At first glance, this photo of the side of the building looks pretty simple and nothing seems special about it. Some may call it boring. I think it’s artsy, different and fun. Maybe I’m the only one. But today’s lesson is less about this photo, but a quick lesson in color.

How I Took it (With my Canon Rebel xTi)

• One of the most obvious things you notice it that this photo is nothing but two colors: Blue and Orange. Remember the color wheel from elementary art class? Primary colors (Red, Blue, Yellow) are directly opposite secondary colors (Green, Orange, Purple) on the wheel. An easy way to make a striking visual contrast in your photos is to juxtapose the Primary/Secondary color pairs. It’s a simple trick to make your photos stronger. Those pairs are are:
  • Blue/Orange
  • Yellow/Purple
  • Red/ Green
• Zooming in close provides a lot of texture.
• I also like how the vertical line is not quite vertical, but also slightly off-balance.
• Finally, most people will take lots of photos of the colored houses in this brightly painted Cape Town neighborhood, but a photo like this is unique and tells a story that your standard photo does not.

What do you think?

Share your best travel photos!

On my Facebook Fan Page I’ve created a photo album with these photos and links to their tips. If you have any great travel photos, upload them to the “Your Best Travel Photos Album” and share how you took them in the notes field!

I’ll see you out there..!

How would you like to live in that house? I know what you’re thinking, maybe pink just isn’t your color. If that doesn’t interest you, there are plenty of other houses you can choose from in the Bo-Kaap Quarter in Cape Town, South Africa. Perhaps you are interested in something more warm and muted…

I first heard of the Bo-Kaap Quarter from a photo I saw in a travel book. The pictures of the houses painted in bright paint was something that I had to see in person to believe. I had the opportunity to visit this area in 2007 and was glad I did. Wandering the streets of the Bo-Kaap is like stepping into a coloring book. House after house after house is painted in these bright colors. Take a look in this quick YouTube clip:

The Bo-Kaap Museum shares the story behind this historic district of Cape Town. Sadly, I didn’t have enough time to visit, I was too enchanted by the buildings. I have to admit though, walking through the neighborhood, taking photographs felt a bit odd. This isn’t a tourist area, it’s a local neighborhood. Imagine if some stranger walked through your streets taking photos of your house. How would you feel?

Yet I wonder… do the locals think they live in a “funny-colored” house? They must, right? Or is their house painted in just another color available from the paint store and strangers like me are an oddity and perhaps, an interruption to their privacy. Not wanting to be too intrusive, I only took a few shots and left the residents of the Bo-Kaap Quarter to continue with their daily routine.

If you find yourself in Cape Town with 30-minutes to spare, consider a brief stroll through this delightfully colorful and intriguing district of Cape Town. As an added bonus, if you take a few photos and show them to your Homeowner’s Association, maybe they won’t be so hard on you next time you want to enhance your property!

The adventure continues on facebook. For more photos on the Bo-Kaap district, check out my photo album for this eye-opening neighborhood on Facebook.

I’ll see you out there…!

Note: This post was originally published on August 4, 2009. After making a second trip to the Bo-Kaap, I updated this post with new photos and videos. Enjoy this new and improved post.

Today’s post is a quickie. Something different from the normal, wordy posts. I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite photos I took of the Eiffel Tower. Took this in October of 2008.

How I took it (with my Canon Rebel Xti)

If you’d like to take a photo of the Eiffel Tower like this, here’s some tips to help you replicate it:

• You’ll need to place your camera on a tripod
• Shooting at dusk provides you with fantastic light
• I used a shutter release cable to keep the lens open long enough to create this colorful effect
• Trial and error – I took several dozen of these photos until I got the one that I liked best. Patience is important

Do you have any tips for photographing the Eiffel Tower?

Happy Tuesday.

I’ll see you out there…!

All this week we’ve been talking about the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also the City of Durban, South Africa. So let’s finish off with a combination of both.

Early on in my adventures in South Africa, I had a chance to visit the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It was built especially for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With all the investment South Africa has made in building stadiums, I had to wonder, “what will happen to the stadiums after the World Cup is over?” Fortunately Durban asked that question before they started building the stadium.

