The Christmas Party is being held this year at 181h30 on 28 November 2008 at Bhowani Game Lodge. The directions for those who have booked are as follows:
Website: http://www.bhowanigamelodge.co.za/contact_us.php
For the GPS-enabled: S 29.69136 Degrees E 30.64935 Degrees
There is a map on their website but you basically take the Hammarsdale t/o on the N3 coming from Hillcrest.
You go over the N3 and about 8km past Inchanga turnoff and turn right at the Caltex garage. Its the turn off you would take for the Abattoir and Cato ridge airfield. Go for about 5km past airfield, abattoir and so on.
The road turns to dirt and the game lodge is 800m further on.
Any problems, contact me on 082 588 2151.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Christmas party - 2008
We have made a provisonal booking at Bhowani Bush Lodge near Cato Ridge for our Christmas party on Friday 28th November. People who have been there say it's great and it will only cost R70 per head with all the trimmings and a cash bar available. Would you please contact me at the e-mail address on the right-hand side of the page if you want to come. Once you've booked, you owe us. Directions to follow later.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Meeting/Outing October 2008
We will be meeting at the Hillcrest Sports Club at 7pm on October 7, 2008. We will have two guest speakers including Canon Rep Justin Fuchs, who is hopefully going to give us a glimpse of what's coming up from Canon, and wedding photographer Brett Florens, who is going to give us a peep at a new video he's made on photographing weddings. The set subject is Still Life and the best picture on that topic will win a gift voucher.
We'll have supper at 6pm at the Sports Club beforehand and you're all welcome to that as usual. It's still only R35 per head and great value.
Our outing this month is at 18h30 on Friday, 17 October, to photograph the night lights around the Suncoast Casino and elsewhere on the beach. We will meet on the walkway between the beach and the hotel, in front of the main entrance. Bring tripods and a healthy appetite for supper afterwards.
We'll have supper at 6pm at the Sports Club beforehand and you're all welcome to that as usual. It's still only R35 per head and great value.
Our outing this month is at 18h30 on Friday, 17 October, to photograph the night lights around the Suncoast Casino and elsewhere on the beach. We will meet on the walkway between the beach and the hotel, in front of the main entrance. Bring tripods and a healthy appetite for supper afterwards.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Aug outing / Sept meeting
The outing this month is on Sunday, 31 August, to Inchanga Station, which is the base of the Umgeni Steam Railway. The original thought was to do a club block booking to travel on the steam train from Kloof Station to Inchanga, have lunch and then to travel back to Kloof on the train.
A number of club members have suggested that, instead of riding on the train, we drive and meet up at Inchanga Station which would give us the chance to take pictures of the train at some places along the way.
Riding along with the train
There is no reason why you can't still ride the train if you want to and meet us at Inchanga. The train leaves at 12h30 from Kloof Station but you will have to book your seats in advance. Just go to http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za/ and you will find a booking form and online payment facility.
Self-drive
The train leaves Kloof Station at 12h30 and you can meet it at a couple of places along the way. The first good place is on the pedestrian bridge over the railway line opposite the Maytime Centre in Kloof. You have to get onto the road on the other side of the railway line from Shunters Arms in Kloof (the same road that Makaranga Lodge is in). Drive inland from Shunters towards Makaranga and you will see the bridge on your left. The train doesn't take long to reach that spot so you will need to be there promptly.
Head inland again and you soon get a chance to get onto R103. Go into Hillcrest and through the village to the bottom of Botha's Hill. There's a level crossing (Padley's Crossing) on the right just after the Kassier Road intersection.. You should be there not more than 20 minutes after the train has left Koof.
Go up Botha's Hill after the train has passed and you can catch it again at either Botha's Hill Station or at the Alverstone turnoff further along that road. Fast drivers may be able to get in front of the train again but it may be best just to head for Inchanga, where you will probably be able to get the train arriving.
September Meeting
The September meeting will be at 7pm on September 2, 2008 at the Hillcrest Sports Club. We will be having a talk by wedding photographer David Weeks and viewing member's picture after that.
We will have dinner as usual at 6pm before the meeting. Please book your meal by replying to this e-mail.
