Photographic creativity and photographic vision lie somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle between the ears and the sinuses. I know this because I have an infection in that area and for the last week or so all my pictures have been bland and bordering on boring. 

I now have to think carefully about the point I am trying to make. Yes! I earned the infection in a grand way by suffering smoke inhalation while photographing a veld fire that was threatening to burn down a penguin rehab centre. The pictures were great for what they were – I have photographed a few too many fires over the years. And again I have to think about the point I am trying to make. The pictures were great for what they were but one was different and, I think, quite interesting. A rainbow formed in the spray around the fire-fighter’s hoses and I caught it with my camera.

What does that mean? Well basically that freelance writing and photography are great fun. Not only did I avoid being bitten by a Puff Adder (it was trying to avoid the fire) I overheard things I could use for an article. A newspaper journalist took notes when interviewing the staff of the penguin rehab centre and I overheard “we evacuated 14 penguins, 2 gannets and 2 boxes of fish.” I made a mental note that even thought they may have lost the centre in the blaze they were focussed enough to remember to salvage the penguin’s lunch. The next day I went back to see what I could find worth photographing in the burnt out vegetation and found stuff like a skull (of a monkey) and thousands of shucked Abalone shells left by poachers in the vegetation. I also overheard a volunteer at the smoky but saved penguin rehab centre say “cleaning a smoky stuffed penguin is easier than cleaning a live penguin.” This rare and deep philosophical sentence can also be used somewhere…..

So if you want to try freelancing now is the right time. There is no rainbow that points you to a pot of gold (or says that you are ready to make the jump) but if you feel driven you must do it! Sure the finances are weird – I have earned no money from photographing the fire and won a sinus of note with the accompanying medical bill. Believe it or not my cell phone pooped while I was writing this and the message was that someone had deposited money in my account.  Seems I was paid for photographing old buildings – that was fun too (thanks!). Wonder what will be next!

Every time any camera maker upgrades any body or lens or there is a rumour of this there is an immediate flurry of activity in the photo forums around the world. People dissect the old lens or camera, dismiss them as worthless and invest in a dream of sharper better composed and lit images. Amazing what the thought a new lens or body can do in the mind.

Most of the differences between the old and the new can only be distinguished using charts and test instruments. Chromic aberrations are lovingly analysed and the effects of the new image stabilisation are quantified. Sadly this plays very little role in the average picture that is sold and earns the photographer his income. Editors, picture editors and whoever else chooses images for publication never ask what lens or camera was used.

They look at the image and make an informed decision.

Yes the latest is often the greatest but I guess that about 0.74 % of photographers (calculated using hoatzin flight curve analysis) operate in that mythical realm where every bit of optical or mechanical improvement is required and justified because all the other factors (knowledge, technique etc) are under control and are being used to their fullest extent..

So fellow photographers send me your old lenses and cameras – they are all worthless and rubbish and you owe yourself the newest and best.

Next week’s sermon will be on photographer’s greatest sin - lens lust – and the salvation that is bought by the world’ greatest image stabilizer - the tripod - and why it was sent to earth as punishment for photographers…..

Living in a small place just outside a bigger place (Schoenmakerskop/Port Elizabeth) has probably caused me more stress than what it is worth. I don’t talk to other photographers as there are none around and when they do come here we take pictures and talk about other things.

So, does the concept of the “invoice horries” even exist? It can arise as a result of an almost everyday shoot like the one I had last week. Never done this before: “Please make me a canvas print of my painting for my daughter in Australia” was the request and so I did it. I used natural diffuse sunlight and lay the painting on a couch and took a picture carefully (bracketing as I went). Was careful to get parallel and avoid shadows etc.

