The Mombasa Story| Sunsets and Beyond
Hey fam!
Just thought I should post this before the Christmas festivities were in full swing.
This is my last post for this year and I saw it befitting to end it on a high.
As many of you (or few of you) know, I’m still a novice blogger and unabashed about that. I like to think that I grew with you my audience, despite it just being 3 months and change.
It’s been a beautiful experience, from the onset when I thought of honing my photography skills to this very moment.
I have been abundantly blessed by many a folk who some deserve special mention.
Firstly to my home boy, a guy I consider a brother actually – David Mutua a.k.a @dipwiz. Here’s a cat who schooled and keeps schooling me in photography. He was photography 101 itself. Mad love bro.
Along the way, I’ve networked, all thanks to #Twitter (the future of social networking and information exchange)
I’ve met gurus in Photography and Blogs who have now become very good friends – Mutua Matheka (@Truthslinger), Steve Kitoto (@SteveKitots), Rags Kanyi (@ragskanyi), Natacha (@natishem), Hiuhu Murimi (@hmurimi), Wendy (@AwinyoPiny), Shuhi (@shuhi), Saitonne (@saitonne), David Sikobe (@skubi), Njeri (@sunnynjeri), Mike (@profkatts), the crazy height-phobic Dee (@dianangila), @wiselar (a.k.a. #1 Fan), …the list is endless. (If you can’t see your name, even me i can’t see it. I blame my decreasing brain cells)
Of course the most important people of this baby here is YOU. You are the numero uno.
Every encouragement, criticism or simple click on the page goes along way to me knowing I’m not wasting my time. Keep me in your prayers and bookmark the site 🙂
Now on to the post (Here is a hanky..after that oh-so-teary moment)..
As we close the year there’s a lot to reflect on. Both positive and negative. I choose to focus on the positive.
There’s just so much to be thankful for in a world of negativity. There’s life, good health, family, friends, beautiful places..all these (OK, not all, most) freely given.
So as we close the year, slap a smile on, laugh, enjoy the season. Carry yourself like the King/Queen you are.
..And let’s gaze into beautiful sunsets as we hope and pray for better days.
Enjoy.
And some random select few pics..
As we gaze into the sunset and beyond baby!
And it’s a wrap!
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Fruitful New Year!
Peace.
The Mombasa Story| Fort Jesus
Previously on Picture? Perfect..
(Cue in dramatic background music)
Our day’s superheroes comprising your’s truly, @Truthslinger (feat. Wife), @AwinyoPiny, @stanleymuthoka and @natishem were marooned in a haunted Island, surrounded by angry, paranoid apes distressed because we had taken pictures of them and paid them peanuts, so inevitably they went bananas as we tried to give them the slip..
Baah.
(Cue in Reality)
Having visited old Town, which provided us with rich education on culture and history, the next stop was a restaurant called Island Dishes. Now I would be happy to throw in pics of what transpired there but I fear if i do so, some people will be after my life. I have no wife nor children. The End.
It was basically a feast of fury there.Ate Biriani washed down with Ukwaju and Kahawa Tungu. The aftermath of such a battle fought between stomach vs plate was a very lethargic trek up towards Fort Jesus.
Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus is a Portuguese fort built in 1593 by order of King Philip II of Spain ( King Philip I of Portugal ), then ruler of the joint Portuguese and Spanish Kingdoms, located on Mombasa Island to guard the Old Port of Mombasa, Kenya. It was built in the shape of a man (viewed from the air), and was given the name of Jesus, after Shaikh Isa Bin Tarif Al Bin Ali Al Utbi conquered the fort in 1837 after being asked for assistance by Sayyid Said Bin Sultan, Sultan of Oman[1]. The name Jesus in Arabic means Isa, therefore it means the Fort of Isa (Isa Bin Tarif). Isa Bin Tarif, Chief of the Al Bin Ali Al Utbi Tribe, is a descendant of the original uttoobee conquerors of Bahrain[2]. The Al Bin Ali were a politically important group that moved backwards and forwards between Qatar and Bahrain, they were the original dominant group of Zubara area[3], they were also known for their courage, persistence, and abundant wealth.[4]
References
- ^ The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by John Gordon Lorimer p451
- ^ The Precis Of Turkish Expansion On The Arab Littoral Of The Persian Gulf And Hasa And Katif Affairs. By J. A. Saldana; 1904, I.o. R R/15/1/724
- ^ Arabia’s Frontiers: The Story of Britain’s Boundary Drawing in the Desert, John C. Wilkinson, p44
- ^ Arabian Studies By R.B. Serjeant, R.L. Bidwell, p67
(Information obtained from Wikipedia)
End of History class. The rest, my view – in pictures.
And the best for last, @Truthslinger attempting to model in a cave (he’s a natural!)
…Actually what I meant is he looks in his natural habitat. (Forgive me bro, I couldn’t resist.)
~El Fin~
P.S – Keep it locked for the final chapter of The Mombasa Stories. Coming Soon to a blog near you.
The Mombasa Story| Old Town
Wassup ma’ peepo! Mko sawa? (yo’ good?)
I’m splendid and my-oh-my, it’s been one weekend going to the next.
I indicated in my last post that I’d be doing some random travelling down to the great city (or is it county?) of Mombasa (pronounced: Mwah;-Mba;-Sir) and it was one helluva experience. The initial travelling contingent was vast but due to commitments and many other miserable excuses, the number dissipated. The final travelling troop was myself, @Truthslinger feat. Wifey, @stanleymuthoka (my bus mate), @natishem, @AwinyoPiny and @SonnieRox (whom disappeared somewhere into thin air).
