.a good beginning.

.the view from Mount Muizenberg.

The first week of PhotogenX lecture is now complete! Basically, most of the week was spent learning about the more technical aspect of Photography. We had teaching from Suzi Childers, the Co-Leader of the PhotogenX Round the World program. It was such a blessing to have had teaching and insight from someone who is so experienced with Photography, and especially with using it as a ministry. I am excited to begin applying this new knowledge to the pictures I take.

It is a great experience to be living here at the YWAM base in Muizenberg. There are so many people from so many nations. Our PhotogenX School is here, but in addition to our school, there is also a Discipleship Training School and a Church Planting School taking place. One thing I love about YWAM is that you can meet people and hear perspectives from so many places. I’ve been talking with people from The Congo, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Brazil to name a few.

Outside of class time I’ve been able to explore a little bit around Muizenberg. I’ve gotten to see some penguins, which live nearby, hike some Muizenberg Mountain, and visit the waterfront of Cape Town. It is a very beautiful country, with people from many ethnicities and backgrounds, as well as very interesting landscapes and plant life as well.

.a boat docked in kalk bay.

This last Friday, we had a South African celebration. The South Africans put on for us a giant bar-b-que, which they call a braai. The lamb the cooked for us was delicious. I also learned a bit of Zulu dances afterwards. It was quite a good time.

This week our speaker will be Wally Nell. He is originally from South Africa, but he lived in Cairo, Egypt. I’ve been told he’ll be talking to us about Photojournalism. He sounds like a very accomplished photographer, as he’s received a fellowship in the Photographic Society of Southern Africa, as well as an award in the South African National Press Awards for sports photography. He has had his work published in National Geographic Traveler, Outside, New York Times, London Times, Outdoor Magazine, as well as some other publications.

Some Prayer Requests:

• That my mind will be able to process the knowledge that Wally will be sharing with us this week. It sounds like he has a wealth of information to share, and I want to do my best to retain all of it.

• Energy for all the activities throughout our days…class, work duties, small groups, etc.

• That I would be learning to apply the technical aspects of photography that we went over this week. It makes sense on paper, but it is sometimes a struggle to apply all the techniques as I’m taking pictures.