Went home and sharpened and saturated a bit and went to have the print made. Someone delivered the canvas and I prepared to email the invoice. Then somewhere on a forum I saw how real photographers copy paintings and then I got worried. Some use umpteen lights, reflectors, light meters and copying stands and are still not satisfied with the results. With a brief curse I sent the invoice mail and vowed to be more careful in future. About a week later got a message to call the lady in question. Worried and stressed but made the call! She was happy and just wanted to thank me and she said she had made the payment.

Then I had a shoot this week of a new factory. Went and did it thinking that it would be easy. It was not as everything was shiny and new and I have never seen so many reflections of myself at one time. Did the shoot and chatted to the manager afterwards. Said I did not understand the cement making process and asked how the stuff travelled down the shiny pipes. He told me they were a brand new tomato sauce factory. I tried to remain calm and spoke of the joys of tomato sauce with breakfast, lunch, supper and tea and then went home.

I felt guilty when I made out the invoice – there must be big differences in the way one photographs cement factories compared to tomato sauce plants. Wonder if they will pay me. Does anyone else have these kinds of hassles with invoices?

The green highlight of my photography for the last few years will be the dehorning of the White Rhinos at the Kragga Kamma Game park near Port Elizabeth last week. The horns of two rhino were removed to prevent them being killed by poachers. Being invited to such an event often boils down to pure luck and knowing the right people. I was sorry I could not invite my friends and fellow photographers but such is life.
 How does one prepare for such a shoot? Well all the lenses were clean and batteries were charged and everything was laid out in the bag. I had all the camera support I needed and the longest lens was also present - a lot of weight to carry but one never knows how close you can get.
As I stepped out of my Synchro the button on my shorts popped off, you cannot cover for all contingencies and I decided not to breathe out and to invest in braces. With all these kind of events there was a delay but time passed thanks to my travelling companions and I covered almost everything at ISO 200 and a 100-400mm zoom and a shorter lens on the other camera body.
So was I happy with the results? Suppose so, but one always has regrets afterwards. The actual champion of the event was the 2 month old baby calf who was very scared and a bit confused. The way she tried to protect her mother was heart wrenching and stupidly, like everyone else, I was hypnotised by her mother's massive horn. I got those pictures, of the chaisaw biting into the horn, it coming off and being put aside. I don't think that anyone could have taken enough picture of the baby though.
Internationalising the pictures afterwards was a pain with internet connections disconnecting and emails not arriving. Then also writing a brief article to accompany the images was a pain. One always needs a quote late at night and as the night continued I got more befuddled and my spelling went for a loop.
Anyway it became a 15 hour work day with me being very tired and confused at the end of it. Wrapping up is still ongoing and I have approached about 4 local magazines and the chainsaw manufacturer (one has to think laterally) offering articles and/or images.
I am very grateful to Ayesha (does anyone know where her name comes from?) Cantor who attended one of our photography courses. Her family owns and manages the park and her excellent photo and nature knowlege meant that we were the closest vehicle and the only one on the right side in relation to the sun!

Another blasted blog - I already write for Pix Magazine on their forum on photography and survival as a freelance photographer/writer as well as for one of my favourite photo stock agencies called Ecoscene on what I consider green images. What I do on a site called Friends of Schoenmakerskop on facebook is, I suppose, also an extended blog with photos and a few comments from others.

Next week I promise a good clean old fashioned blog (just like your granny used to make them) here! Funny how now the new concept is and most of our parents think a blog is probably something the dog brings in. 

The next week is going to be a disaster as my mother-in-law is moving into an old age home and I am co-ordinater of her life support which is known as cable TV Already I cannot contact the only TV firm I know. I also won't finish the current shoot I am busy with as I  have to communicate with academics and that takes time - they are all frantically doing something most of the time. As can be expected, because I am fully booked, more shoots will land on my doorstep and I will accept them because the blond Labrador Puppy Orphanage I run needs more food (and so do I). Thanks to the full week I already have an additional industrial shoot to contend with that will slot in with a portrait shoot on Thursday!

Strange how work comes in batches and how procrastination can cause you to kick your own rear end.