Last day of winter first day of Spring! What does it really mean???

31 August 2012 and if we look at the calendar it’s the last day of Winter. 1 September first day of Spring. Well here in South Africa anyway.

Today it’s 13 degrees Celsius outside, raining and the wind is howling. I can’t see that tomorrow 1 September the first day of spring will be any different.  The only difference  between today and tomorrow will be the name of the rain. Yes the rain will we called the first Spring showers….

When I was a young girl the picture I painted for myself  of Spring was sunny blue skies, fields of flowers, butterflies sitting on the flowers and birds chirping in the trees. I guess I watched to much Heidi when I was small. 😀  Something else that I can remember about 1 September is that you did not go to school in a uniform the girls had on lovely sundresses and you took flowers to school for your teacher. In high school the boys gave the girls they liked flowers and everywhere you here of  a spring dance to collect money for one or other charity.

As I grew up that picture changed and for as long as I can remember it was still cold, the wind was still howling and it was still raining on the 1st of September…

Looking through my window on 31 August 2012
The garden is wet wet wet
Raindrops on the leaves

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Leaf with raindrops…
Leaf with raindrops in Black & White

Just my luck.  The first day that I can go out and take a photo it rains….. This leaf with raindrops on it caught my eye on my way back from my parents granny flat. So I decided I did not carry my camera along just to come back inside with an empty memory card. So I took a photo of the raindrops and the leaf.

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Okay today I finished Arno’s Photo Shoot. This photo had me in stitches….

 

 

I asked Arno he must not laugh or smile he must be very very serious. Well look at that serious face….

For the next few weeks I will post photo’s of the SAPS Cycle Tour, photo’s taken on holiday, some of the functions and charities I visited with Sunette Nieuwoudt and of course some freshly taken photo’s….

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Did not get much done today. Was just to tired and in the end I was not satisfied with the outcome of yesterday’s photo’s I edited. So I deleted them and started over…

Clearly I need to get out there and take some photo’s I think I have withdrawal symptoms…

This photo was my last photo for today and I just love the way he looked into the lens…

 

Expanding my Photography boundaries…

 

If you can remember a few weeks ago I posted some photo’s of beautiful ladies in cocktail dresses.  Well with the cocktail dresses I still had a working flash.

When it got to the evening dresses my external flash batteries was dead and I tried to take some photo’s with my camera’s built in flash but for the distance I had to zoom it was  far to weak.

I had to expand my photography boundaries and tried something new. I took photo’s in manual mode without a tripod and only the knowledge of an article or two I read on this type of photography a while back…

I must be very honest with you and I think I have right to brag… My photo’s came out stunning!!!

Now if I can only get the opportunity to practice some more…. I think I can show some of the photographers with their degrees in photography a thing or two.  I am proud to say that I am a self taught photographer. My friend showed me the basics and the rest of my knowledge I got from reading articles in photography magazines and on the internet.

If I am uncertain about what to do for a upcoming photo shoot, I go to my computer.  Google is a wonderful tool to have I just type in the topic I want to research and within seconds it gives you lists and lists of articles on the topic. I then grab my “boyfriend” and start practicing.  I use the information I gathered as a guideline and then  I start playing with my camera’s settings. I believe in practice, practice, practice and practice oh and then once more practice. I don’t think that any photographer out there can stop practicing. Well maybe I am the only one that thinks like that.

Okay you waited long enough here are the photo’s I took of the lovely ladies in their evening dresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Only a few photo’s left then I am finished with Arno’s Photo Shoot.

I must be honest I am looking forward playing with my “boyfriend” again. But till I am not up to date with my Photo Shoot’s I am not going to… My clients have been waiting far to long…

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Handsome in green and black

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Pretty in pink

 

What a beautiful lady in pink…. Her smile and laughing eyes is the reason I chose this photo as my photo of the day.

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I just love the romantic mood this photo represents.

