Photography Class Homework #1

Just before I left for South Africa I bought a Canon Power Shot 30SX IS.  Why I don't know... I've never owned a nice camera before, I know nothing of photography and I knew I would  never read the owners manual.  In addition South Africa is a very dangerous place and I don't want to be seen in public with this expensive camera around my neck.

Flash forward 8 months and my supervisor suggestion that I find an interest outside of missions and that I ought to make my own friends.

Saturday, March 3rd while walking in the 'mall', I saw that the Hillcrest Camera Club was having a display and had information about joining their club.  I almost shouted, EUREKA.  

Problem solved... new friends and at last I can learn a thing or two about photography.

The next meeting was a mere 4 days away on Tuesday, March 6th.  I learned at that meeting that one member was offering photography classes.  I was thrilled - camera club and classes, just like getting a double scoop of ice cream.

So here are the pictures I took for my homework.

#1.  Mr. Cow  This shot was to be using the 1/3 rule.  I got good marks for having his eye (what you are to focus on when shooting animals and people) on the 1/3 mark.  I got mark down on that fact that he should be moved up and over so more of the grass is in front of him, instead of behind him.  Like he is looking/ going somewhere.

#2.  This picture was to be something that lead your eye to the subject.  Didn't really have an end point by your eye is lead to the middle.  This is the road I walk down every morning and UP every afternoon.  It may not look steep but believe me, it is VERY steep.

#3.  This shot was to be framing the subject.  Here two boys are playing with the the ball on the church aisle. 

#4.  We were to take 5 pictures of the same object from different angles.  Now I wanted all the pictures that I took to be about South Africa or Shongweni, where I serve.  I choose Tennis Biscuits because they are so delicious and wonderful.  This first shot is called the establishing shot.

This is the back of the biscuit.

Fun detail.

This shot served two purposes because one picture was to be about texture and lighting. 

#5. This shot was to use your 'tele' lens and see what the background looks like.  Tele is what the instruction calls the telephoto lens. 

I printing this one to bring to class just because I love it so much.  This grandmother (Gogo) was skipping rope at the Gogo olympics.  Just look at her height.  

Last night was my second class and I better get busy with this weeks homework.

Let's Get Dirty ~ Birthday Tree Planting

Let's Get Dirty

Tired of being clean, sick of being proper
I wanna live among the beggars
And dig out in the dirt
Step outside the walls we built to protect us
Don't be afraid to get some mud on your face

Come on, come on everybody
Come on, come on and serve someone

[chorus]
Let's get dirty, let's get used
No matter where you come from
If you're beaten up or bruised
Let's get foolish - let's get free
Free to be the one thing you were meant to be
Let's get dirty

Song by: Audio Adrenaline

Friday, December 16, 2011 ten native trees were donated to our creche at Shongweni.

The trees sat in this spot: December, January, February.  Nothing happens very fast in South Africa... Being America and wanting to get these into the ground, I contacted my son, Jake Beale who is working on his Master's degree in Forestry at Virginia Tech.

Jake Beale

Jake sent me several emails with detailed instructions on how to plant each tree along with a description of each tree, the type and how big it should grow to be.

Monday, February 27th, my 53rd birthday the day arrived to plant these darlings.  Ginger had a great idea, rather than us two do all the digging why not get some help.

We work closely with the Hillcrest AIDS Center and they have a wonderful horticulture department where they grow and sell every imaginable plant and tree.

Ready, Set, Go

We have a soccer field as part of our ministry and it was decided to plant 5 trees around the playing field.  I can just picture hot, tired soccer players resting under the shade of these trees in a few years :)

Okay, okay maybe the men did more actual digging than I did but someone had to take the pictures.

The ground was rock hard and it is summer here and very hot.

Making sure the hole is big enough.

The Hillcrest AIDS Center had this truck donated to them from Daimler Chrysler.  Thank you Daimler Chrysler.  Ginger and I got a ride home, which was a wonderful thing since we were so dirty and riding on the combi for an hour would not have been pleasant for us or the others on the combi.  Bonus was I haven't rode in the back of a truck in 40 years.

This is our rain water catchment: a Jojo.

Two trees went over by the chicken run ~ part of the community economic development program.  Soon the ladies will have shade.

 The last few trees went outside of the fence.

 Working all over the campus.

The children enjoyed watching us work.

The weeds/grass is as tall as the tree.

It was so hot even the children sat to play instead of running around.

What is it about boys and tools?  The little boys were enthralled.

Adding water to the compost.  Which by the way I carried the bag of compose on my head around the campus, the way good Zulu women carry all heavy objects.

Next came the planting of the garden, another community economic development program.  The men brought us our requested: carrots, cabbage, spinach and beets.

 Getting the planting beds ready, did I mention how hot it was?

My birthday and I was so happy to see Buzz Lightyear on my special day.

As is customary in the Zulu culture, food is always included in any social occasion.  The men joined us for the lunch we serve the children.  Today being Monday meant the menu was chicken and rice with a gravy.

This little angel is fell and busted up her forehead.  She milked the injury all the way and asked to be fed.

Birthday dinner out with my ministry team.  (L) Shara, Ginger, Me with gifts, Julia. We went to Ocean Basket were I got my usual: Fish and Chips for 39 Rand $5.64.  I brought the ketchup from America with me for the chips.

Great day, great birthday. The trees finally got planted and are doing well.  I enjoyed the sunshine and manual labor.  I'm not so much a paperwork kinda girl.  I much prefer to get dirty while serving the Lord.