NEW
You can now submit your images by e-mail to Andre DuToit. Contact Allan at the e-mail address at the top righthand side of this page to get correct the address to use.
PUHLEEZE!! Not more than three pictures per person and please make sure that they are not bigger than 1024 pixels wide and 768 pixels high. Please do not submit after the Sunday before the meeting. Entries sent on Monday or Tuesday will not be shown.
If you don't know how resize and mail pictures:
The easiest way to do this that I've found is to use a free program called FastStone. You can download it from here. Install the program as usual and use it to view the folder containing the pictures you want to send.
Then:
** Select the first picture you want to send by clicking on it.
** Hold down the control key and click on the other pictures.
** Let go the control key and click the Envelope Icon which is third from the right in the strip right under the menu bar.
** A new window will come up with the selected pictures in it.
** Click the box next to Resize Using JPEG Format If Possible so that a tick appears in the box.
** In the boxes next to New Size, enter the values 1024 and 768.
** Click the Send E-mail button on the right and the program will use your default e-mail program to send the pictures. Just enter Andre's address when asked.
A number of club members have suggested that, instead of riding on the train, we drive and meet up at Inchanga Station which would give us the chance to take pictures of the train at some places along the way.
Riding along with the train
There is no reason why you can't still ride the train if you want to and meet us at Inchanga. The train leaves at 12h30 from Kloof Station but you will have to book your seats in advance. Just go to http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za/ and you will find a booking form and online payment facility.
Self-drive
The train leaves Kloof Station at 12h30 and you can meet it at a couple of places along the way. The first good place is on the pedestrian bridge over the railway line opposite the Maytime Centre in Kloof. You have to get onto the road on the other side of the railway line from Shunters Arms in Kloof (the same road that Makaranga Lodge is in). Drive inland from Shunters towards Makaranga and you will see the bridge on your left. The train doesn't take long to reach that spot so you will need to be there promptly.
Head inland again and you soon get a chance to get onto R103. Go into Hillcrest and through the village to the bottom of Botha's Hill. There's a level crossing (Padley's Crossing) on the right just after the Kassier Road intersection.. You should be there not more than 20 minutes after the train has left Koof.
Go up Botha's Hill after the train has passed and you can catch it again at either Botha's Hill Station or at the Alverstone turnoff further along that road. Fast drivers may be able to get in front of the train again but it may be best just to head for Inchanga, where you will probably be able to get the train arriving.
September Meeting
The September meeting will be at 7pm on September 2, 2008 at the Hillcrest Sports Club. We will be having a talk by wedding photographer David Weeks and viewing member's picture after that.
We will have dinner as usual at 6pm before the meeting. Please book your meal by replying to this e-mail.
NEW
You can now submit your images by e-mail to Andre DuToit. Contact Allan at the e-mail address at the top righthand side of this page to get correct the address to use.
PUHLEEZE!! Not more than three pictures per person and please make sure that they are not bigger than 1024 pixels wide and 768 pixels high. Please do not submit after the Sunday before the meeting. Entries sent on Monday or Tuesday will not be shown.
If you don't know how resize and mail pictures:
The easiest way to do this that I've found is to use a free program called FastStone. You can download it from here. Install the program as usual and use it to view the folder containing the pictures you want to send.
Then:
** Select the first picture you want to send by clicking on it.
** Hold down the control key and click on the other pictures.
** Let go the control key and click the Envelope Icon which is third from the right in the strip right under the menu bar.
** A new window will come up with the selected pictures in it.
** Click the box next to Resize Using JPEG Format If Possible so that a tick appears in the box.
** In the boxes next to New Size, enter the values 1024 and 768.
** Click the Send E-mail button on the right and the program will use your default e-mail program to send the pictures. Just enter Andre's address when asked.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
It's all a matter of time
Many newcomers to photography give up when they find out that becoming a photographer is a journey that takes lots of time with plenty of failures along the way. Failure, or 'getting skunked', is all part of learning the craft and should be embraced, according to Mooose Petersen.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Outing: July 2008
This is a reminder about our model shoot on 26 July 2008 at 8am at Crinkly Bottom. There will be three gorgeous models and everyone will have the opportunity of shooting all three over the course of two hours. Breakfast afterwards at Crinkly at 10h03am.
