©Copyright  DAY21 Training Days, Kalk Bay, Cape Town


my pillow was pulling this morning... anxious to not let go of my sleepy sunday sense. so a little later than normal to rise, but still arriving early for the sunrise which didn't really happen, unless of course you count the train's slanting light...

its a sunday, so I have a few hours from the time I am standing to the time I need to be at work. hunting, browsing, plotting and spotting, potential future views to be stalked

a careful wander under the bridge, prowling the tiny harbour beach, seeing and sussing a shimmer on the false bay water. another day another dawn

...head to Olympia café, a famous little spot on a famous little corner of the thriving fishing village of Kalk Bay...      they have had an overhaul, new chairs, fresh paint and a tidy little hole in the wall that now serves as a window to the chefs below. just a touch too chilling to sit in the new window and be constantly brushed with the wind's icy fingers

its been a while since I was here... brings back many memories of moments worth remembering.... times gone by, times still to be had

window browsing at bob's bagels.... best bagels on the park and a tiny little handful of a stop worth having!                  a date for future day

its still early to head to work so I stop in at cest le vie again, comforting familiarity and fresh baguettes

©Copyright  DAY20 False Bay, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

there are ant people in their dark armour all over the Saturday roads, crawling and sprawling and acting as though the roads are their own. still I have got used to paying 100% attention to the army that dash across the streets, tackling their daily chores or heading to work, baggage and all

the weather is not for the faint hearted today - howling its windy powers around hats and scarves and making not apologies for the moodiness of a dawn on slow. I kinda thrive on that energy now. loving the passion of the erratic weather, changing in minutes, let alone days. my duvet jacket keeps the screaming winds from attacking my skin

staying warm and wild out in the not so warm and wild

I love this approaching storm, concentration and mayhem at the same time, even a bolt of lightening graces the skies. still a smiling miniature version of a human, out there with camera, sleep cleared head and a capture for my day

head off to cest le vie for a rewarding non-banter baguette and butter, steamy frothy bowl of cappuccino to warm my tingling finger tips.... bliss

©Copyright  DAY19 Boulders Beach, Cape Town

oh heaven.... am off today after a long day and a work function last night. would have made my day to sleep in but oh no you don't... up and into the murky light on my doorstep

I can head a little further today, since a day off means no arriving at work deadline to worry about. I know I am heading to boulders

arriving at 7:25am with sunrise at 7:33am but boulders beach only officially opening at 8am. I am guided by a rather early morning person of a car guard, to another area where he recommends me to head to for a close up and personal viewing and giggling with the penguins so adorable in their swimsuits

the light is not talking to me and the views are not potential. I walk on and chat easily to the flapping penguins so close I could sit and join them for breakfast. still no drama to speak of and the time heads on. some canoeists in the light greys of the waveless waves, but too far to add much other than a seemingly mistaken blur

heading back with one or two pathetic shots, to boulders. and again the disappointment is sitting... not for lack of savouring my spaces, but for an ability to hint at the worlds sunrise stage

and then mother nature's synchronicity boasts at me. six little flip flopping penguins waddle thro the rocks and head straight to me. no shyness, no escaping, just charming their way into my eager lens. one perfectly in time march - towards me not quite captured but certainly easing a bright smile on my in awe face. perfect little people penguins sauntering before me and taking my laughing with them into the chilly calm waters beneath the impressive and famous shoulders of boulders on Boulders Beach

thank you!

©Copyright  DAY18 Kalk Bay Harbour, Cape Town

dawn patrol.... how could I resist this burnt orange mirage. I couldn't. the fishermen now smile when they see the little black getz pulling into the harbour parking

dashing with a light touch of non-speed speed this morning to swim in the luxury of this god's masterpiece. for only minutes later, I slyly smile at the disappearance of the magical horizon. only savoured for seconds but now captured forever

if you ever find yourself in a stodgy noughts and crosses time in your life, the routine of breaking and old habit, making a new one with the simplicity of mother nature, is a sure way to blow out the cobwebs. how could I stand in the midst of this and not feel the embrace of beauty all around me.... I did and I have not for a relatively easy 18days.... pureness

I prefer to air my dirty laundry in the magnificence of these real paintings, to bring my clean laundry back to the page

I still contemplate amending my own bendable rules to a 21daysunrise challenge, but still I take it a day at a time...

who knows, and it doesn't matter, they are my own rules to make or to break...

©Copyright  DAY17 Kalk Bay Harbour, Cape Town

there are road rules, then there are taxi no rules... some insane drivers out there this morning that even in the slow lane are in the fast lane. but again, they are just stories I collect rather than affect... on my way to my morning trauling

its a better one today, though the almond sliver of light again is more than a little challenging. two other photographers are out there too, claiming their space and their view of it all

I head to the end of the pier, where I knew from a few days ago I was again to appear. the friendly harbour seal, greets me with his groaning, swimming and lurking, playing and showing off. he is cool company and any who have visited this famous quaint little harbour, know of his antics, the harbour his home

it would be good to see what the others have captured, but my spirit is shy and reclusive this dawn and I merely greet them both and move on. we know we share a secret society - out here in awe of mother natures desirability. nothing more needs to be said....

