South Africa Wedding Website

After a while of silence due to heavy workloads and more… I’m pleased to announce that the South Africa Wedding Website is almost complete… there are just a few technical issues that came up along the way that need correction.

South Africa Wedding Website

This Wedding Website features different events in different places in South Africa with a major Wedding Event still in the pipeline in Las Vegas later this year.

The Wedding Photography was done by three different photographers, two professional Wedding Photographers in Port Alfred and my part down here in the Cape – plus my Wedding Videography – all done on my dear simple NIKON Coolpix P90. It was a challenging project yet I enjoyed every minute of it – especially the love, trust and friendship between all parties that were at the base of all operations and pointing to much more to come in the future.

Oh yes… loading an 18 minute video to YouTube in 944 minutes (screenshot went to the customer to believe it…) was not the greatest of joys, but we got that done as well! Although only in a small format – to be redone in large format once I have my new computer system with tons of memory and punch! Can’t wait… but it’s getting closer each day!!!

Portraits of Africa

Young African Girl from my series “Portraits of Africa 2012″.

Portraits of Africa 2012

Portraits of Africa 2012 – untouched… straight from my simple NIKON Coolpix P90 … just the magic of a Young African Girl.

Although the black & white version adds a specific note, I preferred to show the soft gold tones of the skin.

Good Evening from Noordhoek

Good Evening from Noordhoek is an inspiring greeting showing Life in a Day, each day, in Noordhoek, South Africa.

Good Evening from Noordhoek

It has been a rather dark and rainy day with sudden gusts of sunshine inbetween – but not at times where I could just dash out and capture them! Therefore, I am sending you a “Good Evening from Noordhoek” today with my NIKON Coolpix P90 fully zoomed out towards the distant horizon above the Atlantic Ocean, where a huge cargo ship ploughed away through calm waters glittering in the evening sun towards the safe harbour of the Mother City Cape Town.

I just came back from town driving down Silvermine Road as the incredible colours struck me: the exact dark greys and a little yellow you see here.

Seeing these ships pass around the Cape of Good Hope and parading past Noordhoek is very typical and a comforting and peaceful picture I grew up with as a child… and that’s what I wish you: a peaceful and relaxed evening wherever you are!

Good morning from Noordhoek

Good Morning from Noordhoek is an inspiring greeting showing Life in a Day, each day, in Noordhoek, South Africa.

Good morning from Noordhoek

When today’s newspapers announced that there had been over 100 dolphins right here on Noordhoek Beach, I grabbed my NIKON Coolpix P90 and zoomed down with the vague hope that they might still be around. Well, the skies didn’t really look inviting; dark clouds gloomed from above the mountain range and there was absolutely nobody on the 8 km long beach. A serene silence… occasionally disrupted by the cry of a lonesome seagull and the monotonous surf washing rhythmically over the white, isolated beach.

I didn’t find the dolphins… what I found was … Dali! Well… not quite his giraffe on fire, however, a sculpture grotesque enough to remind us of those great masterpieces and about 3 m high. It always stuns me how much light there actually is even on a gloomy day… and how a simple digital camera captures it. Amazing!

Salvador Dali Quote

Let me leave you with a brilliant Salvador Dali Quote that just always makes me smile:

“I do not paint a portrait to look like the subject, rather does the person grow to look like his portrait. ”

And to top this… just replace your name here at the end and have a fantastic day:

“Each morning when I awake, I experience again a supreme pleasure – that of being Salvador Dali.”

UCT Dinner 2011 Video

When Darren Byrne, dynamic Manager of Thorfynn’s Restaurant at Monkey Valley Resort, Noordhoek, South Africa, invited me up to the “Crowned Eagle” to show me all the preparations for the UCT Dinner 2011 that was to start just a few minutes later, I was so impressed by the way he and his Team had transformed the renowned retreat into a fantastic venue for an event, that I spontaneously grabbed the moment and captured some impressions with my simple NIKON Coolpix P90…

It had been a splendid day with a spectacular sunset… and if you didn’t see the digital photos I took go to my post from this morning HERE… which were followed by some video clips that I promised to edit into a little video and publish on YouTube.

