 100kms from Windhoek. “We”, that would be a friendly and fun bunch of graphic designers and my humble self, who got together informally, took some pictures, exchanged ideas and later looked at each other’s work to give input and criticise. I guess that’s what makes it a photography workshop.

Gross Barmen is an eerie place even without that particular ‘Burnt House’, which they decided to leave standing in its ashes as a kind of ‘monument’ or witness of time … hmmm, not sure about that one, but anyway.

Burnt House #2

It is not even an interesting house, no spectacular architecture or anything like that, nor is it old enough to have any historic value, it’s just a guest house or bungalow gone up in flames by accident. As such I suppose it actually contributes to the ‘eeriness’ of Gross Barmen, an early Rhenish mission station, established in 1844, later converted to a resort. I cannot help it, but it reminds me of the places and especially the public baths I encountered during my first visits to Hungary in the eighties – two words, “Goulash Communism”.

Burnt House #3

Why am I writing about this ‘uninspiring place’ then? The point is, that places and/or subjects like these force you to look closer and go back to the basics. It’s about finding that shot within a given subject, rather than hunting down that subject, or motive, to get a good shot. There’s a picture in all of us, at any given time and everywhere we look. For those reasons and as such I enjoyed that weekend tremendously … above and beyond great company and fellow shooters.

So long

Tommy

PS: More pictures of this shoot/workshop can be found here … still busy rendering and re-rendering at the time of this writing :)

Dictionary

… which isn’t actually a Macro shot, or at least not taken with a Macro lens as such. This is a close-up of a pocket dictionary the size of a cigarette box, taken with the Canon 50mm f1.4, which is probably one of the best lenses little money can buy. This lens is sharp, it’s a blade, and it does so many things so well. Portrait, low light, landscape, close-ups and more. A fantastic little tool available for far less than any of its “L” siblings.Thank you Canon, can we have more like this one please?

So long

Tommy

Mantis #1

Mantis #2

So long

Tommy

To start of with, I have downloaded the trial version and have worked with the software for 15 days. It is very good and a welcome upgrade to Theimagingfactory’s B/W converter, which I have been using happily for quite some years  now. I will write a review about Silver Efex, provided I can manage to upgrade to the full version any time soon. Namibians and their credit cards seem to be ignored by Nik Software, together with the entire country as such …  for some strange reason.

Support staff at Nik Software – or rather your Payment Gateway providers (as they are likely to be the culprits):

• Namibia is not in your country list … full stop!
• The list I am looking at has South Africa and Angola in it – meaning I should be looking at the correct list, yes? The list of African countries, yes?
• South Africa and Angola – which are on the list – are on the same continent as Namibia, so are many more African countries.
• Your instructions to switch to the UK shop, by using the “choose country” function, not only doesn’t make any sense (as above), but D O E S  N O T  W O R K … yes, really!
• In fact, your “choose country” GoodieMcGaffter doesn’t seem to give a hoot about choices at all – and this has been tried by various web developers in our company – one ends up with the same country list every time, which should prove that (again as above) we are in the right shop already – you tell me … pretty please!
• The phenomenon that I cannot use my German credit card either, whilst “seemingly” hovering around in the German shop, indicates that user location is probably established by some other means and choices ignored from then on forward.

Guys, get an atlas and have a look at the African continent. Whilst at it, you may want to let your gaze sway a bit left and right (ignore the blue stuff). Apart from the incomplete list of African countries, there are definitely more than 50-60 countries on this planet … trust me!

Kindly notify me as soon as Namibia becomes eligible to shop at Nik Software.

All the best

Tommy Kellner (just wants to buy the software and continue working – wasted 5 days already)

Young Amethyst

… found at (closed down) Sarusas Mine, where the South Africans used to mine amethysts – many moons ago.

Harsh Tranquility

I took this picture at the Namibian coast (Atlantic), at a place called Mile 108. If this very part of coastline, also called the Skeleton Coast, would be a child or a pet, you would probably refer to it as having “a face only a mother can love”. It is harsh and cold, most of times covered in fog drawing in from the cold Benguela Current. The closest to defining the colour of sand would be “dirty”, everything else around and beyond would be “shades and tones of dirt”. You will not find anything green or colourful here, even the rough and icy cold sea is rarely blue, but mostly some kind of foaming, dark, greenish grey. Try and picture the exact opposite of your typical postcard Maldives beach and palm trees.

Interestingly, some people (such as I) find these parts of the world tranquil, relaxing, calming. Maybe due to the fact that there is really not much to do, or rather nothing and nobody to distract you from … well, from what, I don’t know … I suppose from thinking about the things you usually don’t have time to think about. I often refer to these places as “where you can hear the flies fart”.

Taking people to places like this I have experienced two extremes (and nothing in between). Some wind down slowly but surely, whilst others become more and more nervous and edgy, some of them clearly getting to close to themselves and in touch with thoughts they would rather – and usually – avoid.

So long

Tommy

Felix' Hand

Felix' Foot

It’s interesting, how you shoot more pictures of the first born – me at least. The boys’ granddad even mentioned to me that in his case child photography decreased gradually from number one to number four. I remember running around with the camera glued to my forehead during the early days/months/years of Maximilian. Pictures were enlarged and framed and hung and e-mailed and and and … when Felix was born – only 13 months later mind you – things slowed down. To my shame, I have to admit that not one picture of Felix has made it to the wall of fame yet :( … not sure why … really.

So long

Tommy

Maximilian & Lobo

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

(Author unknown)

Shoes

Which photographer – of any background or style – can claim that his or her camera does not frequently wander to point at the kids and/or at what ever (the heck) they are doing at a given time … only to declare those pictures the absolutely most wonderful in the entire collection? … no matter how kitsch or cliche …

Well, I suppose I’m no exception and as handicapped as the next photographer when it comes to judgment of them candid shots within our own habitat. That said, every now and then methinks I am able to grab … aaah … I realise I’m trying to waffle my way out of this … the short and sweet of it, is that I really love this picture :) hoping that you do too.

So long

Tommy