Needless to say we had such an awesome time that we all didn’t want it to end. The landscapes were so full of life and color and we visited a great number of places. I flipped a coin to figure what to post first the choice was Old Town.
The “Old Town” is reminiscent of the days when the Portuguese ruled Mombasa. Houses feature ornately carved doors and balconies, which are typical of coastal East African architecture. The town’s inhabitants are mostly of Arab origin; this is evident through the influence on the culture – especially in the architecture and language. Leven Steps, near the waterfront, is the site of an ancient well. The Old Town is well known for its ancient buildings, lavish art designs and shops that sell antiques and Kenyan souvenirs. This area of Mombasa is worth exploring on foot and takes no more than one day to see all the sights.
..Actually No you are NOT there. You are behind your screen and at the end of this post (My longest post so far)
Hope you’ve enjoyed the snippet.
Keep it locked because you know there’s defo more to come.
Shalom.
Is That You, Joanna?
How’dy do folks!
Sorry I know I’m one of the worst photo bloggers but forgiveness is a good thing no? Forgive me? Thanks mi amigos.
This is actually a belated post because i had planned it to go up last week but due to numerous ups and downs plus planning for a trip to Mombasa, I lost myself. Anywho, up it goes.
This post is about my good, young, beautiful pal (what the late MJ would sing is a P.Y.T) known as Joanna..anna..anna..anna..nna..na (That’s the echo effect).
I have known her for quite a while, going back to youth church. I was like alumni of the youth church then while she was still in high school. Let x be the years. Find y.
Anywho, She is quite a lively character if you get to know her pretty well.. tho’ her first impression is of a shy gal. (Is that TMI?)
My good friends @SteveKitots and @Truthslinger were the usual culprits for the ‘Thursday-Kitots-Studio-Light-Testing’ photo shoot that we regularly do, and Joanna agreed to be the model (To @SteveKitots joy).
We were also joined by @kenyanprincess1 whom we all learned a thing or two from about preparing for a model shoot (getting the poses, the look..etc.) and not to forget our boy @profkatts (my first studio shoot model) who was there comparing his poses to Joanna’s.
The result? See for yourselves because for me, I looked at the pics and simply asked myself “Is that you, Joanna?”
Atop K.I.C.C – Chapter 2: Landmarks & Lights
Hello folk!
As I had promised, Chapter 2 wasn’t too far away.
For the avid followers of the blog, Chapter 1 was about my induction (ahem..scratch that, Initiation) to shooting from a really lofty height. Went well and the post I’ll admit was more of a trial & error. The thing with HDR imaging is that it brings such a richness of tone that if not careful, they overwhelm the picture. In chapter 1, I was more of groping around trying to feel this and that, and by bracketing (merging) up to 6 images.
Chapter 2 is more about appreciating the Structures that have stood the test of time and we fondly use them as landmarks, be it in meeting that loose date, your cousin from Ocha (upcountry), or simply as a reference point as you lie on your mobile phone on where you actually aren’t.
This chapter is also basically about appreciating how the city looks from a vantage bird’s eye view at night. i have this fascination about lights to be honest, because they simply bring the city to life. Life even when the city is supposedly resting.
So i used fewer images (3-4) and concentrated on the structures even as I still struggle with refining my tone-mapping skills.
So without much ado, Ladies & Gents, here is Chapter 2.
End of Chapter 2.
Chapter 3 you ask? You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me! Tame yourselves!
Anyway Chapter 3 will be when I hike back up..as I now, being a fully-fledged member of the photo frat, induct a newbie 🙂
Hope ya’ll have enjoyed. Keep it locked. Blessed week.
One.
Atop K.I.C.C |Chapter 1: The Initiation
Ahoy me mateys! Arrrhh! (Feelin’ mighty piratey today!)
Thanks for checking up with me once again.
It’s a beautiful day, got mad psyche about life and also about this post.
Preamble:
I was busy lazing around when my fellow , I would add, very seasoned photographers @Truthslinger and @SteveKitots decided that the hour of initiation for us (read me, @dipwiz, @mwarv, @hmurimi, @profkatts, @skubi, @dianangila, etc, etc..) had drawn nigh. The test was to scale the tall tower that is K.I.C.C with nothing but our cameras and meet the masters at the top for the next step.
The Next Step:
This next step involved being blind-folded, chanting the photographers creed as one hopped on one leg in a circle as other members of the group shouted the alphabet-backwards. Not easy.
The last step was the trickiest but somehow I managed. It involved @Truthslinger @profkatts and @SteveKitots dressing in red hoodies with their backs against you. Then one would have to take images of the back of their heads and identify which hooded skull was who’s. Oh and the pics had to be in HDR. At this point @dianangila wilted and had to be whiisked home by @skubi.
Ok, on a serious note, I just wanted to dedicate this post to all the lovers of photography, and to those who appreciate the technique HDR.
Note: HDR (High Dynamic Range is basically a technique that involves merging a number of pics of the same subject shot under different exposures so as to create a ‘super-pic’ that captures most if not all of the highlights, shadows, contrasts and…yeah.)
I also dedicate it to those who appreciate the true beauty of Nairobi (especially at night)
Enjoy.
This next pic was very experimental. I merged 3 pics of the plane descending to give the effect of shadowing..the rest..I donno!
That’s it for Chapter 1. Keep it locked for Chapter 2.
Blessings & Spread the word.
Peace.
Picture? Perfect. 