There’s nothing like some LIVE memories like that…  even though I only had an hour which covered only the starters… I didn’t even get to the main course… and I don’t know what else I missed? Will have to rely on the grape vine for that :)

UCT Dinner 2011 Video

Here’s to the cool boys and gals who attended yesterday’s Fun event : the promised UCT Dinner 2011 Video!

Hope you enjoy it!

Good Morning from Noordhoek

Good Morning from Noordhoek will try to bring you one photo a day from Noordhoek, South Africa!

Good Morning from Noordhoek

Good Morning from Noordhoek is a n inspired greeting to the world – right from the tip of sunny South Africa. It’s a beginning, an experiment…. a sort of joyful  “Life in a Day” series taken with my NIKON Coolpix P90.

Spring in South Africa

Right now it’s spring in Cape Town, South Africa – the garden is in full flower and this frantically busy little chap is building a sophisticated nest right next to me on the terrace… too beautiful!

I encourage anyone who’s also passionate about their environment to share their personal view with the world!

Enjoy!

Spring Flowers 2011 near Darling South Africa

The magnificent carpets of Spring Flowers 2011 that have exploded along the West Coast of South Africa are the best cure to “…restore one’s faith in all that is good” a friend, who had just returned from spending a weekend within the colorful splendour of this annual miracle, wrote to me yesterday, knowing that I would spend the day going up to the West Coast National Park via Darling.

It’s indeed a ‘cure’ we all need… one’s heart just opens wide and it’s like breathing again and getting over and beyond whatever undigestable if not unacceptable issues life might have been throwing at us over the past hectic months leading up to the 5th Night according to the Mayan Calendar, culminating in “Destruction” . Interesting isn’t it… as now we just started the 6th Day headed by “Flowering”.

Makes you think, doesn’t it…

Spring Flowers 2011 near Darling South Africa

It was the perfect day to visit the Spring Flowers 2011 near Darling South Africa – not a weekend… meaning less traffic… and the first beautiful sunshine day after quite a dark, rainy and stormy week including icecold winds at gale force causing heavy swells with waves up to 9 metres high… not really the time to go out! Besides,the so-called “Namaqua Daisies” and veld flowers don’t even bother to open without bright sunshine smiling at them!

Our trip up North took us past Malmesbury where we cut through to Darling. This romantic little village, where time seemed to have slowed down a few paces, a favourite hiding place for many Cape Townians looking for a gentler lifestyle, was a bouquet in itself. Flowers everywhere…

When stopping to ask for some directions to the Darling Renosterveld Reserve, the first person didn’t know as from the UK but said it was just to the left, then behind the school and into a gate that said “No Entrance”.

The second didn’t know as from New Zealand but said all we needed to do is walk and look everywhere…

The third, a vibrant elderly lady, just looked at me with a puzzled smile: “What do you mean where the flowers are? They are all over! Don’t ask me… I live here!”

Well, all that we had investigated already when touring Darling, but then we just decided to carry on towards Yzerfontain and the West Coast National Park. Then, after just a few kilometers, we saw the massive carpets stretching towards the left. I think it was the Tienie Versfeld Reserve along the R315.

We just stopped on the side of the road and started walking into the veld… The views were breathtaking – just as well when looking at the distant horizon as when observing what was right next to our feet when walking on the narrow veldweg, partially completed with woodden pole pathways across wet areas.

Whites, yellows, blues, pinks, oranges stretching as far as the eyes could reach – breathtaking… And hardly anyone around – and if then often on their knees, digital camera in hand to eternalize what cannot be expressed in any words nor photographs – it needs being there, seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, feeling and stretching one’s soul . . .

We put it off for so many years… don’t do that. Give yourself the gift of touching the essence of Life in all its beauty!

West Coast National Park South Africa

More in my next post on the spectacular West Coast National Park South Africa….

PS: All photos were taken on the fly with my NIKON Coolpix P90, cropped to size 800×600, without further post-editing.

Best WP Photo Blog Theme by Semiomantics

Welcome to the best WP Photo Blog Theme by Semiomantics – here I just added an introductory Welcome slide for everyone who’s passionate about digital photography and wants to know how to display their photos online – yet not in a social network environment but where everything is under one’s own control as it should be!

Best WP Photo Blog Theme by Semiomantics

Since its inception just 10 days ago, my Photo Blog on the Best WP Photo Blog Theme by Semiomantics shows good results on Google.

