Into the Wild - John Krakauer

Just an excerp from the condensed version of "Into the Wild":

So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty. - Alex McCandless

If you have not read "Into the Wild" as yet, I suggest you search for it and read it!

Butterflies - Macro Nikkor f2.8 D

Some macro shots with the Nikon D3100 + 105MM Nikkor micro f2.8 D
Butterflies in my garden . . .

Honda CR500

Just some afternoon fun with the Honda CR500 2-Stroke!
Nikon D3100 + 18-55mm VR

Honda CR 500 2 STROKE 

Lightning photos - How to

This is just a quick How-to guide on taking lightning photos. The first thing you need to have is lightning of course! A DSLR camera and pretty much any lens will do and a tripod. The trick is to set the cameras focus on manual and set it on the infinity focus mark. A lot of newer lenses don't have this mark so it makes it a little more tricky. However, you can set the focus during the day and mark it on your lens with some tape.
Below is a picture of the Sigma lens I used for my lightning shots, the red circle indicates the infinity focus point.

Snow in Joburg August 2012

 Snow in Johannesburg! So what? Well, to those of you used to the fluffy white stuff that falls from the sky, this is not something we are used to here in sunny SA. To put it in perspective: The last time it snowed here I was still crapping in my pants and drinking out of a sippy cup. Back in 1981 I believe. It was quite amazing to see how people reacted to it. One would swear it was money falling from the sky instead of a form of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Children were let out of classes and office workers were running around outside all giggly and stuff! Ah well, perhaps the next time it snows here I may be still crapping in my pants and drinking out a sippy cup! 

Mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam . . .

Some perspective . . .

Honda Jazz - Sunday morning drive

In spite of the 2 degree C weather, I just had to get out and take some pictures!
D3100 Sigma 18-200.

BMW E30 Meet Hookup!

So, some guys decided to meet a local garage to show off some of their E30 BMW's. It was a meet up before they left in convoy for the Tarlton raceway, "Drag wars" competition. Some super sweet rides were seen with a few other models thrown in for good measure! The infamous Box BMW has gained notoriety as being the car of choice for spinning. A hugely popular event in which the car is spinned, spunned, spanked in every which way from Sunday!  Something like this:

Random Rumi quote . . .

• 
  Look at Love
• Look at Love...
• how it tangles
• with the one fallen in love
• look at spirit
• how it fuses with earth
• giving it new life
• why are you so busy?
• with this or that or good or bad?
• pay attention to how things blend
• why talk about all?
• of the known and the unknown
• for observe how unknown merges into the known
• why think separately
• of this life and the next?
• when one is born from the last
• look at your heart and tongue
• one feels but deaf and dumb
• the other speaks in words and signs
• look at water and fire
• earth and wind
• enemies and friends all at once
• the wolf and the lamb
• the lion and the deer
• far away yet together
• look at the unity of this
• spring and winter
• manifested in the equinox
• you too must mingle my friends
• since the earth and the sky
• are mingled just for you and me
• be like sugarcane
• sweet yet silent
• don't get mixed up with bitter words
• my beloved grows
• right out of my own heart
• how much more union can there be?

Nissan Hardbody 2006 4x4

Just a small sampling of my Nissan truck. 2006 model 4x4 3.3 v6 petrol. Has a severe drinking problem! 6.5km per litre. (Not sure what that is in miles to the gallon but it's not very far!) Click images for large view

Apparently I was not supposed to be on this road, or so says the park rangers that chased me for 20 mins! 

Camera out the window shot.  

My cars cousin! 

Attempted HDR thing. 

Taking cover in a hail storm in the mountains 

On this day I learnt that mud and water are not impressed with your 4x4 and will not yield!

Took the guys at the car wash 30 mins with the power hose to get this off.