The cosmos flowers have been absolutely stunning this year, and I have been out with my camera every afternoon, now that it's the autumn school holidays, at sunrise as well.
On Saturday morning I was out again, camera on the tripod taking photos of the flowers and the stunning sunrise. Time-laps sunrise photos in another post.
Click to enlarge.
Unbeknownst to me the Italian leprechaun, aka Enrico Bucceri, was photographing me. We had heavy rain the night before, thus the water drop on the flower. As an aside, on Saturday night a neighbouring farm measured 100 cm, not kidding, that's a meter of rain, more than 36 inches in 12 hours.
What I was photographing while being photographed.
Saturday afternoon I was out again with my camera.
Me totally unaware as the Italian leprechaun took another photo of me. Note the open mouth, a sure sign of me in deep concentration.
How low can you go. I'm actually amazed at myself, it's the getting up again that's the problem. My three photographic assistants behind me, Sissy right behind me, Tombi to the right, and lady sitting demurely just to the left, Bruno was off doing the "man" thing, exploring. They have learnt to stay behind me while I'm taking a photo.
What I was concentrating so hard on. Trying to be "arty" but it didn't quite work. This farm track had been a river the night before.
Got my new camera today and tested it out with a few shots.
Photo: Orms Direct.co.za.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Bougainvilla flowers just outside my front door. The rain that had been falling all day had just stopped so you can see the raindrops on the petals and leaves. Flowers within flowers.
Sissy in a pensive mood.
Lady in red. Maria, my housekeeper dressed and ready to go. Africans go nowhere without dressing smartly.
You also get a tour of most of my cottage. Far left door to the bathroom, left door with wet washing hanging over, (low energy dryer, very green, might get mould growing on the door)) door to the spare room. Door behind Maria, my bedroom, and I'm standing in the lounge/dining room. The kitchen is a sharp U turn to the left.
My cottage could be described as a shotgun shack, only there's no back door.
Pin tailed wydah. As I walked out the door he came and sat on this branch not 2 meters from me, thought he could convince me to provide supper as well as breakfast. (This is a strictly B&B accommodation pal). He turned his head to adjust his Tuxedo as I took this photo.
Foraging in the grass for insects. The grass is short, was cut last week, and the hosepipe in the background is 3/4 in. This gives you some idea of how small this bird is.
The bird is like quick silver does not stop in one place for a second, hard to photograph.
One of the ladies in his harem. This year I've only seen three with him, last year he had at least five. The boy is losing his mojo methinks. The male packs his tuxedo away for the winter, then he looks much like the ladies except for his beak. Summer over, romancing over, tuxedo's not needed to enhance his looks.
These birds are parasitic, they lay their eggs in other bird nest.
One last indoor shot shows the absolute clarity of the photos. This photo was taken with flash.
This weekend I'll be studying the camera manual. After the rain we had the streams will be raging torrents so there will be no trout fishing.