Contrary to creating a rather static Photography Website, my intention was to have something more dynamic as Digital Photography is part of my life and most definitely crucial to my Media Design in terms of Semiomantics Web Design. Accordingly, I write quite often about it – be it to accompany some exciting photos or when doing Adobe Photoshop Tutorials based on own photo material – just as an example. So let there be life!

While all photos displayed exist as high quality originals in 4000 x 3000 format as they come out of my NIKON Coolpix P90, I display them in different shades, tints and even shapes as the originals were either used in some original work that already went public, or they are in my Stock Photography Collection. I also experiment with all sorts of frames and combinations in OnOne Professional Tools that allow photos to stand out and capture peoples’ attention.

This being said, I believe that a really good photo needs absolutely nothing – just a background to stand on… black, white or grey – that’s it. Perhaps a tiny legend underneath… fine, elegant, non-intrusive.

Less is more.

But here we work with the photo tools we have at our disposal.

The purpose of this Photo Blog is to really show the beauty and versatility of Semiomantics Web Design which allows anyone to combine the look with high performance on search engines… meaning to be found. This is critically important for any photography professional – but also for anyone having something to offer, to promote or to sell.

If the concept catches your attention and resonnates, please contact me to discuss your needs and reveal the best of your creative potential online.

People Photography by Bianca Gubalke

My new Photo Website under construction has just added the category “People Photography by Bianca Gubalke” featuring mainly Portrait Photography of normal people as well as celebrities as you see on this picture here. Maybe you remember various articles on this website about the eTV series “Scandal” with Lorcia Cooper and Clint Brink shooting a major episode at beautiful Monkey Valley Nature Resort in Noordhoek, South Africa.

People Photography by Bianca Gubalke

What People Photography by Bianca Gubalke is mainly focusing on is to spot those special moments that show a form of inner connectedness and loving unision we all carry within us with yet so little ability to live it… moments so precious if captured as photos, even snapshots! It’s about the energy and atmosphere that merge into an expression that touches and that the viewer can hopefully relate to and resonate with.

Perhaps it has to do with the memories of the photographer to have that observant eye to sense those unique moments… and then being at the right place at the right time with a camera that ‘reacts’ fast. Here, a simple NIKON Coolpix P90 served the purpose… but Portrait Photography is definitely high on the list of getting into and becoming good at in time to come…

Arum Lily Frog at Photo Seminar

Almost a year ago, I wrote about the Arum Lily Frog – Hyperolius horstockii – and how much I wished to spot it! Yesterday, a tiny arum lily frog surprised us at the Photo Seminar attended by Ycademy Seminar participants from all over the world – strictly online of course!

Curiosity won over suspicion as the beautiful creature emerged from the depth of the calice of a white arum lily in my traditional monthly Ycademy Seminar bouquet that always features flowers from my garden in Noordhoek, South Africa.

Arum Lily Frog at Photo Seminar

Having an Arum Lily Frog at the Photo Seminar gave me an instant opportunity to capture the little visitor with my digital camera (NIKON Coolpix P90)… and then applying the newly learned skills of OnOne Professional Tools as part of our Adobe Photoshop photo and image editing equipment.

The Importance of Seeing beyond the Photo

My article about “The Importance of Seeing beyond the Photo” suddenly got an additional dimension: the arum lily frog perspective! The knowledge and content taught in terms of Photo Editing and Photo Publishing were exhilarating as to the possibilities we have for our photo post-production, allowing us to compensate for the short-comings of our low-end cameras that just cannot compare with top professional digital camera equipment when it comes to traditonal offline printing.

It was – as always – so much that it could make you dizzy and one could easily get lost between Greek walls and British bumble-bees. Finally, the traffic chaos on Google Top 10 after us publishing images on our WordPress Blogs was just too much: our little visitor prefered to withdraw from the high-tech world … while keeping an eye on me … just in case!

Publishing Photos on Google Top 10

Publishing Photos on Google Top 10  convinced the Arum Lily Frog that it had indeed joined the best WordPress Theme Team in the world: Semiomantics.

Time to enjoy the last rays of the setting Noordhoek winter sun illuminating the arum lily… time to rest before the next adventure…

NIKON Coolpix P90

At last, our “Coolpix P90″ YORGOO Booster site has been indexed by Google and now we can focus on adding content and offer photographers who are also passionate about taking high-quality pictures with this light-weight camera with great features,  good orientation for the best deals online.