In addition to using it for sporting events, the stadium has restaurants, shops and a fitness center along a pedestrian mall at it’s base. It also has a SkyCar that takes you to the top of the stadium, offering a great panoramic view. Take a look in this YouTube video:

If you’d rather get your exercise, you can opt-out of the SkyCar and visitors can walk to the top of the stadium. And not for the feint-hearted, you can leap from stadium’s edge and swing underneath the arch.

Prices are reasonable for the SkyCar, at only 50 Rand (less than $10). Not a bad price for a view of the City of Durban and the Indian Ocean. To see some of the photos I took from the top of the stadium (and around the stadium grounds), click here to visit my Facebook Fan Page Photo Album for Moses Mabhida Stadium.

I’d rank it as a must-see attraction if you’re traveling to Durban. (Unless it’s during the World Cup – FIFA has closed the SkyCar until July 12th. Weird, huh?)

Do you have a favorite World Cup Stadium? Share by commenting.

Stay Tuned: I’ll be taking a break from adventures in South Africa next week and traveling further north to Zambia for a week-long special on travel to Victoria Falls. Be sure to check back for stunning scenery, adrenaline-fueled adventures and one of the most hospitable guest lodges in Livingstone. Become a fan on facebook to stay in touch.

I’ll see you out there…! From waaaay up there.

There is an expression in Africa, TIA; This Is Africa. Simply put, it’s a catch-all phrase for explaining the unexplainable. When things just don’t make sense, the response is often “This is Africa”. Used by foreigners and locals alike, last week was a TIA Week.

I’m in South Africa on business. My travels have recently brought me to a few townships in Mpumalanga Province: Secunda and Sibuyswa.

What is a Township?

A township is the term used to describe the tin shack cities. They are sometimes also referred to as Informal Settlements. Both are used in place of  Squatter’s Camps, which has a negative connotation. Townships are a frequent sight in South Africa. They are eye opening for the first-time visitor.

A Typical Living Arrangement

Homes have one or two rooms. They usually don’t have proper toilet facilities. Outhouses in the backyard are the only option. Water out of the tap is also uncommon. Community Taps, outdoor faucets in the center of the townships, are where residents get their drinking, bathing and cooking water.

If you’re one of the fortunate few to live in a government house, you might have one or both of the above. Conditions are poor compared to US standards.

Work brought me to one of these townships. Our venue was a proper building made of bricks, but there was no running water in the restrooms. No soap or toilet paper either.

Common Sights

On the way to the venue we drove past cows, goats and donkeys in the middle of the road. Yes, some parts of animals random animals wandering around – but it’s not the norm.

I was propositioned to donate money to a youth center, visit a farm where plants are grown to cure HIV (cultivated by traditional healers and probably not the least effective), and give a ride to 6 people who didn’t want to walk the long road home. All of which I declined for various reasons. It can quickly become overwhelming and sad.

A trip to a township is a necessary stop when you go to South Africa. You’ll instantly reflect on what’s important, appreciate what you have and question how world leaders can let their people live under these conditions. You’ll want to help. But where do you start? I’m still pondering that.

Only visit townships under the guidance of an expert. These are some of the most poverty-stricken locations in all of the country. And while poverty doesn’t mean crime, townships are often places where frequent criminal activity can occur. Certain townships provide tours for tourists that are generally safer than others. Do your research before visiting a township, but do visit one when you are in South Africa.

Hope

Humankind are resilient people. You’ll marvel at how alike we all are. Whether you live in a mansion or a tin shack, parents want the best for their kids, kids use their imaginations to play and neighbors work together to strengthen their community bonds.

When you think of Africa, the images I described above are probably what come to mind. There’s no doubt about it, This Is Africa, but it’s not the only thing. Much of South Africa has first-world infrastructure and technology. Most of where I’ve been, and where most tourists would go would resemble their own cities and towns in their own countries.

But today I wanted to share with you a part of the country that makes Africa Africa.

There’s so much hope for South Africa, but it will take time…and money.

This Is Africa

I’ll see you out there…!

Have you ever been to a Township? What was your experience like? Share by commenting below.

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