Nicola Ann Art
Jan 29
by Nicola in Beach, Durban, Sunrise 2 comments tags: beach, BeanOn Photography, Durban beach front, Early morning, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, Moyo Ushaka Pier, North Beach, sea, South Africa, Sunrise, uShaka Beach, uShaka Pier

Habanero-hot welcome back to Durban

What a warm, actually habanero-hot welcome back to Durban. And I’d left London the day after the snow had settled overnight. With Emirates, from London Gatwick to Dubai and then finally Durban, the flight path permitted me to take in kilometre after kilometre of the rich-blue Indian Ocean bubbling below. What a sight after eighteen hours of flying time and three-hours wait in Dubai. Never mind the nine months of being away. It felt as though I was away for much longer but from the moment I stepped off the plane it felt as if I had never left; the epitome of home.   I don’t know how but I resisted (resistance is usually futile) snapping the sunrise at uShaka Beach my first morning at home. Well, to be honest the need to catch-up on sleep triumphed and I ventured down to the beachfront for the sunrise the second morning after my arrival.   My brain failed me momentarily, but it was 5am after all. I forgot that during the summer months the wall of the harbour mouth blocked the sunrise and it didn’t rise directly in front of the pier. I’ve since discovered the incredible SunCal, informing me that on […]
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Jan 22
by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Cities, London, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 2 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Canary Wharf, London, Piccadilly Circus, The Shard, The United Kingdom, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Trafalgar Square

London Calling

The entire day spent photographing around London (two days before I left for South Africa) and I didn’t manage to shoot all on my list. I’d run out of time. Perhaps it’s a sign for me to return, use that return ticket of mine and enjoy the UK’s summer. But only the summer…   At Canary Wharf my friend asked a security guard, one of many security guards spotted strolling around the wharf, about photographing the shopping centre. Apparently, all in the name of terrorism, we needed a permit to take photos inside and outside of the mall. Obtained from the management of the shopping centre, we had to apply online – advised in order to avoid a hefty fine up to £100k, depending if they could prove we were using the shots for promotional purposes. “You have pro equipment and look like pros,” he said. Out in the open, I spotted a security guard standing outside a building I wanted to photograph, and so I asked him if it was okay; as long as I wasn’t going to be filming, and we were not hanging around taking millions of photos. Just as I’d finished setting up and leaned forward […]
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Jan 13
by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: 20th-century, Architecture, Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, catamarans, Chichester, Chichester Cathedral, Chichester Marina, England, paintings, sailboats and dinghies, South Coast, stained-glass, The United Kingdom, yachts

Chichester Marina & Cathedral

“Where shall we explore today?’ “Umm… How about lunch at the nearest marina? In desperate need to see the sea.”   I grabbed my laptop, clicked on Google, searched ‘nearest marina to Guildford’ and one of them happened to be Chichester Marina set in the beauty of a natural harbour.   “And then we can visit Chichester Cathedral too!”   Apparently Chichester Marina is “…the most desirable marina on the South Coast.” Who am I to argue? Actually, it impressed us all; however, I haven’t seen many others along the south coast of England to compare against.   The highly recommended The Boat House Café on Trip Advisor fulfilled all expectations. A beautiful setting overlooking the hundreds of boats moored at the marina. We enjoyed a pleasant walk, admiring the catamarans, yachts, sailboats and dinghies while working up an appetite before devouring platefulls of fresh, mouthwatering seafood.   With sated stomaches, we ventured in to town to view the impressive Chichester Cathedral. A warm welcome greeted us, and we were encouraged to join the tour that had just begun; instead, we decided to take in the awe-inspiring 20th-century paintings, sculptures and stained-glass below the tall arches on our own. The […]
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Jan 09
by Nicola in Back2Blighty, Hiking, Nature, Sunset, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, cattle, England, Exploring, fox, Guildford, Hiking, nature, semi-rural village, Sunset, Surrey, The United Kingdom, woods

A few moments worthy of photographing

As I was about to put on my trainers for a run through the woods, the heavens, yet again, released its floodgates.   Over the past couple of weeks, during a rather damp festive season that’s crept in to the New Year, I’d managed to steal a few moments worthy of photographing.   With five days left, my time here in this quaint, semi-rural village in Guildford is soon to end. If only it would stop raining until after the day I leave so that I may enjoy one, just one, mud-free run through the woods.   I suppose I should carry on dreaming… But soon, so soon I can feel the heat already, I’ll be back in Durban with humidity warmer than an incinerator – the type of weather I’ve never found fault with. Having an ocean less than a kilometre away, solves many issues accompanying overheating.  
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