Mar 062013
 

My Capetown host said hello today, so I’ve been inspired to post one of the photos I took while staying there. This is a small rocky area at one end of the expansive, beautiful Nordhoek beach. I wanted to capture the power of the water around here so as the sun dropped down I let my shutter speeds slow down to show off the churning movement of the water as it bursts onto the rocky shoreline.

I didn’t actually think it’d rush up as far as it did. Suddenly my feet discovered just how cold the water is this far South of the equator.

I’ve got a few photos lined up and quite possibly a bit of time to breathe so am going to try to get back into posting a photo a day. Comments on photos and requests for places you know I’ve been definitely help motivate me!

I’ve got a week in Cuba on the brain at the moment. I’ll be trying to go late March/early April. If you’d like to join me, feel free to let me know!! 🙂

Whitewater rushes around a boulder on the rocky area of Nordhoek Beach, Cape Town, South Africa

Feb 282013
 

You may have noticed that I’ve been failing miserably in my ambition to post a photo a day. Unfortunately, I’m running low on interesting photos! On top of that I’ve been very busy at work so have even struggled to find time to process the photos I have. I’m going to get back to the daily photos once I’ve taken a few more trips and found the time to head out while at home.

I’m on my way back to Bermuda after a short trip to the Bahamas for work. So it seems fitting that I post a photo of Bermuda. Here’s a shot of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Bermuda, just before sunset. I took this last summer but have only just processed it.

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Bermuda with stairs leading up to it in the foregound.

Feb 212013
 

As you drive from Livingstone to the Victoria Falls, there’s a moment, before you get there, where you can see the mist reaching for the sky directly ahead of you. When you enter the park, before you feel the mist, you can hear the falls roaring in the distance. Before you can see the falls, you feel the air get moist and see the mist swirl around you as you pass the gate. Then, you stop, and your jaw drops as you see the massive curtain of water tumbling into the rift stretching ahead of you. But, this is just the beginning. The gorge continues on and on as you continue to walk. Eventually you reach the end of Zambia, totally soaked to the skin, camera gear screaming for mercy, and the curtain of water disappears into a cloud of mist where it crosses the border to Zimbabwe.

It was at this point that I stopped and watched three tourists, far more prepared than me, with a guide and ponchos, gaze upon what is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Four tourists in ponchos view the Victoria Falls waterfall in the Batoka Gorge surrounded by swirling mist

 

Feb 182013
 

The Eastfjords in Iceland, much like most of the country, are truly magical. The road winds its way in and out of deep gouges in the coastline. Every corner reveals incredible views. When I saw this cloud in the distance, pouring from the mountains down to the ocean I knew I had to stop the car and try to capture it.

Coastline of Eastfjords, Iceland where cloud mass moves down the mountain over the ocean.

Feb 172013
 

During my layover in London at the beginning of January I tried to find an interesting view of Tower Bridge. I wandered about trying to get down to the river’s edge. I got there, but the view wasn’t very good. On the way there though, I passed this cool stairway in an apartment building.

Blue staircase surrounded by brickwork

Feb 162013
 

Not all 4x4s are off road vehicles. So, when you rent one, with a goal to go anywhere you want, choosing the cheapest option isn’t necessarily the best idea. Still, it definitely made this drive from Walvis Bay to Sossusvlei interesting.

“Corrugated road, 20 km… speed limit reduced to 60km/hr,” the sign said.

I didn’t have to wonder exactly what a corrugated road was for long before we fired onto the bumpiest surface I’ve ever been on. A corrugated road is exactly what it sounds like, small ridges like those in a sheet of corrugated metal. The car felt like it was going to shake to pieces. I slowed to 60km/hr and the vibrations didn’t stop. Eventually, things calmed down at 30km/h.

So, slowly we rolled on, past vast expanses of desert, punctuated occasionally by wild ostriches. I drove for about an hour and a half before switching to the passenger seat. It wasn’t long after this that we climbed a bit, and got this view back across the expanse we had just crossed.

Three quiver trees and a mountain in the Namibia desert with a bright blue sky and whispy clouds

Feb 142013
 

I thought this little baby penguin with a pink heart painted on his chest was fitting for today. He lives on Boulder’s Bay, in Simonstown, South Africa, along with a colony of African Penguins. They used to be called Jackass Penguins because of the noise they make.

No other penguins were marked like this, so I really have no idea why he’s got this little heart painted on him.

A baby african jackass penguin with a pink heart painted on it's chest on the beach at Boulders Bay South Africa

Feb 102013
 

While on a booze cruise just above the Victoria Falls in Livingstone Zambia I spotted this guy resting on the bank. He’s actually a baby, which is probably why his teeth are such a bright white. Even at his age he’s got that menacing, sly look crocodiles are so good at it.

Close up of a young menacing looking crocodile resting on a bank above Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Feb 092013
 

Our jeep rumbled down the dirt road towards the river. Then, as we entered the flat lands surrounding the water we saw dozens of giraffe milling about. I really wanted to see one drink. As the truck pulled away I thought I wasn’t going to be that lucky. Then this guy decided to take a sip.

Giraffe drinking in the flat lands next to a river in Chobe National Park, Botswana