If you spend as much time travelling through the Kalahari as we have, inevitably you come across special people doing special things. On one of our various photographic tours and travels around the Kalahari we came across the Bushmen Language School.

Ouma Katrina Esau teaches at the small school located at the front of her house in Rosedale, outside of Upington. This is in the Kalahari area of the Northern Cape of South Africa.

She started teaching the San Language after it was thought to have died out. She now teaches the next generation of bushmen descendants and anyone who wants to learn. 

You can see the fire and excitement in her eyes when she talks of the future. Her plans are to create educational CD's and DVD's  so that everyone in the world can learn the N|u language.

However funds are limited and any form of sponsorship would be appreciated!

If you would like to donate or sponsor the school you can contact the photographers by following the links below.

Cheers

Morne de Klerk

www.photographylife.com.au

www.saphototours.com

World Responsible Tourism Day was Nov 9 and to celebrate the day we officially welcomed a local mission school in the Northern Cape of South Africa into our Kalahari Photography Tours itinerary.

As a part of this tour we are now visiting this small, modest school, to photograph in the classrooms and meet some of the lovely teachers and students.

This is a challenging but motivating photography environment with bright window light and dark rooms. 
The children are a delight and we thank them and their teachers for letting us become a regular part of their school year. 

We encourage our guests to return copies of their photos to the school, something which is always a highlight for the children.

South Africa Photography Tours also contributes a donation to the school, to assist in their educational needs, to ensure a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship.

I tried to be a salesman once. A camera salesman, I failed miserably. Afterwards I realised why. The bulk of the products being sold in the shop where I had worked were budget to mid-range compact digital cameras. I did not believe in the product and tried to sell everyone a DSLR. FAIL!

In the 10 years since college, the photographic industry has been turned upside down. In my student days I shot exclusively on film with an entry level SLR and I was one of the students to participate in the inaugural photoshop software course. I was introduced to digital in the first commercial studio where I did work experience. Then dived right in with a newspaper job where I shot on the Canon 1D, a 4 megapixel marvel of its time. I have only ever shot on SLR cameras since.
Shots below were taken on a DSLR.

Then one day I won a compact camera though a photographic competition. My first thought was that I would just sell it and buy some DSLR accessory. I opened it up and had a play. I was blown away by this little 12 megapixel wonder that was smaller than a smart phone, could do better close-ups than my 2000 dollar lens, but was still able to fit in my pocket! Sure, I wont take it to photograph the Formula One cars racing down the home straight, but I certainly could see many practical applications for it. 

Shots below were taken with a compact camera.

History repeats itself. I was very cold toward mobile phone photography since all my friends started “using the pretty little filters to turn their pictures into works of art”! I hated that you could instantly apply an effect that takes ages to learn how to do as a professional. I hated the instant borders and selective focus. I hated the instant hit of pleasure, the fast upload and the pats on the back when my friends ‘liked’ or ‘hearted’ it! I hated how I didn’t have a smart phone and I hated that other thought I should! I hated how an international flagship magazine like Time could get photographers to use phones to cover such an important media event on mobile phones and that the photographers would even consider doing it.

Then I started using it!

Pictures below were taken by mobile phone camera.

I think I would be a better salesman if I tried again now.

As usual, all comments welcomed.
Cheers
Morne de Klerk
www.saphototours.com
www.photographylife.com.au

Hit the full screen button and enjoy a time-lapse of the sunrise over the magnificent cliffs of Riemvasmaak on the Kalahari Tour.

Hope to see you soon.

Morne de Klerk
www.saphototours.com
www.photographylife.com.au

One of the techniques we discuss on a our photographic workshops is Painting with Light. Here is a quick sample from the Kalahari of what you can do with the technique. 

Could you spot the bats flying around!!
Below is the final result as a Lift and Transfer.

Hope to see you soon!
Cheers
Morne de Klerk
www.saphototours.com
www.photographylife.com.au

It is much nicer to view an exhibit in the museum when you are allowed to walk through with a beautiful glass of Shiraz in the hand. 

As a finalist in the competition, we were recently invited to the official opening night of the ANZANG Nature photography exhibition in the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, Australia. It feels nice to have your work on display, but doubly nice when in a museum. All the finalists also feature in the glossy book.

Hope to see you soon.
Cheers 
Morne de Klerk
www.saphototours.com
www.photographylife.com.au

Our September 2012 Kalahari photography tour was an amazing success.

Thanks to our guests being keen bird-watchers we have become very informed on all kinds of Kalahari birds and behaviors!  We were even lucky enough to witness the strange antics of mating ostrich in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and mass gatherings of vultures around lion kills.  We also have a new appreciation for the small features of the Kalahari including the gorgeous pygmy falcon and the tiny sociable weavers the construct such huge nests!

Our guests were great photography students and a pleasure to escort around the Kalahari.

Check out a quick flick of their photos and keep an eye out for a particular photo by a guest of an interesting angle of our Kalahari Bushman friend Uhm Uhm:

Now we're looking extra forward to the May Kalahari tour next year, bring on 2013!

Cheers Africa

Keturah de Klerk - South Africa Photography Tours

The Kalahari is not all sand! The Orange (or Gariep) river forms the southern boundary. We spend a bit of time on the lush banks of the river, photographing everything from water birds and plants to the grapes that are grown on the banks of the river. Of course we also visit a wine cellar door...

Cheers
Morne de Klerk
www.saphototours.com
www.photographylife.com.au

The giraffe is one of those really elegant animals, really, usually, until they have to drink water!

Cheers
Morne de Klerk

www.saphototours.com
www.photographylife.com.au

We love visiting the amazing guys at Arrive Alive United who always put up an amazing game and training session when we arrive!
They are always looking for sponsorship and need balls, training bibs, help with transport etc. If you would like to sponsor or get involved in any way, please contact us.

One of our favourite quotes: "A child in sport, is a child out of court."

Cheers
Morne de Klerk
www.saphototours.com
www.photographylife.com.au