ONA camera bags

I am giddy with excitement - just received my new camera from the courier service. Thank you, Orms!

Now, I have to tell you the funny story about my current camera.... About 8 years ago, I had my eye on my sister's awesome DSLR camera. One of the local magazines, Good Taste, offered the same camera as a prize to one of the new subscribers to the magazine, so I thought, let’s go for it!! I subscribed. In the meantime, my husband went overseas on a work assignment and phoned me to ask if he could buy it for me. I replied: "No, I'll just win the camera". So when the magazine phoned me to tell me that I am indeed the lucky subscriber, I told them the story. Something got lost in translation, however, because the way THEY related the story (and published it for all to see!) in their next edition was something to the effect of "Nani wanted the camera, but her husband did not want to buy it for her, so she just had to win it..." Needless to say, poor Husband, who is such a generous person, was super unimpressed! :-)

I bought one of the Lowepro bags to store my camera and lenses. Very practical and readily available, but wow, the way to go for this would be the super stylish leather shoulder bag from ONA Bags !! It is a US-based company that makes these beautiful handcrafted bags using naturally-milled full-grain leather and waxed cotton canvas.

So chic!! Below are a few more images.

Image credits: ONA Bags

Playing in the streets of New York

I love these photos of children playing in the streets of New York. It was taken by Arthur Leipzig, a photo journalist turned street photographer who focused on the daily lives of people in the city streets. These photos, that perfectly capture the spirit of the city, were taken in 1950. 

My favourite - "Divers, East River, 1948".

Image credits: Arthur Leipzig

Say cheese

I’ve used this blog more than once to throw a not-so-subtle hint at the husband for a Christmas gift or two or three.. :-). However, I am now on a new bandwagon – a wagon full of camera stuff!! How cool (and sometimes odd) are these gadgets that I found on Photojojo?

From left to right: 1) Camera Strap tee 2) Lens bracelets 3) Fuzzy Wuzzy felt camera case 4) DSLR money bank 5) Camera Dial Laptop Decal 6) Vintage Camera Mobile 7) Plastic printed paddles 8) Keep Calm and Snap On Prints 9) Keyboard Shortcut Skins for Photoshop 10) Canon Camera Lens Mugs 11) Juice box camera 

Image credits: All images from Photojojo

Events in my neighbourhood this week include the first ever Canon Expo in South Africa. It is on at the Sandton Convention Centre from the 9th to the 11th of December. Doors open at 10:00, entrance is free and it is on till 18:00. A price list is available on their Facebook page.

Black & White

How beautiful are these black and white images? See how many people you recognise...

And my favourite one:

Image credits: 1) Walt Disney 2) Paul Newman on a Water Taxi in Venice 

3) Ernest Hemingway 4) Coco Chanel 5) Sophia Loren 

6) Jacqueline Kennedy with her daughter Caroline 7) Julia Child

Adri Meyer Photography

My sister has a few weddings under her photography belt. My new brother-in-law is a professional sports photographer. Add to that my brother who also makes his living behind a camera and you see why I feel like the” mik-en-drukker” in the family :-).

Now, if two photographers get married, you can take my word for the fact that that their photographer friends make up more than just one table at the wedding reception. One of the impressive collection of photographers at my sister’s wedding was her friend (and I am glad to say now also mine!), Adri Meyer. Adri’s task on the day was to capture the whole “getting dressed” part of the wedding. Now, even though she was a friend of the bride, what struck me about her immediately is that, going about her business of making sure the light, angles and poses are just right, she adds something to the occasion. It took me a while to figure out what, but then it struck me – she likes her subjects and she has a winning way about her personality that adds to the joy of the occasion, rather than just acting as an impersonal documenter of the proceedings.

Adri studied Value and Policy Studies at the Stellenbosch University. She went on to become a Fashion Buyer and only recently left her corporate job to become a full time photographer. Looking at the photos below, you will agree with me that she found her true calling. I love her work, I love her blog and seeing the way that she translates her passion into images really inspires me.

These photos are from her wedding collection, but she also does maternity and engagement shoots. Her family portraits are beautiful. To see more of her work or book her for a shoot, visit her website. You can also follow her blog or like her Facebook page.

Image credits: All photography by Adri Meyer