My photo’s everyone’s words… Week 21/52

Dassie, Avocca, Kirkwood, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Lake Arthur, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

Elephant, Addo National Elephant Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“Change your thoughts, and you change your world.”  Norman Vincent Peale

Sterkfontein Dam, Free State, Drakensberg, 2012, South Africa

“That best portion of a good man’s life: his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.”  William Wordsworth

Elephant, Addo National Elephant Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“If you wait for perfect conditions before you do something, those conditions may never come.” Gina Mohammed

Water, Howic Waterfall, KwaZulu Natal

“In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time.” Leonardo da Vinci

Golden Gate HighlandsNational Park, Maluti Mountains ,Free State,South Africa

“To focus on the people who do not like you and the things you cannot change is like climbing an infinite mountain; instead focus on the people who love you and the things you can change and you will find you can move mountains!” Michelle Ghislaine Ambler

High Tea in aid of CANSA

On 26 May 2012 the finalists of the Winelands Winter Queen pageant held a High Tea in aid of  The Cancer Association of South Africa or in short CANSA. The main focus of the morning was Breast Cancer.

On the morning of the High tea Sheryl Linda Long a breast cancer survivor came to share her story with us. What a remarkable woman.  Her faith and will to live is just so heartwarming and I must admit she had me in tears.

One of my biggest fears are being diagnosed with the big C but I am very happy to know that there are hope and support out there.

Now for those of you that don’t know what CANSA does here is just a short explanation I got off their website. For more information please go and read all about them.

CANSA’s sole purpose is to lead the fight against cancer in South Africa. CANSA’s mission is to be the preferred non-profit organisation that enables researcheducates the public and provides support to all people affected by cancer.

CANSA has more than 50 care centers all over South Africa. At these care centers they provide holistic care and support to patients diagnosed with cancer, cancer survivors and their loved ones.

I came across this quote also on the CANSA website:

“Cancer is not a death sentence, but rather it is a life sentence – it pushes one to live!” (Marcia Smith). 

Here are just a few collages I made of the morning.

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Another photo of Arno in his green shirt against the Black background.

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Arno Studio Shoot

Today I started with Arno’s photo shoot.  Arno took a while to warm up to the camera but I just love this one.

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Today I finished up with the Pospech Photo Shoot.  Only one more shoot to go then I am up to date and then I can start playing with my “boyfriend” again…

Really? You don’t say…

When I edited this photo today I just fell in love with the expression on little Chloë’s face.

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New Props being used…

 

Little Miss Julia  made such lovely photo’s.  She really likes the camera… Just look how lovely my new props look in the background…. Children are our Love and Joy…

 

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Two Sisters

I really had a ball photographing these two lovely girls…

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uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu Natal

On Sunday while busy with my photo’s with inspirational quotes on I came across this photo I took  at uKhahlamba  Drakensberg Park during our visit there in July. I just love trees, water and reflections… But more on this visit in the near future…

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A while back I went to a High tea in Paarl in aid of CANSA . For those of you that don’t know what CANSA stands for  The Cancer Association of South Africa. I will post the rest of the photo’s of the High Tea during the week also some more information on CANSA.

I was invited by Sunette Nieuwoudt  and like always my “boyfriend” accompanied me. I took photo’s of the tables but never edited it. I just focused on Sunette’s Table because she was my host and I am her sponsor for Mrs South Africa.

Well on Saturday I was not feeling to hot and decided to go through my older photo’s I still need to edit and delete all the photo’s I don’t want to use. I wanted to deleted this one because I did not take a photo of the whole glass.  Then I decided not delete it. What rules say you must take a photo of the whole object. So I edit it, sized it and saved it. I did however not publish it. I think I heard my bed calling….

Strawberry and Yogurt in Cocktail glass
Strawberry and Yogurt in Cocktail glass. Black & White

 

My photo’s everyone’s words… Week 20/52

Zebra, Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” Denis Waitley

Table Mountain from Blaauwberg, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

” Shut out all of your past except that which will help you weather your tomorrows.” William Osler

Geese, Benoni, Country View, Gauteng, South Africa

“It’s not knowing what to do, it’s doing what you know.”  Anthony Robbins

Ground Squirrel, Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“Life is just a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you.”  Wally Amos

Karroo, South Africa

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” Mahummad Ali

Springbok, Mountain Zebra Mountain Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“The true test in life does not occur when all is going well.  The true test takes place when we are faced with challenges.” Catherine Pulsifer

Orange River, Free State, South Africa

“The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.” Joseph Addison

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Oh my word today I had a few photo’s that I just loved but this one really screamed at me… Just love it….

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This photo was taken on our holiday at Alpine Heath. We went on a hike to the waterfall and on our way back this scene was in front of us…

Sun Set at Alpine Heath

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Mom and Daughter

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For the following few days I’ll focus on the Pospech photo shoot.

This morning around 2 o’clock I edited a few random photo’s  while I was busy with Reyvan’s Thank You DVD’s. So glad my computer can handle writing DVD’s while I edit.

