Capturing Beauty In The Ordinary

We’re so lucky to live in one of the world’s most beautiful places, the New York Times thinks so and so do hundreds of people who flock here to see the whales, go shark cage diving or to get a magical tan on one of the many pristine beaches.   We often take it all for granted and don’t see it for what it is.    We’d planned a lazy weekend, one without a to-do list.

Window shopping is something we all do; here are some of my favourite things.  Vintage crockery, porcelain figurines, and books, beautifully displayed in shop windows-small details that often go unnoticed but hold their own charm.

Harbours are always bustling with fishermen, and boats are alluring and irresistible.   When world fish stocks decline, the ordinary diver or fisherman is often the only one to pay the price-a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect these environments.

Instead of eating abalone, we only have a souvenir used as an ashtray, and the old Alikreukel shells lined up on the windowsill tell a story of loss and abandonment. However, when looked at up close, one can still see the shell weathering away, leaving the beautiful gossamer shimmer of Mother-of-Pearl below.

In the Northeastern Free State, cosmos bloom along the roadside, reminding us to notice and appreciate natural beauty nearby.

Using shapes, patterns, textures, and leading lines guides the eye and enhances the beauty in everyday scenes, inspiring your own photography.

My neighbour has dropped me like a hot cake and forgotten to water my lemon trees; he’s found company with his new tenant, which leaves me with the bucket!  How easy it is to forget when love comes knocking on your door!

These are my contributions for the day.  Easy pickings.  I think the snails have already gone into hibernation; I couldn’t lure even one out of its shell.  The Arum frog, who croaked all night, has done a duck, and the cool wind has driven the birds away.  Leaves me with options for tomorrow.

BOKEH: the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens.

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