365 Project – Page 17

Day 164 – Spring Day

September 1, 2017September 27, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Festivals, Johannesburg, Outdoors, WorkLeave a comment

There is something magical about Spring Day in South Africa. In Finland, Midsummer tends to have everything but summer weather. I even remember a year it was sleeting. The same happens elsewhere in Europe. Just ask the British what is the typical weather for the Spring bank holiday… But in South Africa Spring Day is typically glorious spring weather – warm, sunny and beautiful.

Having a business breakfast outside in the morning was a great decision. The only problem was to motivate oneself to get back to the office.

Day 163 – Roadtripping

August 31, 2017September 26, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Stuart, TravellingLeave a comment

Road trips are a travel of choice for Stuart and me – to my mother’s absolute surprise. When I was a child, I could not keep my eyes open for more than 3.5 min in a car – if I was lucky. I still get snoozy occasionally, but luckily Stuart really likes driving. I just try to keep my snoozing limited to the boring bits.

Road trip in Namibia is on our near-future to-do list. One needs a 4×4, but the scenery is sure to be worth it.

Day 162 – Baby Shower

August 30, 2017September 26, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Friends, Johannesburg, WaterLeave a comment

We had a baby shower for a colleague this morning – a lovely breakfast with all the office ladies. An event made somewhat shorter by the fact that the mother-to-be – to whom this was a surprise – went to the wrong restaurant, got stuck in traffic, and appeared 40 min late. In the meantime, there was plenty of time to take photos of the restaurant fountains.

Day 161 – Narrow depth of field

August 29, 2017September 25, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Johannesburg, Makro, Nature, OutdoorsLeave a comment

I like shooting with very wide depth of field and push the boundaries on ‘almost HDR’ (with a single image, tho). But it is early summer and the little details are so much more beautiful than the whole.

Day 160 – Not again!

August 28, 2017September 25, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Home, MerlinLeave a comment

Merlin appears in a lot of my photos – in even more of them, he is hovering just outside the frame, wondering what is going on… Yet again! In fact, quite a few of my failed pictures have some part of Merlin in them. Typically the nose.

Although he is most often willing – even enthusiastic – model, this one was cutting it a little too close to the dinner time.

Day 159 – Colours

August 27, 2017September 21, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Everyday objects, Home, MakroLeave a comment

I am a huge fan of bright colours. Our house, for example, has a lot of dark red, including our couch. In fact, I was very excited to finally get a chance to paint a wall in our bedroom rich, brownish red. Luckily Stuart shares my taste – or is indifferent enough to tolerate it.

Day 158 – Another walk, another pool of mud

August 25, 2017September 21, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Merlin, Nature, Outdoors, StuartLeave a comment

Merlin has a real talent in finding mud. After several month of dry season, he still manages to get muddy on almost any walk – and whenever we let him out in the mornings. We have white tile floors in the living room and kitchen, and every paw print is visible – but luckily easy to clean. But let’s not talk about the bedroom carpet.

Day 156 – Singularity U

August 24, 2017September 17, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Johannesburg, WorkLeave a comment

The past two days I have spent in Singularity University SA. It is a cool concept – two days of speeches from some of the top experts in the world on exponential technologies, e.g., using Robotics, developing Artificial Intelligence and manipulating DNA. One of my favourite speeches was from an astronaut, who did his best to describe what space feels like (as if one could do that…).

My pet peeve for the entire two days was the host, who did his very best to create hype and excitement – while reading straight from the prompter. Words and presence did not match.

But definitely not a ‘normal day in the office’.

Day 157 – Succulent

August 24, 2017September 19, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Johannesburg, Nature, OutdoorsLeave a comment

South Africans love rain. For a Finn, that is hard to understand. Intellectually, I understand rain is necessary after 6 months of dry season. I may even enjoy the fresh air after the downpour when all the dust settles. But I don’t enjoy rain itself. And South Africans truly do. I guess that for a country where succulent plants are the norm, it is (somewhat) understandable.

A colleague made me laugh last year. My parents were flying to Johannesburg, and the forecast promised rain for the entire weekend. Very sweetly she came to me, and from the bottom of her heart wished that the forecast would be correct, and we would have proper rain for my parents. For her that was the best thing she could wish for. For a Finn, that is the very last thing you wish on your holiday!

Day 155 – Sparkle

August 23, 2017September 14, 2017Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Johannesburg, Nature, Outdoors, WaterLeave a comment

Sun is out and trees and bushes in the park start to bloom. I am grateful yet again that Merlin is a low-shedding dog. I do remember the amount of hair every spring with my previous golden retriever. Not having to continuously walk around with a vacuum cleaner gives you more time to enjoy the spring.