Because I always set my camera on high speed when I have a photo shoot I take up to 5 photo’s when I press down my shutter button. I do this to ensure that I get at least one photo with open eyes especially when there are more than one person in a photo.

I had 2 of this specific photo I could use and Coreen Kuhn do not waist a photo I use it… So I played with my Saturation, Clarity and Vibrance settings…

I just love how this one came out.

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Well you will all be happy to know I finished  Reyvan’s Birthday Party. Now we can move on to the next shoot…

Here is my last photo of the day from Reyvan’s party…. This little man decided he had a much more fun task for the lid of the animal feed bowl. Yes it’s a Frisbee jippeee…

Lid or Frisbee???

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Well it looks like I have quite a few Favorite photo’s from Reyvan’s birthday party at Spaanyard.  Just look at this girls smile even her eyes smile with….

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Another one of my favorite photo’s taken of one of the guests at Reyvan’s 2nd birthday party.  When I saw her standing like this my first thought was she is quite the model.   I am nearly finished with this shoot then I can move on to the next one…

 

My photo’s everyone’s words… Week 19/52

Bokkomlaan, Velddrif, West Coast, Western Cape, South Africa

“Anybody can do just about anything with himself that he really wants to and makes up his mind to do. We are capable of greater things than we realize.” Norman Vincent Peale

Lake Arthur, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“There is more to life than increasing its speed.” Gandhi

Addo National Elephant Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“Communication is the solvent of all problems and is the foundation of personal development.” Peter Shepherd

Potsberg, West Coast National Park, Langebaan, West Coast, Western Cape, South Africa

“Long-lasting change starts on the inside. By focusing your attention on things like becoming more honest, bold, or creative, you’ll find that the how-to of achieving your goals gets a whole lot easier.” Cheryl Richardson

Goose, Benoni, Country View, Gauteng, South Africa

“Everyone can think of the one thing that would make life better for them. But people are not so quick to answer the second question: What are you doing to make that change come true?” Catherine Pulsifer

Jacobsbaai, West Coast, South Africa

“Like success, failure is many things to many people. With Positive Mental Attitude, failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again.” W. Clement Stone

Brittania Bay, West Coast, South Africa

“To become proficient in any field you must practice. There is simply no achievement without practice and tho more practice, provided it is none intelligently, the greater will the proficiency be and the sooner will it be attained.” Emmet Fox

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One of my clients took part in a beauty pageant I was lucky enough to be there as a guest and took some photo’s just for the fun of it.  This morning Sunette asked me if I had photo’s of her in her evening dress. This is one of the photo’s I took that evening of her dress. As you know from previous posts I was not prepared that evening and when I got to the evening dresses I had to rely on my camera and the settings I used. My batteries for my flash was flat…. I took the photo’s in Manual mode and I must be honest I am very happy with the results of the photo’s.  The photo’s are not perfect but with practice  I will only get better and better….

My beautiful client Sunette in her evening dress

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Reyvan with purple balloon

 

 

As you can see I am still busy with little Reyvan’s party.  I wonder what he was thinking about when I took this photo. He was busy playing with the balloon and then all of a sudden he just froze… After a few seconds he went on playing with the balloon…

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Still busy editing.  At this stage I am busy working on two shoots at the same time.

This photo is from Reyvan’s birthday party.  LOL I took over 1200 photo’s on Reyvan’s party in Johannesburg. I still have around 300 to work through…

I just love this photo.  This little boy looked straight into the lens. Wonder what he was thinking….

 

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Still busy working on the Pospech shoot. It’s taking a bit longer. Have to do some creative editing in some photo’s…

Just love this one of Father and Daughter…

 

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I just love this photo I edited tonight of two sisters. These are part of the Pospech Family Shoot.  Big sister just love her baby sister. More later….

Two Sisters….

 

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Little Miss Zurika
Little Miss Zurika

Just look at lovely little Miss Zurika.  This is another photo of the Kruger family shoot.

 

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This morning I was at a Breakfast at Bloemendal Restaurant and the hostess was Sunette Nieuwoudt a Mrs SA finalist .

Daniël de Kock  had everyone in stitches  he has a way with words.   I would recommend him for any function. Daniël is an author, Minister, Psychologist and chef this is just a few of his expertise.

Daniël De Kock

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My photo of the day for 3 August 2012 is of the Kruger family. More photo’s of this precious family to follow within the next few weeks….

