Tranquil geometric sunset

This photo captures a moment of tranquillity from the 6th-floor balcony of the flats we stayed at during our vacation. As I stood there, watching the sunset unfold over the ocean, I was struck by the way the architecture seemed to blend seamlessly with the natural beauty of the scene. The curved lines of the balcony rail guided my eyes towards the horizon, where the sun was slowly dipping into the water, casting a warm, golden glow that contrasted beautifully with the cool blues and greys of the building.

I loved how the glass panels and reflective windows played with the light, mirroring the sunset and ocean waves, creating an illusion of endless sunsets repeating in the glass. The reflections echoed the building’s curves, blending reality with reflection in a way that made the scene feel layered and multidimensional.

For me, this image is all about contrasts: the sleek, modern lines of the building against the organic, timeless beauty of the sunset. It’s a peaceful and meditative moment that invites you to pause and take in the fleeting magic of the day’s end—a perfect blend of human-made structure and natural wonder. Standing there, I felt a sense of calm and appreciation for the quiet beauty that can be found when you least expect it, high above the everyday hustle of life below.

Sony a5100, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD, Focal length 17mm, Exposure 1/200sec at f6.3, ISO 100, AF on, VC on, Flash none, Filter none.

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Violin Girl

As I wandered through my local Saturday street market, the lively buzz of vendors and shoppers filled the air, but my attention was drawn to this girl, standing alone by the shopfront, lost in her own world. She held her violin delicately, bowing random notes as if searching for something in the sound—perhaps tuning, perhaps perfecting a melody that eluded her. Her face was a mix of focus and quiet frustration, not aimed at the crowd but at her instrument, like a conversation between the girl and her violin that no one else could hear.

The light fell on her, highlighting the contours of her concentrated expression and the loose strands of her hair, framing her in a glow that contrasted with the shadows around her. It was as if the world around her had faded, leaving just her, the violin, and the unspoken story of her moment. Passersby seemed oblivious, wrapped in their own routines, but to me, she was the heart of this bustling street—a silent artist, grappling with her art.

I watched her for a while. She didn’t play for applause or attention, it was a private moment made public. As I left, I slipped some money into her case, a quiet acknowledgment of her presence and the connection she unknowingly made. This photo is more than just an image, it's a snapshot of human resilience, the delicate dance between struggle and passion, and the unspoken bond between an artist and her audience.

Sony a5100, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD, Focal length 70mm, Exposure 1/500sec at f6.3, ISO 100, AF on, VC on, Flash none, Filter none.

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Lazy lazy

The Cape fur seal is a subspecies of the brown fur seal and is commonly found along the coast of southern Africa, from Namibia to the southern tip of South Africa. These seals are well adapted to the rocky shores and islands of the Cape Town area, where they form large breeding colonies. Cape fur seals are characterized by their thick fur, which provides insulation in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Males are significantly larger than females, with males weighing up to 350 kg (770 lbs) and females up to 120 kg (265 lbs). They have a robust body, pointed snout, and external ear flaps, which distinguish them from true seals.

I found these two seals basking in the sun at the Kalk Bay Harbour near Fish Hoek. They were pretty tame, barely noticing people walking past them. This must be a spot they frequently visit.

Sony a5100, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD, Focal length 70mm, Exposure 1/3200sec at f4.5, ISO 100, AF on, VC on, Flash none, Filter none.

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Blueberg Sunset

I love a good sunset. We were out on a walk down the seaside before sunset and I was unsure if the incoming front would cover up the sunset or not. Well, I hurried back to our AirBnB when I spotted what looked to be a break in the clouds that my allow the narrowest of opportunities to caputure a golden sunset. I barely made it back in time to get my camera and take this shot, Needless to say, I am very pleased with the result. 

Sony a5100, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD, Focal length 58mm, Exposure 1/500sec at f5.6, ISO 100, AF on, VC on, Flash none, Filter none.

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African Dream

I have discovered that Cape Town South Africa is a photographer's paradise. On vacation one day we drove around Cape Point from Fish Hoek to Hout Bay. I came across this little boat wreck at the Hout Bay marina, along with very interesting locals with many fishing stories to share. Come to think of it, I should have asked around to see if anyone knew the history behind this little wreck.

Sony a5100, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD, Focal length 37mm, Exposure 1/1600sec at f5.6, ISO 100, AF on, VC on, Flash none, Filter none

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Smiley Bollard

As I walked home the other day using a route on the waterfront I don’t always use, I almost passed by this bollard without noticing its peculiar features. Luckily the corner of my eye caught this amusing face someone drew on the bollard. You will see I shot the picture on f5, so for effect the blurred background is thanks to Lightroom.

Sony a5100, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD, Focal length 26mm, Exposure 1/80sec at f5, ISO 100, AF on, VC on, Flash none, Filter none.

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A Gull's Perspective

Beautiful sunrise today on the Wellington waterfront. I am still shooting the Tamron with what I consider safe settings just until I can get to grips with the quality and capabilities of the lens at more extreme settings. Aperature was set at f5 at 25mm, and I am very pleased with the resulting depth of field. At the same time I have a new camera to learn. I love the size of the Sony a5100 and the flip up screen is real useful to take pictures from angles other than the typical eye level photos. Oh, and have I mentioned how quick focusing is with this little camera! One downside is that it does not have any manual dails on the camera like my Fuji X100T has. Everything must be set via the menus and rotary dial. Not ideal, but with practice I am sure I will master this.

Sony a5100, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD, Focal length 25mm, Exposure 1/60sec at f2.8, ISO 250, AF on, VC on, Flash none, Filter none.

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Fountain sunset

It has been 10 years since I posted on this blog. In celebration of my return, I took the photo below with my new Tamron with my recently purchased secondhand Sony a5100. It is early days, so I cannot yet offer any feedback regarding this camera and lens, but keep visiting this blog to learn more about my experience with these new photography tools.

Sony a5100, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD, Focal length 17mm, Exposure 1/160sec at f2.8, ISO 2000, Focus auto, VC on, Flash none, Filter none.

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