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Join Brenda Tharp and me this Aug/September 2015 to photograph these sights and more! This is a trip you won't want to miss! (Details below) |
…EVERY time is "the charm!"
Let me
explain…
Anytime I
go to a place I have never been, there are sights and experiences like no
other. My first trip to Namibia was in 2009
and it introduced me to a country so rich in culture, wildlife and diverse
landscapes. There were surprises around
every corner and I soaked up all of the experiences and sights like a sponge!
I saw my
first Quivertree- actually an aloe plant that is hundreds of years old. They
have such an odd and spectacular beauty about them and photographing them is
always a delight!
I spent 2
days exploring the deserted buildings in Kolmanskop- the first diamond mining
town in Namibia, which is now abandoned and being swallowed by the shifting
sands of the Namib Desert. My
imagination went wild as I meandered through the various buildings thinking about
how people lived here in harsh conditions during the heyday of the diamond
mining boom.
I remember
seeing the world renowned orange sand dunes for the first time, towering over
the Namib Desert in all their magnificent glory! They change dramatically through the day and
present ever changing photographic possibilities! The hike to Dead Vlei in the
dark…so worth the 30 minute trek through sand to see the sun rise over this
iconic place at the base of the tallest sand dune in the world!!
I stayed at
a lodge within the Namib Naukluft Park boundaries which is comprised of a
string of luxurious huts that over look the Namib. I will always remember standing on the porch
of my hut under the bright expanse of the Milky Way and feeling so small in a
world of wonder. The night skies in
Namibia are like no other….
Staying in
the seaside city of Swakopmund feels like stepping back in time. Such a quiet and quaint place to unwind…
Situated between desert and ocean, there is plenty to keep busy! One of my favorite experiences is with
Tommy's Tours exploring the small creatures who live in the dunes. I have been on his tour 3 times and have
learned so much about the fragile ecosystems in the desert.
The
landscapes in Palmwag are beyond description, especially when dotted with
desert lions, giraffes and elephants who inhabit the area; and the spectacular
sunsets are consistently better than any superlatives to describe them!
Namibia is
filled with culture and my eyes were opened wide with fascination of the Himba
tribe and how they live. Spending time
with these friendly people and observing their traditions first hand is inspiring
and humbling.
I will
never forget the surprise and excitement of my first wild animal sighting in
Etosha National Park! It was a giraffe
looming over the trees and peering curiously into our vehicle at the edge of
the Dik Dik Trail. In fact, every sighting of wild animal species- elephants,
zebras, jackals, springbok, lions and rhinos continue to meet with the same surprise
and excitement! There is nothing as
amazing as sitting at a waterhole and watching the choreographed performance of animals taking turns coming in for a drink.
Since that
first visit to Namibia, I have returned four times. Why do I keep returning when there are so
many other places in the world to see?
Namibia
calls to me. Namibia is now a part of
me.
Each time I
visit, Namibia is full of new and different experiences making each of my
returning visits as magical as the first.
This is why EVERY time is the "the charm!"
There is a Namibian proverb that states: "The earth is
not ours, it is a treasure we hold in trust for future generations" and
Namibia holds many of these world treasures!
Bust don't just take my word for it...consider joining
Brenda Tharp and me in August/September on an amazing photography tour through
Namibia with Strabo Photo Tours and experience it for yourself!
The diversity of
Namibia opens your eyes and challenges the way you see.
It allows you to practice and use all of your
photographic skills as we photograph people, landscapes, the night skies,
architecture, plant life, abstracts and macro subjects. You'll receive
professional assistance with making your best images in each place we visit. You
will learn so much about all facets of Namibia from our very knowledgeable and
English-speaking guide.
Most of
all, Namibia will become a part of you and will call you back...
You won't
want to miss this tour!
Details of
our upcoming 2015 Namibia Photo Tour can be found at Strabo Photo Tours Namibia 2015
Images from
last year's trip can be found HERE.
I like your thinking! And I totally agree; re-visiting a place is a great way to hone our vision, sharpen our senses, and challenge us visually to continue to tell the story, to see beyond the veil of the tourist. There are so many wonderful things we experienced last year and I'm really looking forward to more of those this coming August!
ReplyDeleteI am too, Brenda. I am already thinking of new ideas to creatively capture the places we will visit. And while I have some ideas in my mind, it is also important to "relax your vision" when visiting a well known place (anyplace for that matter!) and let the visions come to you.
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