People Archives - Nicola Ann Art

Apr 02

by Nicola in Beach, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, People, Swimming 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Durban Beach, Prayer, purification

Purification Ritual Durban Beach

My eyes and ears were attracted by the glee two hundred church worshippers clearly experienced on the beach, involved in prayer and baptising ritual. Adorned in white uniforms, blue and green sashes, people were dunked into the waves, held under for a few seconds and came up gasping and chanting in an unrecognisable African language. Some women were veiled, in the background, singing and dancing. Holy staffs with flags dug into the sand around groups of people. In the middle of the action, yellow and white plastic containers were being topped up with sea water and sand, waiting to be taken home after the baptismal and healing ritual. I kept my distance, mesmerised by the simpleness of it all. The joy and rapture each person in the group experienced, from young children enjoying the shoreline and the elderly, the ‘ikhehlas‘ and ‘ugogos‘ relishing the purification ritual.

Apr 07

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities, People 0 comments tags: Architecture, BeanOn Photography, French Riviera, Nice, People Watching

Nice People French Riviera

Nice People French Riviera, or better said; people spotted in Nice along the French Riviera. A few hot spots below for people watching in Nice: Promenade du Paillon Opened in 2013, the promenade has seen more pedestrian traffic than anywhere else in town. Separating the old town from the modern, it stretches for about a kilometre. Lou Pilha Leva Famous for its socca, a savoury crepe made with chickpea flour, the quaint restaurant is nestled in Place Centrale, along the bustling shopping street in Vieux Nice, Rue de la Boucherie. Facing the busiest entrances to the old town, it is one of the best places to capture people in action. Place Garibaldi Sit near the fountain and watch people getting on and off the nearby bus and tram stops. The nearby bars and cafes mostly have decent happy hours with their food and drink.

Apr 02

by Nicola in Beach, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, People, Sunrise, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Durban, Durban beach front, Early morning, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Happy Easter, Durban, South Africa

Happy Easter, Durban! Durban, vibrant and bursting with soul, is always a happy place to be but appears to be even happier during holidays. So many from around the country visit for the warm ocean and still hot sun. Even when the waves aren’t spectacular it’s crowded with surfers. Once again, even in Autumn, Durban is the warmest place to be, thanks to the locals. Most of these snaps were taken with my iPhone.

Nov 06

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities, People 0 comments tags: Adventure, Architecture, BeanOn Photography, Carpet Shop, Exploring, Medina, Mint Tea, Morocco, Tetouan

Morocco’s Tetouan: thirteen years ago and today

Thirteen years ago on the 14th August I visited Morocco for the first time, and fell in love with Tetouan. From Ceuta we caught a bus to the border of Morocco. Fortunately, our recently acquired Canadian travel-buddy spoke French but he struggled to haggle a cheaper taxi ride to Tetouan. Forty-kilometers later, mostly along the coast, we were dropped off in the middle of Tetouan. Once we’d found accommodation, we dumped our backpacks and permitted a young man working at the riad to lead us through the nearby ancient medina. Overpowering smells, only a few palatable, caused me to heave and at times I had to pinch my nose. The vibrant spices, the heaps of henna and varieties of olives enticed me to spend money. Adam’s (aka Omar) family run carpet shop happened to be the next port of call. How did that happen? A good few steps later, we climbed out on to a terrace to admire the magnificent view of the town: thousands of satellite dishes attached to crumbling white buildings, feral cats slinking in alley ways. We were served a glass of melted sugar with mint tea leaves, an instant injection of diabetes, before returning to the carpets below. Instantly I fell in love […]