There is a limit to the number of members who can be accommodated and so you will have to book by replying to this message. The club will take care of some of the cost of the models but there will be a charge of R50, not including breakfast, per person shooting. If you book, you pay, even if you no-show.
Why not bring some props with you and some pictures of poses you like?
We don't have full details of the next meeting on August 1, 2008, but the calendar says that the speaker is going to be David Weeks on wedding photography. The calendar also says that Barrie is organising; I hope this is so… Further details when we know them.
There is a limit to the number of members who can be accommodated and so you will have to book by replying to this message. The club will take care of some of the cost of the models but there will be a charge of R50, not including breakfast, per person shooting. If you book, you pay, even if you no-show.
Why not bring some props with you and some pictures of poses you like?
We don't have full details of the next meeting on August 1, 2008, but the calendar says that the speaker is going to be David Weeks on wedding photography. The calendar also says that Barrie is organising; I hope this is so… Further details when we know them.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Activities: June 2008
Natalie Knibbs tells me that two of our members are currently on a trip from Cape To Cairo and beyond. Gordon Battersby and Kyle are keeping a blog of their journey and you're all welcome to visit it to keep up to date and leave messages of support. The blog is at http://safari.blat.co.za and, while I know that the bit about leaving messages is a long shot, you can always try.
Meeting / Outing
We will be meeting at the Hillcrest Sports Club at 7pm on June 3, 2008. We will have see an audio-visual on dragon flies and a talk and pictures by chairman Geoff on his trip up Mt Kilamanjaro in Kenya. We will then view members’ pictures as usual. The set subject is Abstracts and the best picture on that topic will win a gift voucher.
We’ll have supper at 6pm beforehand and you’re all welcome to that as usual. Please send me a message to confirm if you would like supper.
Our outing this month is at 06h30 on 28 June to Summmerveld for the early morning horse training. We will have breakfast there (if John Teece can organise it) or at an alternative venue close by.
Directions
Drive out of Hillcrest along Kassier Road, cross the N3, and pass the t/o to Shongweni Dam. Take the Summerveld t/o and go up the road a bit. You’ll go through a set of gates and, soon after that, you’ll see a turn off to the left (if you go under a bridge, you’ve gone too far) follow that road and park in the car park.
Try not to startle any horses. Part of that is not using flash.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Camera 4 Sale
Jax Swan has an Olympus E-500 Digital Camera for sale. It has a 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 ED lens and an 8.0 Mega Pixel sensor. Like new, R4000. Contact 082 595 5110. See here for a detailed review on the camera.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Meeting/outing: May 2008
We will be meeting at the Hillcrest Sports Club at 7pm on May 6, 2008. We will have a talk by Mike Volckman on photo composition and architecture and will then view members' pictures as usual. The set subject is Landscape/farm animals and the best picture on that topic will win a gift voucher.
We'll have supper at 6pm beforehand and you're all welcome to that as usual. Please reply to this message to confirm if you would like supper.
Our outing in May is to World's View in Pietermaritzburg and the railway museum in Hilton Road. I suggest we meet at around 06h15 (dawn) on May 17, 2008, at World's View. Be sure to bring some some coffee.
We will then proceed to breakfast and the railway museum in Hilton.
Directions
Drive straight into PMB along what used to be Durban Road (I think it's Alan Paton now) and go straight through the centre of town. The road becomes Chief Albert Luthuli Road (R103) - continue straight, past the Royal Showgrounds. Continue until you get to a traffic circle at Athlone Primary School ( 4 kms further) and turn left towards Howick (Hilton). Continue up Town Hill, ( Old Howick Road ) for about 4 kms. There are 5 'rumble strips' on the road to warn you of the turning. Take a left into Worlds View Road and go straight to the view site at the end.
Hilton and the railway museum / station is further along Old Howick Road. Go into Hilton and turn right at the Crossways Hotel. After a bit you will see the Quarry Centre on your right. We'll meet there for breakfast in Bustle's Café (breakfasts from R27) when it opens at 08h30.
After eating, we'll proceed to the museum/station, which is a bit further along the road past the Quarry Centre.