Cocktail dresses

As a sponsor of Sunette Nieuwoudt I was invited to the Gala evening of the Winelands Winter Queen 2012 Pageant.

I took my camera with for the sole purpose to take photo’s of Sunette and the winner of the pageant. I did not even take with extra batteries for my flash or camera.  All of the photo’s taken of the contestants on the evening was taken from our table. I had to delete allot of photo’s due to closed eyes, people jumping up or the official photographer blocking my view from were I sat.  So if some of the contestants are looking at these photo’s please don’t be cross with me if you were not captured. I don’t like to publish photo’s of people who’s eyes are closed and due the lighting that happened very often.

I love challenging myself and my ability to adapt to different circumstances. For the first part of the evening I still had my external flash to rely on then the batteries died….

Please note that all the photograph’s in this post is the property of Coreen Kuhn Photography. Please do not copy, edit,  crop or remove my name without written consent from myself Coreen Kuhn. 

If you would like a copy of your photograph please email me at coreenkuhnphotography@gmail.com

Chantal Whitthuhn
Chantal Whitthuhn
Chantal Witthuhn
Marilie Scharrighuisen
Marilie Scharrighuisen
Marilie Scharrighuisen
Marilie Scharrighuisen
Amanda Mostert
Amanda Mostert
Amanda Mostert
Burnedette Bekker
Burnedette Bekker
Back: Amanda Mostert and Marilie Scharrighuisen.    Front:  Burnedette Bekker
Burnedette Bekker
Burnedette Bekker
Burnedette Bekker
Sunette Olivier
Sunette Olivier
Sunette Olivier
Sunette Olivier
Sunette Olivier
Sunette Olivier
Bianca Gilfillan
Bianca Gilfillan
Bianca Gilfillan
Bianca Gilfillan
Renè Siebritz
Renè Siebritz
Renè Siebritz
Back: Burnedette Bekker and Sunette Olivier            Front: Lize -Mari Neethling
Lize -Mari Neethling
Lize -Mari Neethling
Lize -Mari Neethling
Lize -Mari Neethling
Lize -Mari Neethling
Lize -Mari Neethling

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For the next few day’s I will be posting photo’s that I edited. Due to allot of work I don’t really get time to play with my camera.  But all the photo’s that I will be posting will be taken with my Canon 7D.

My Photo of the day for 2 August 2012 is this little boy enjoying a cupcake at Reyvan’s Party. I was on holiday in Johannesburg and decided why not  do what I love most and capture Reyvan’s 2nd birthday party.

Hmmmm cup cake…..

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Let me introduce Lenie.  Lenie is older than me. When I was small, okay not that I am much bigger now, I loved Lenie. So my grandmother also Lenie told me that someday I could have her. Grandmother gave Lenie baths and changed her clothes regularly.

I speak under correction but if I remember correctly my grandfather won Lenie for my grandmother in a lucky draw….  Will come back to you.

When I prepare for my baby photography shoots at my home studio Lenie must play the part of the baby…. The other night my son told me I am to old to play with a doll.

Lenie is not just a doll she reminds me of my Grandmother who always told me to follow my dreams and heart. This must sound a bit silly but for me Lenie is part of my grandmother and with her in my studio my grandmother is also present…

I will from now on show off my new props on Lenie…. I think she loves being in the spotlight…

Lenie
Lenie in Black & White

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Just look at our new house guest.  A Rain spider.

I know it’s big and looks scary but it is totally harmless. LOL okay I must be honest I don’t know if I would be calm if it walks over my hand in the dark. It might get some flying lessons and my blood pressure may hit the roof…

I wonder if he or she is afraid of us too?

Here are some more information on the Rain Spider I got it from a site called  Africa’s Most Dangerous Spiders

“The Rain spider is brown, enormous and by default somewhat terrifying. It could give you a heart attack if you’re scared of spiders, but technically they’re quite harmless. Their legs can span more than 3 inches and are hairy to boot. Their bodies are smooth and plump. While they can bite, their venom is relatively weak and a human will recover in a matter of days. The females will get very aggressive while defending their eggs. Rain Spiders hunt at night and sleep during the day. They’re called Rain Spiders in Southern Africa because they tend to be more active just before and after it rains. In South Africa it’s very common to have these spiders move into your home just before the summer rains.”

Rain Spider, Kraaifontein, South Africa
Rain Spider Black & White
Rain Spider