Scalloped hammerhead shark, the canal side, Durban

Jul 23

Durban is the warmest place to be

Unequivocally, Durban is the warmest place to be – it is practically summer all year round with its sub-tropical climate and laid-back, friendly people. Most mornings (when I am home, of course), at first light, I spend at Durban’s vibrant beachfront: running along the soft, golden beach sand; cycling up to thirty kilometres along the promenade, up and down the piers, around Moses Mabhida Stadium, across the Umgeni River and back again; surfing even in winter, mostly with a spring wetsuit; and recently, my new found addiction, yoga with Lauren from SurfSup Yoga. At dawn this morning I warmed up with an hour’s run along the beach sand before enjoying a soothingly stimulating session of yoga at Snake Park Lawns, on the promenade. Exercising alongside the ocean, while watching the sun rise and sharing it with others that were clearly health conscious, was an experience to behold. A few hours later, mid afternoon, I returned to the beachfront with my camera where I experienced a completely different world compared to the world at dawn. A promenade teeming with people, from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, exultant and savouring everything the beachfront had to offer from rickshaw rides to Zulu dancing, […]

Jun 26

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities, People, Street Photography 0 comments tags: Architecture, Avenue des Champs Elysees, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, France, Paris, Rigoletto, Sunset

A Paris Fling

Welcome back, Europe! A Paris fling lasting two nights is simply not enough to explore the city’s inspiring grandeur, despite visiting twice previously many years ago. After each visit Paris becomes more appealing, I become more appreciative of its breath-taking architecture and heritage buildings, highlight after highlight – endless intrigue. Did you know that it’s free (yes, free!) entry in to the Notre-Dame Cathedral? A top tip when faced with a ceaseless queue of overheating bodies trying to penetrate the imposing cathedral. Look for a gap, nonchalantly fill the gap and pretend to be with the people in front of you, not looking over your shoulder, and mind your own business. Obviously this needs to happen as far in front of the queue as possible. And… la magie… Resistance becomes futile when Paris presents the opening night of Rigoletto at the Opera Bastille. What an exceptionally powerful performances by all, and such artistry and precision of symphony by the orchestra. Three acts later, I still yearned for more. I feel a humming session about to attack… In English, of course. ‘La donna mobile’ Rigoletto by Verdi Woman is fickle Like a feather in the wind, She changes […]

Lord Millner Hotel, Western Province, Great Karoo

Matjiesfontein Station, Great Karoo, Matjiesfontein

Feb 28

by Nicola in Architecture, People 0 comments tags: Architecture, BeanOn Photography, Great Karoo, Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein, nature, South Africa, Western Cape

Great Karoo, Matjiesfontein

From Cape Town we drove through some spectacular passes and dramatic landscapes making up the Great Karoo that led us to Plettenberg Bay. The highlight of the journey to our final destination had to be spending the night in Matjiesfontein at the Lord Milner Hotel, lord of the manner more like… Imagine stepping back in time over a century ago… I’ve always longed to inhabit the Earth when only wild beasts freely roamed, without us humans around to destroy everything precious. Well, Matjiesfontein is a little like how I imagine the Earth to have been after the first set of humans developed in to ‘town’ dwellers, and ceased the beasts from roaming free. Okay, that may be a slight case of imagination running riot… But, excusing the mild digression, one definitely steps back in time at least one-hundred-and-thirty years when visiting Matjiesfontein in the Great Karroo, Western Cape. Nothing has changed, bar a lick or two of paint perhaps, since 1884. What else could a klein dorpie with this much character ever possibly need? When they refer to it as klein, it truly couldn’t be tinier.

Jan 30

by Nicola in People, Street Photography 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Cape Flats, Cape Town, Gugulethu, Gugulethu Township Tour, South Africa, Township Tour, Western Cape

Cape Town, Gugulethu Township Tour

Once upon a time, many many years ago, I desired experiencing life in a township. Longing to spend a weekend with my maid and her family, I had an urge to walk kilometres for water, walk to the shop and carry the supplies on my head, make a fire to cook dinner and heat water, and everything else that encompassed living in a township. What would it feel like to exist without luxury? For some reason my parents prevented me from gaining such an understanding. So, the next best thing had to be the Gugulethu township tour whilst visiting Cape Town. We chose AWOL to provide us with the Gugulethu walking township tour, known for its importance during the struggle against apartheid, because they are a non-profit organisation and proceeds are put back in to the community, given to the people who make the tour possible. The knowledgeable and interesting guide, Ncebe, met us at Mzoli’s, a traditional bring and braai true-African-style establishment, and directed us to his home. Noticeably proud, he showed us around, explaining how he’d broken tradition with his renovations by building a bathroom inside the house instead of it being out back where most […]