We'll have supper at 6pm beforehand and you're all welcome to that as usual. Please reply to this message to confirm if you would like supper.
Our outing in May is to World's View in Pietermaritzburg and the railway museum in Hilton Road. I suggest we meet at around 06h15 (dawn) on May 17, 2008, at World's View. Be sure to bring some some coffee.
We will then proceed to breakfast and the railway museum in Hilton.
Directions
Drive straight into PMB along what used to be Durban Road (I think it's Alan Paton now) and go straight through the centre of town. The road becomes Chief Albert Luthuli Road (R103) - continue straight, past the Royal Showgrounds. Continue until you get to a traffic circle at Athlone Primary School ( 4 kms further) and turn left towards Howick (Hilton). Continue up Town Hill, ( Old Howick Road ) for about 4 kms. There are 5 'rumble strips' on the road to warn you of the turning. Take a left into Worlds View Road and go straight to the view site at the end.
Hilton and the railway museum / station is further along Old Howick Road. Go into Hilton and turn right at the Crossways Hotel. After a bit you will see the Quarry Centre on your right. We'll meet there for breakfast in Bustle's Café (breakfasts from R27) when it opens at 08h30.
After eating, we'll proceed to the museum/station, which is a bit further along the road past the Quarry Centre.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Outing: April 2008
This is a reminder about our outing to Bush Hill Stud Farm on 26 April 2008. We are going to make our way there individually, meeting at around 7am, whereafter we will shoot whatever there is to shoot and have breakfast. The owners of the stud will provide breakfast and we will be expected to contribute to the cost.
*** WE NEED TO HAVE PRIOR NOTICE OF NUMBERS SO YOU MUST RSVP BY 20 APRIL IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME. THIS APPLIES EVEN TO PEOPLE WHO THINK IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM. ****
The directions from Ondine are as follows:
Take the N3 from Durban heading north to Jhb.
Pass Pietermaritzburg.
Pass Howick
Pass Nottingham Road
Take the 1st Mooi River off-ramp through toll (R19.00)
Once through the toll turn left - you will find yourself at a T-junction looking at Engen Garage/Wimpy.
At this T-Junction turn right towards Mooi River.
Cross over the Mooi River, you will pass two garages - i.e. Caltex on left and Engen on right. At traffic circle turn left. If you follow the Giants Castle / Summerhill Stud signs you will head in the right direction, but the detailed account of where to go is thus : After you have turned left at the traffic circle do the following :
At the next stop street with Pep Stores in front of you, turn right and follow this road up and over the railway line. Road curves sharply to left and at this stage you will have Standard Bank on your right.
At the next stop street turn right onto the Giants Castle Road. This will take you past the Argyle Hotel on your left and you will climb a long hill out of Mooi River. Continue for approx 2km until you come to a left turn - Hlatikulu Road.
Turn left at this Hlatikulu Road (very important otherwise you will head off to Giants Castle). Continue on the Hlatikulu Road for approx 7 km until the road changes to dirt (ignore the left turn to Connington). Once on the dirt you will travel a further 300m's and Bush Hill Stud is the first farm entrance on your right. Bush Hill Stud is approx 10k's from the traffic circle - if you go much further, stop, as you have missed a turn!
*** WE NEED TO HAVE PRIOR NOTICE OF NUMBERS SO YOU MUST RSVP BY 20 APRIL IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME. THIS APPLIES EVEN TO PEOPLE WHO THINK IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM. ****
The directions from Ondine are as follows:
Take the N3 from Durban heading north to Jhb.
Pass Pietermaritzburg.
Pass Howick
Pass Nottingham Road
Take the 1st Mooi River off-ramp through toll (R19.00)
Once through the toll turn left - you will find yourself at a T-junction looking at Engen Garage/Wimpy.
At this T-Junction turn right towards Mooi River.
Cross over the Mooi River, you will pass two garages - i.e. Caltex on left and Engen on right. At traffic circle turn left. If you follow the Giants Castle / Summerhill Stud signs you will head in the right direction, but the detailed account of where to go is thus : After you have turned left at the traffic circle do the following :
At the next stop street with Pep Stores in front of you, turn right and follow this road up and over the railway line. Road curves sharply to left and at this stage you will have Standard Bank on your right.
