Nicola Ann Art
Mar 08
by Nicola in Beach, Nature, Sunset, Umdloti beach 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Blue Bottles, crabs, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, nature, South Africa, Sunset, Umdloti, Umdloti beach, Umdloti South Beach

Umdloti crabs

What a spectacular sighting: the Umdloti crabs doing their thing at twilight; every time I’ve enjoyed a run or walk along south beach, a third of the way towards Umhlanga, they’d caught my attention. I’ve never seen these types of crabs along the north beach, and I wonder why…   Last evening, with the perfect weather, I couldn’t resist taking along my camera and doing my best to capture them running in to the water, burying themselves as deep as possible in the sand when the flow of the water hits them (be prepared to get drenched in the process), and some are still in the exact same place as the water ebbs, while others tumble into the next flow of the wave. A few of them had Portuguese man o wars (aka blue bottles) wrapped around their claws and appeared to be munching on them.   It proved a challenge, hence the not so sharp photos, trying to capture the little critters as they kept dancing around as if on a stage, performing for each other.   The setting sun turned the sky over the ocean pink and orange and made for stunning moments worth holding on to…   […]
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Feb 10
by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Beach, Nature, Off-Road, Sugarcane, Sunset, Umdloti beach 0 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Indian Ocean, Jimny, KwaZulu-Natal, Moonrise, Off-road, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Sugarcane fields, Sunset, Suzuki, Suzuki Jimny, Umdloti, Umdloti beach

Umdloti sunset and moonrise

While briskly walking along beach late afternoon, the cloud formations shouted out, get in to the sugar cane fields, up that hill and capture what’s about to be a stunning Umdloti sunset and moonrise.   With my camera equipment already in my car, we tackled the tracks amidst the fields; changing to low range 4×4, we ploughed through the soft red earth and climbed to reach the peak, the ideal viewpoint. Seized by a dramatic vista – composed of Boeings flying alongside the setting sun, heading towards King Shaka Airport, Sibaya Casino to the left and the moon rising over the Indian Ocean.   A basket filled with picnic food was the only thing missing…
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Aug 05
by Nicola in 4x4, Off-Road, Sugarcane, Sunset, Umdloti beach 0 comments tags: 4x4, BeanOn Photography, Indian Ocean, Off-road, Sugarcane fields, Suzuki Jimny, Umdloti beach

Chasing the sunset

I started through the sugar cane fields and then ended up on the beach, desiring to capture the red ball sink down behind the Mdloti River and I just missed it; too much delirious joy while ‘skiing’ through sand. 
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Jul 18
by Nicola in Beach, Sunrise, Umdloti beach 1 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Early morning, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, Sunrise, Umdloti beach

Early bird catches…

…a stunning sunrise at Umdloti.   What a treat to enjoy breakfast with such a sight before the eyes. Only the early bird…
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Jul 13
by Nicola in Beach, Nature, Sunrise, Umdloti beach 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, KwaZulu-Natal, Salt Rock, Sharka's Rock, Sharkaskraal, Sheffield Beach, Sunrise, Umdloti

Umdloti and beyond

The Dolphin Coast explored, partly.   Up at 6:30am and out immediately – an essential spur of the moment. With camera and banana in hand, I start photographing the red sun rising at Umdloti, from above and then down from the beach.   Shaka’s Rock came next, I gasp the moment I spot the beach fringed by rocky cliffs. At 8:50am I first step on to the sand, the wintery sun warming my bones.   The turquoise blue waves roll, form barrels, clear and inviting before crashing upon the black rocks.   Luminous green seaweed wave in all directions when saturated by pristine white foam; red and purple stained rocks glint beneath the gilding sun.   I pass through Salt Rock and end up exploring Sheffield Beach, another first. Almost as stunning as Shaka’s Rock but with fewer people – three families scattered in different directions play in the rock pools, a man lying under a towel reading a book.   A mansion overlooking the golden beach sand, more golden in the sun’s glow, with the perfect view of the Indian Ocean, soon to be transformed into a palace the way the dozen builders are hard at work.   I […]
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Mar 31
by Nicola in Nature, Sunset, Umdloti beach 0 comments tags: Adventure, beach, BeanOn Photography, electric storm, Indian Ocean, running, sea, storm, Sunset, Umdloti beach, wild sky

Wild Sky at Umdloti Beach

As I start running along the beach after work, late afternoon, the sky suddenly darkened, turned wild, a wild sky, south of Umdloti while north had the light radiating from above.   A few strides later a thunderstorm rumbles and crackles, enveloping my senses. Never had I seen the sky so angry and stunning at the same time; the waves in rhythm to the storm’s roar.   I stood below it, taking in every colour, flash, sound and smell – feeling the heat, steaming humidity and rain drops sizzle against my skin – until my brain kicked in and moved aside the adrenaline.   What on Earth are you doing, nutter? Get back to shelter, get your phone and capture the moment – before being stuck by a lightning fork – as best as you can using a not so great camera-phone. Why did I leave my DSLR at home today? Why…   Any photos are better than nothing, right…?   To be amazed by nature; to allow nature to amaze; its power; its wildness – a wild power that commands respect!
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