2013 - Changes and Adventures

Focus on the journey, not the destination. 

Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. Greg Anderson

Creative Escapes is 16 years old next year and we have thoroughly enjoyed presenting workshops in the Eastern Free State, lectures in Johannesburg and exploring the world with photographers and enthusiastic travelers.  We have certainly focused on the journey while continuing the activities we so enjoy.

We’ve visited India, Morocco and Kenya and have thousands of images to remind us of exciting journeys and the people we have shared special moments with. Namibia remains a favourite destination but Southern Africa probably houses our most treasured memories.

In 2013 we intend to take a sabbatical from most organised tours but will include our annual ‘pilgrimage’ to Kenya. How can we do without another thousand wildebeest, the big five and of course our other family in the Masai Mara.

We will be exploring new destinations, visiting familiar places and simply editing slides and lectures.

David will re-look at his book for beginner photographers for the remarkable ‘e-format’. His images are being marketed through international websites and so our tours and workshops will become, in many ways, ‘virtual’. Elizabeth is redesigning our website. Our newsletter becomes monthly and should you wish to receive notes on photographic tips, venues and tours please. You will be sent an invitation to 'sign-up'.

 Coucal - Masai Mara

Heron - Amboseli

David’s images can be viewed in the gallery and are available to purchase.

Rose Cottage in the Eastern Free State is an ideal venue to hire for photographic excursions in March and April and for short visits into Lesotho. 

Important Information:

Kenya Masai Mara Tour

Date: 17 – 24 August 2013

Costs to be confirmed - but still the best price available 

Kenya and the Masai Mara

Kenya always welcomes with surprises and delights. The early morning arrival is always a good wake up, especially if we arrive and are taken immediately to savour the delicious Kenyan coffee that is the prize.

Our flight to the Mara was fraught with the ever anxious moments when the photographers arrive with equipment impressive enough to 'look professional' and therefore bulky enough to fill the whole plane. One would think that the airline would be used to tourists who are also photographers.

However, our group of Canadians, who are avid photographers, which means lenses large enough to cause concern [think Bazookas] and we boarded the plane at Wilson with camera equipment and backpacks intact. Our arrival in the Mara is like a jamboree with great hugs, back-slapping and laughter we are welcomed back as long-lost friends. David and I are made to feel like return family and 'Mama Safari' takes up her role again.

The game viewing was spectacular as expected. Lion and baby [baby] cubs, elephant and rhino, cheetah and leopard all did their [almost] daily parade. The group who ballooned saw from the air all but lion, which they almost swung into as they drove to breakfast. That was before 9h00!

It rained a great deal but as always we enjoyed the companionship of the group filled with fun and nonsense.

As always we visited a Masai village where we were entertained to a botanic lecture on how to use various local plants in our daily lives. Most of them required boiling, drinking and then a long hike to remain behind a bush for a length of time. Nothing I would like to try soon.

I also visited a village on the Ololoolo Hills and met the three wives and 20 children of James. A wonderful and friendly day.

Photographs did you say? Yes David took about 6000 images, most of them fantastic. I am only too pleased that I don't have to edit them.

We will be putting them on our website soon, but I add a few bird images for you to enjoy.

Kohraan

Vulture

Mara 2012 here we come

'Off to the Mara!' I don't think that any answer to the question, 'Where are you going?' could make me smile more.

Yes we eave for our ninth trip to Kenya on Friday night. We fly out on the same Kenya Air flight that lands at midnight and does a simple turn-around. We arrive early Saturday morning in Nairobi and will be in the Mara and Kichwa Tembo by lunch time. Modern travel is amazing.

In between all that we have to decide finally which lenses to take, should we add a warmer jacket, how many books to upload on the Kindle.

More importantly, we hear that the crossings are remarkable, lions cubs are around and the countryside  is looking wonderful.

We have a small group and once they travel from the Mara to Zanzibar, we explore Amboseli and Tsavo with Custom Safaris.

I will post photographs if I can but can't promise a thing!

Hopefully we will see a leopard or two and certainly a crossing or more, but in the meantime, here is a sunset with vultures.

Vuture Sunset

Namibia 2012

There is nothing nicer than going away to a favoured country. David and I are ready packed for our 2012 tour to Namibia.

Of course we have all our favourite bits and pieces packed including 'finger-free' gloves which can be used with camera and iPad, changing lenses and painting.

We travel to Swakopmund, the Skeleton Coast, Demaraland and Etosha which will be a trip of adventure and nostalgia as the last time we went to Etosha was when our children were young, as were we.

Desert Find

I can't wait to see the shots that David comes home with. Anything from mist from the sea, desert elephants, dunes and elephants. Like a lucky dip, we can never be sure of the subject matter, but of course the 'shots' will be beautiful.

April Autumn Wonder

We had a small group with us this April. The participants were treated to a wonderful show of autumn colours, the best in 20 years we feel.

David 'discovered' a new photographic venue where he enjoyed hours of photographic opportunities. The skies were clear. The trees magnificent. The opportunities boundless. Another great [photographic] weekend in the Eastern Free State.

A few of David's superb images

 Reflections

 Row after Row

 Blue Skies, Golden Poplars

 Golden Trees

 The Avenue

 Golden Sentinels

 Golden Road

Herding sheep

Autumn Weekend Fouriesburg 20-22 April

We head off to Fouriesburg again this coming weekend for another great time photographing autumn colours.

When is photographing the golden colours enough? Well never it seems, as the colours are always splendid and the trees gift us every time we experience this gilded season. The promise of winter with a tinge of Spring?

Autumn Trees in Mist

Of course there is always the chance of misty valleys and hidden pockets of poplars in early morning light.

Please contact us if you would like to join us, David who knows the surrounding area well and will help you take that 'ideal shot'.

Weekend Workshop - Cosmos

We still have space for the Cosmos weekend workshop on 16 - 18 March in the Eastern Free State.
Floral and Landscape Photography.

We expect: Clear skies, fields of cosmos, good food and many hours of good photography.

Floral Impression

Photograph by David Moore

Do join us.