©Copyright  DAY15 Ou Kaapse Weg, Cape Town

could not, not stop... this is one of the most beautiful drives to work I have ever had, living in Johannesburg, New Zealand or Australia... Cape Town in all its morning glory. a stop in the flowing snake of cars was a have-to...

very dark out there with the light hiding behind the distant purple blue mountains. I was not the only one to take a breath out from the norm of the working day cycle, to gasp at the essence of this sunrise, take a few minutes in the day's busy-ness and melt for a moment

I am in awe often of the fortune that this view pours on me, making my way to work with this ever changing masterpiece to ease back on life's pedal... and just pause

parking my car slowly off the deep grove in the road and making my way thro the still bushes to the end of the path. rock standing, heart beating, clouds evaporating... its 7.25am and not quite sunrise yet. its pure bliss to be hugged by this blueness and the call of the horizon. stillness, but not, the cars driving by noticing, or not, the lone little figure against the peeping light, face smiling...

a 15 minute meditation gift for my day before easing back on the pedal and moving into the day's work...

beautiful world....

©Copyright  DAY14 Brass Bell, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

...had more than my quota of morning yawning today. but off I head into the cold start of the day, wondering, as is now a habit, how to catch something when the light is generally so shy. pushing the sometimes nagging expectations from my mind...

wanting something close to home, as I was heading back there straight after to have breakfast at the foodbarn deli, then head to work. but no prizes for performing sunrises just over the mountain. only a smidgen of horizon and a glimpse of runners feet in the shadows.

trauling almost for this mornings pic, I head past a hidden Fishhoek Beach and on into the waking fishing village of Kalk Bay. listening to the quiet wisdom of my knowing little voice that I trust implicitly and which guides me daily to the destination of its choice.

there are royal options in the midst of my camera's range after all... but I settle on this one with  bird standing to attention, waiting for mine. not moving or charging, just being sprayed by the blue mist from every seventh wave, crashing its torrents into the tidal pool. it must be jonathan again, so how could I refuse his portrait...

my slightly grumpy spirit from earlier dissolves in the written stories all around me... a freshness of air, a soggy step and waves crashing, never cease to lighten my load... and I head back to the company of noordhoek trees and cosy farm cottage. breakfast at the deli, surprised deep hugs and valued moments... the day has begun but it begins again...

©Copyright  DAY13 False Bay, Cape Town

.... freezing blasting nasty cold wind out there this morning... nearly blew me off the bridge. it looked pretty tasty out there as I drove into the approaching sunrise, until I opened my little black door in the aftermath of an angry wind bashing. not quite so toasty or tasty after all...

needless to say, I didn't test my faithful cosy jacket, up there on the railway overhanging bridge for too long. teeth chattering, a hasty retreat to the solid warmth of the car... sjoe!!

....chasing now after the reward of a steamy hot cappuccino - oh so deserving.

©Copyright DAY12 Glencairn Beach, Cape Town

Gumboot dancing on the beach this morning, half coal miner and half apache indian performing rain dance at first light. and its obviously working as the rain is wetting everything, except me...

a day for dawn, a day for dogs. four human legs and eight animal ones, prancing proudly against the backdrop of shimmer. its a smile moment, those that I often have out here with a generous mother nature and a 'lightness of being'

a rise from pillow to purpose is easier every day now, just the unsettled uncertainty to capture something worthwhile, when the dark is getting darker and the light more illusive. still that's part of the mental battle, to do what I do without losing momentum when a photo fails to be good enough for me... its how things go and not each and everyone will crack the nod

but the sky hasn't fallen on my head yet, so each morning is each morning as it unravels...and other than a very sore set of thighs from yesterday muddy weather ride on gentleman bundy... am still thrilling with my morning's dawnings

©Copyright  DAY11 Glencairn Beach, Cape Town

Well it's becoming a challenge. Not only this morning to get outta bed at 6am on my day off, but because a few days have been light-disappointing and thus shot-disappointing.

 Today I was even thinking as I drove thro the charcoal skies.... Perhaps I should make it 21days....

I know where I go today, without a seconds hesitation, it's going to be Glencairn today. Easy ride over a busier than normal road thro the mountains.

Nothing..... Well no light. Nothing...

But also so much more. It's the company of the empty beach, the harmony, the eco beauty still in form. A magic u cannot imagine without feeling the calm composed desolation with life buzzing around us

The train drivers whistle with their cranky machine... Little do they realise this tiny person in a giant jacket is 47:) but hey whistle with yr train gear... Maybe u just chasing away the seagulls

The clouds split- like peas coming out of a pod. And suddenly it's there boasting at me from around the grey. The glimmer of light.. mirror miracles on wet sands.


Ok I am still here.... Ready to change the rules one minute. Absorbed in the magical dawning world the next....

Ok I am still here...