NIKON Coolpix P90 Advertising

When choosing a digital camera it is important to know what the main purpose is.

As I have a quick eye and need to be equally quick and flexible when shooting original material for preparing my Digital Artwork and Web Graphics in Photoshop, and I hate to be schlepping heavy camera equipment around – I have an impressive history of that in the past and enough is enough!!!! – the P90 seems to optimally meet my requirements – and this at a fair price.

"Coolpix P90" by Bianca Gubalke Advertising

If you enjoy my digital pictures, I invite you to click on the brand-new COOLPIX-P90 HERE and you will see some examples of my work when dreaming the NIKON P90 into my possession… (hey! it seems to work!)… and perhaps it helps you make an informed decision as to your own priorities as well.

NIKON Coolpix P90 on Google

When checking this morning to see where I was today after this rather longish waiting period… and bearing in mind that we had immediately occupied Spot 18 with our first posts on the search term “Nikon Coolpix P90″ – largely due to the great Semiomantics Scripts – I noticed that we were actually still positioned quite well… and now we got more steam to climb the ranks! It all starts with being indexed. . .

"NIKON Coolpix P90" indexed by Google

My Cool Pix are on the way . . . where are yours’ ???

. . .

NIKON Coolpix P90

In my research about Digital Cameras in general and the Coolpix P90 by NIKON in particular, I have discovered quite some interesting additional points and conclusive material. . . especially as concerns the super zoom which intrigued me immediately, considering this P90 camera being surprisingly light.

Obviously, getting a superzoom camera while  at the same time avoiding the size and weight (… and cost!) that a DSLR with a large zoom lens would entail, appeals to me. However, the results are not as compelling – and I have to weigh how far I can go considering the fact that I focus on material I need for my Artwork on Photoshop etc… where speed and flexibility are of the essence.

NIKON Coolpix P90 on Google

Meanwhile, we’ve checked our climb towards Google Top 10 … and while we were on spot 30 this morning, we’ve made it to spot 18 by now – and this on 1,270 MILLION search returns – thanks to the finetuning of the Semiomantics Scripts… and the result from our Ycademy Seminar Trainings! Watch this space… we can do better :)

So far, our brand-new YORGOO Booster on the NIKON Coolpix P90 has not even been indexed as yet – but watch this space. . . we’ll be back with more!

Bianca Gubalke

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NIKON Coolpix P90

Digital Photography

Today there is no Advertising and Marketing via the Internet without Digital Photography – at least as a point de depart, a starting point. If involved in that Media one has to be properly equipped… and while I have always been passionate about photography – especially Black and White Photography – right from being a little girl and watching my mother take extremely expressive and evocative pictures with her simple little ‘black box’… to having my first camera and spending hours in Nature to get the right shot… to working with professional Advertising Photographers in Europe (Stills, Foods, Fashion)… andeventually integrating Photography in my own professional work … and yes, I remember the debates, heated discussions and fierce intellectual struggles as to whether or not this medium IS to be considered as ‘Art’… and seeing a highly talented classmate evolve into the highest paid living Artistic Photographer in the world ($1 million for one photo – Andreas Gursky)… to this day, where I’m on my way to find a Digital Camera that fits my specific personal purposes, meaning that it delivers the material I need for my Digital Art and Web Graphics.

Coolpix P90 by NIKON

Coolpix P90 Ad by Bianca Gubalke

I’ve been looking for a while and the market is simply phenomenal. . . However, my choice has eventually narrowed down and currently I am investigating the new Coolpix P90 by NIKON.

Based on the incredibly informative and future-oriented Ycademy Online Business Building Seminar I attended this past weekend, where all participants were equipped with a brand-new Targeted Ad Delivery System called YORGOO Booster (based on a Semiomantics Script), I have just set up my brand-new Coolpix P90 Blog to test my performance on Google Top 10!

Wish me a fast indexing so I can soon see the world that’s just a click away right there on a top ranking position!

"Coolpix P90" by Bianca Gubalke

If interested, please read more HERE… my brand-new YORGOO Booster Blog under Development :)

Bianca Gubalke