A woman helping a disabled man, New Port Tel Aviv

Children enjoying lunch, Old Port Tel Aviv

Old men in speedo costumes watching the Folk dancing, Tel Aviv

Dec 28

by Nicola in Beach, Cycling, People 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, cycling, Folk Dancing, Israel, Namal Yafo, New Tel Aviv Port, Old Jaffa Port, Old Tel Aviv Port, Tel Aviv

Israel, cycling from Jaffa to Tel Aviv

During the Shabbat (Sabbath) on the Saturday we spent eight hours cycling from Jaffa to Tel Aviv. Along the promenade from Old Jaffa Port (also known as Namal Yafo) – which is reputed to being the port from which Jonah set off in the famous Biblical story of Jonah and the Whale – our first port of call (note the pun) we spent strolling along the wall surrounding the Tel Aviv Marina. A couple sat on rocks reading documents together; fishermen competed for the same spot; surfers attempted riding waves just beyond the port’s entrance; another photographer poised hoping a surfer would provide the action; a woman sipping a beer while staring out to sea; a family of four laughing, enjoying each other’s company. From there we joined the crowds encircling the locals folk dancing on the promenade alongside the beach. Apparently an instructor frolicked in the midst of all the swaying bodies but he or she wasn’t easy to spot. The atmosphere had my foot tapping away and my camera firing. Somehow I stopped myself from joining in. What fun! Back on our bikes, we ventured to the Old Tel Aviv Port where hundreds of people enjoyed the wide […]

Dec 24

by Nicola in Cities, People, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Israel, Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda Market

Israel, Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda Market

Desire experiencing people whom love life and particularly Jerusalem? Well then, a visit to Machane Yehuda Market is a must. Known as one of Jerusalem’s word-famous icons, the market epitomises the contemporary and the future of Jerusalem. Two hours spent absorbing the frenetic atmosphere, watching the traders interacting with the crowds, providing tasters of their wares. The colours and aromas of the variety of foods pleasantly assaulted the senses. Resistance was futile when it came to the buffet of halva (pronounced with that same guttural ‘g’ as in hummus) and I had to have a slice of the chilli halva that delightfully burned while releasing its rich sweetness. At one of the entrances to Machane Yehuda Market we enjoyed respite at a coffee shop while I photographed the energy. An hour or so before sunset on the Friday (the start of the Sabbath) every thing came to a halt and people scattered in all directions, to reach their final destinations before the sun sets. The Sabbath (Shabbat) Observed from just before sunset on Friday to just after dark on Saturday, the Sabbath is extremely holy. Both the religious and non-religious observe the Sabbath by adhering to the […]

Oct 29

by Nicola in Art, People 0 comments tags: Art exhibition, Artists, BeanOn Photography, Ctrlroom, derelict, Durban, Gallery, KwaZulu-Natal, Open-air, Sinegugu Ngwenya, South Africa, The Green Camp Gallery Project, Umbilo Road, Wi-Fire, Xolani

The Green Camp Gallery Project

Found in lower Glenwood, the rebirth of a derelict now known as the Green Camp Gallery Project beats with its heart in the open. Partly a work function – Wi-Fire, powered by Ctrlroom, sponsored the free Wi-Fi for the event – I wouldn’t have missed for the world. An experience that took me back to my school days (my maths is exceptionally bad so I won’t even attempt to work it out…) when learning about the history of art, and all I wanted to do was draw and be creative at every possibility. Xolani, simply known as ‘X’, started the project towards the end of last year and has hosted a number of exhibitions since then, although Boy Parts/Girl Parts was the first of its scale. Sinegugu Ngwenya – Ctrlroom’s temporary Marketing and Brand Communications Trainee – exhibited, “I Never Thought I was a Feminist”, where people could interact and engage with the subject matter. Ngwenya presented a recording of her stories for all to listen to; those that took the opportunity, within an open cubical, were moved by the experience and the sensitive subject matter. “Don’t fuss about the battle, when you stand to lose […]