At the next stop street turn right onto the Giants Castle Road. This will take you past the Argyle Hotel on your left and you will climb a long hill out of Mooi River. Continue for approx 2km until you come to a left turn - Hlatikulu Road.
Turn left at this Hlatikulu Road (very important otherwise you will head off to Giants Castle). Continue on the Hlatikulu Road for approx 7 km until the road changes to dirt (ignore the left turn to Connington). Once on the dirt you will travel a further 300m's and Bush Hill Stud is the first farm entrance on your right. Bush Hill Stud is approx 10k's from the traffic circle - if you go much further, stop, as you have missed a turn!
By Allan JacksonSunday, March 30, 2008
April 2008 meeting
We will be meeting at the Hillcrest Sports Club at 7pm on April 1, 2008. We will have a talk on a topic as yet to be confirmed, and then view members’ pictures as usual. The set subject is Architecture/Gardens and the best picture on that topic will win a gift voucher.
Another thing is that the automated e-mail system isn’t working for us and so we’ve gone back to the old manual system. Damn!!!
We have a great outing lined up for April to the Bush Hill Stud Farm but it is going to have to be on 26 April instead of the 19th as previously stated. Ondine will bring more details and directions to the meeting. She suggests that we take a couple of skottels and do ourselves a breakfast when we get there.
We've heard from former member Andrew Begg who has been in the UK for a year. By the looks of things, he's been keeping up the good work over there.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
March 2008 outing
You are reminded about our outing to La Domaine on Saturday, March 15, 2008. We are to meet at the main gate in Acutt Road (NOT INANDA ROAD) at 7am and then we'll drive through to the clubhouse where we will park. Breakfast is at 9:30 and compliments of La Domaine but we are required to provide a couple of prints each in return.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Historic milestone
We had a very interesting meeting last Tuesday in which Peter Duffy shared many stories of his time as a press phographer in Durban. As a club, we try and encourage members to go out and shoot new stuff rather than relying on their archives for pictures to bring along to meetings.
By Natalie Knibbs
We decided to award a monthly prize for the best set subject or picture taken on an outing. The set subject was Transport and the winner, by popular acclamation, of the first prize ever awarded by the club was Natalie Knibbs with her atmospheric picture of a Makoro canoe. Well done Natalie.
By Natalie KnibbsWe decided to award a monthly prize for the best set subject or picture taken on an outing. The set subject was Transport and the winner, by popular acclamation, of the first prize ever awarded by the club was Natalie Knibbs with her atmospheric picture of a Makoro canoe. Well done Natalie.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Year planner at last!
Click on the link at the right-hand side of this page to view the 2008 activities planner.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
March 2008 Meeting
Our next meeting is at the Hillcrest Sports Club on 4 March 2008 at 7pm. We look set to have a very interesting meeting with Peter Duffy as the ‘guest of honour’. Peter has been a photographer in Durban for many years, having specialised in news and social photography. Adding spice to his talk will be the fact that he has served under Major Mike Hoare on a number of occasions, including the ill-fated trip to Seychelles.
We will also view and discuss members’ pictures as usual. The set subject for the evening is Transport and there’ll be a voucher up for grabs for the best set subject or outing picture.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Out and About in March 2008
Bat Watch at Umbilo Ponds (phone Carol 031 572 3479) - 8th March
NWJ Bridal Exhibition at Durban Exhibition Centre - 7 - 9th March
Guided Nature Trail through New Germany Nature Reserve - 15th March (031 262 8239)
Open gardens - 15 - 16th March (031 763 4435)
Easter Pageant (take picnic baskets) - 16th/21st March (083 286 2155)
St Patricks Day Celebration at Nottingham Road - 17th March (033 266 6151)
Splashy Fen 20 - 24th March (www.splashyfen.co.za)
Grape Crushing Festival 21 - 23rd March, Nottingham Road
Festival of Chariots 21 - 24 th March - North Beach (082 824 2203)
South Coast Airshow - 22nd March, Margate
If you have any other information or great ideas for outings to share, please contact us, we will add to the list. Here's hoping this helps you take interesting photo's whilst enjoying a day out and about at the same time !
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