The last sunrise of 2017 was shot at Monteseel, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa with Prakash and Vinesh.

It was a little chilly so I wore my Canon South Africa jacket. The Nikon and Fujifilm X-Photographers present were seemingly envious, but I didn’t let that put me off .

The weather report was not great for this morning – NE gusting over 20 and possible rain / thunderstorms.

I headed out with my trusty old boy – Canon South Africa Canon EOS 6D and Canon EF 17–40mm lens.

We chose Thomson Bay as it’s my favourite magical spot; and I haven’t been there for a while.

The wind was pumping and I therefore chose to work the rocks to the North of Thomson Bay‘s tidal pool at Thompson’s Beach – Ballito.

“You are a creator, an artist of sorts. You’re the one who has created your wins. And you’re the one who has generated your defeats. You might not agree with me but it’s my sense that so much of what happens to us – the good and the ungood – has been a consequence of our own belief system, ways of operating and daily choices” ~ Robin Sharma​

Yesterday I was all fired-up for an early start, and went to Umhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu-Natal​ for a sunrise shoot before my first work meeting at 07:00.

Prakash​ and Vinesh​ were on-hand to witness my Canon South Africa​ Canon EOS 6D​ get tumbled by a small wave while getting this shot.

All sorts of camera errors then started popping up.

I later wiped the camera off with a damp cloth (fresh water – not salted) and went directly to a garage to use the air tyre hose to spray air. The camera then sat in the sun for a few hours… it’s working like a bomb again!

F11, ISO 320, 1/4 sec. main image – 19mm with Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens​.

“Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a flower” ~ Shigenori Kameoka

I’ve had two sunrise shoots +/- 04h55 in a row now… Firing on more cylinders!

Planning to at least score hat trick this weekend.

It feels good to be alive!

Moyo Ushaka was a stunner as usual this morning. The coffee at Coffee Guys was special as well.

Canon South Africa Canon G3X F11, ISO 125, 1/25 sec.

“The only real security in life lies in relishing life’s insecurity” – M. Scott Peck

I ran the gauntlet this morning at 04h30 (Friday 22 December 2017) in the Durban CBD to get this photo of the Christmas Lights.

It’s been a challenging year and thankfully I am reaching the end, alive and happy – two things I’ve always taken for granted (and still do). I also have a roof over my head and lots of love close-by – I’m rich!

Blessings and happiness to all of you, your family, friends, colleagues and others we do not know. 

Canon South Africa 6D, F20 (because Grant suggested 😉 ), 6 sec. ISO 640 (to get a quicker shot in case I needed to run). 

“Your resilience, steely courage, and gritty determination have humbled the strongest among us. You’ve moved mountains” – The Universe

It was a 04:30 departure for uShaka Beach this morning. I took the “baby” Canon South Africa Canon G3X onto the beach and took some shots of Moyo Ushaka Pier.

In the distance I saw the King of Bikini & Muscle Shoots: the Honorable Sir Ben Myburgh with two models. I took a few shots behind Ben and then watched him at work. Well organised, energetic, interested, professional spring to mind.

Happy Thursday!

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it” ~ Pablo Picasso

Let’s hope that we get a sunrise like this on the weekend. The camera is itching and ready… and the coffee is waiting at The Coffee Guys – South Beach.