Oct 17

by Nicola in Fashion, on the Rock camera club, People, Photo shoot 1 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Broadcast Lighting, KwaZulu-Natal, lighting, models, on the Rocks camera club, photo shoot, Pinetown, South Africa, studio shoot, studio work

An illuminating experience

Another first; another experience I cannot wait to repeat. Perhaps I shall consider adding studio work to my list of offerings. The biggest thank you to on the Rocks camera club for making this happen with Broadcast Lighting, models, pole dancers, belly dancers and props. From 9am until 1pm on Saturday, 11th October 2014, at Broadcast Lighting’s studio – Shop 26, The Power Centre, 21 Lanner Rd, New Germany, 3610 – where the illuminating experience captured us.

Apr 10

4×4 training – let’s get stuck!

Thank you to both Suzuki Pinetown and Travis Duggan from Shift Group for the well organised 4×4 training, or rather adventure, that took place at the Killarney track in Shongweni, a week after I purchased my first ever 4×4 vehicle. Impeccable timing! Never-ending thrills beneath a sky as blue as the Indian Ocean streaked with wisps of cloud, a sun throbbing hotter by the hour and a breath or two of air in a valley surrounded by red earth and green lush shrubbery! What more could anyone want? A bevy of Jimnys and Grand Vitaras were all eager to get their tyres caked in thick dirt and washed off at the river crossing both at the start and end of the semi-challenging route. Did you say a river crossing? Driving my spanking new car through water with rocks and slime and… “Cars do not like water,” Travis informed the group, all glaring at him with expressions like a kinetic strap pulled tight. Was that supposed to make me feel better? “But the Jimnys can safely absorb water up to the Suzuki badge.” As the river appeared that it would only reach mid-rim I started breathing again and felt […]

Mar 23

by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Nature, Off-Road, People 0 comments tags: 4x4, 4x4 challenge, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Challenge, Jimny, Killarney Track, KwaZulu-Natal, Off-road, Rugged Terrain, Shift Group, Shongweni, Suzuki Jimny

One life. Live it.

Land Rover once said: “One Life. Live it.” I experienced something today for the first time by enjoying being a spectator at a 4×4 challenge, held at Killarney in Shongweni. Actually, because I am planning on purchasing a 4×4, one that was going to take part at the event I had to witness just how well it would do. Unfortunately, due to the track being too “soft” it ended up not competing. Just as well as most regrettably damaged their vehicles and had wished they’d never taken them out. But it made for great viewing so thank you to those who didn’t chicken out! Of course I was rooting for the underdogs: “Lucky N” and luminous “e-car”. Unfortunately, my rooting did not help. “Ooh!” “Ahh!” “Ouch!” And many vulgarities were heard whenever the Amarok got stuck; after the fourth time, in the same spot, despite trying different ways to attack the ditch coated in mud, only vulgarities could be heard. The vehicle should be labelled “AmarokDisaster” instead of “AmarokStar” – as highlighted in one of the images below. We only hung around for the first heat, which was enough to make me want to experience […]

Feb 11

by Nicola in Beach, Not-for-profit, People 0 comments tags: Abandoned Baby, Baby Hope House, BeanOn Photography, Durban beach front, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, Pinetown, South Africa

Our government is blinded

‘Sawubona, boy! You so beautiful, boy.’ Yesterday, a young black woman greeted the child I sat with on the beach, Moses Mabhida Stadium directly behind, under an umbrella made out of thin wooden logs almost of identical size. I told her his name. Her eyes dropped down to the camera that dangled from my neck. ‘Are the photos instant? Can you take one of me with boy? How much?’ ‘I will not charge you. Do you have an email address?’ My ear felt deafened after she screeched with excitement. ‘I don’t have email but my friend does.’ Next thing I was taking photos of 3 people, many poses. About 4 groups of black people approached at different times soon after my friend joined us. ‘How you get black baby?’ A black man asked me while my friend went for a dip. I explained Hope House and their great cause. He grins, thanks me and then runs off.