Ideas to rebrand Africa

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Vogue Italia is running a campaign to come up with innovative African solutions as the continent expands rapidly. They mention a few examples of successful and innovative ideas. Africa Knows gets a mention for photojournalism. Check out the article Ideas to rebrand Africa. An excerpt is below.

 

Is it possible to work and invest in Africa by launching long-term projects that go beyond charity and aid? Is it really possible to create work, jobs and opportunities that can spark off a virtuous cycle, one created not just by charitable projects but by concrete initiatives that harness the history and tradition of the continent’s different countries? And if so, how?

 

What are the factors that will change our image of Africa, the clichés and stereotyped perceptions, replacing them with a new face for the continent, one that people can believe and invest in?

 

…

 

Just think of Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, which is one of the biggest in the world, or Ushahidi, the grass-roots journalism platform which was created in Kenya and has now spread around the world – “Africa’s gift to Silicon Valley”, as the New York Times has called it. Then there’s Africa Knows, the project that aims to bring together the best of the African photojournalism and writing to tell – from the inside – the diverse history of the continent, as well as INYE, the African response, manufactured in Nigeria, to the iPad.

 

It’s a revolution where not only film and technology, but also fashion, art and webdesign can be powerful weapons in helping the African continent develop.

 

Fashion High Tea

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The Fashion High Tea is a high profile event for those that love fashion and everything that comes along with it…but towards a good cause. This year’s event was held at the Zen Gardens on 11th February and the proceeds from it will be going towards supporting children suffering from cancer.

From the dashing guests in attendance, to the well set out venue, to the delectable meals made available, the event was a success from my take. The fashion show from designers Katungulu Mwendwa, Kerubo Nyaribo, Rushma and Rita Gehlot topped off the evening.

Below are some of the images I managed to take while in attendance. Hope you enjoy.

How to sell royalty free photography

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Most people think of professional photographers and how they make their money and the first thing that comes to their minds is portrait photos. This isn’t the only way as most make their money through event photography with the most frequent without a doubt being weddings.

Making money through photography doesn’t stop there as there is also stock photography. By just following a few simple guidelines after finding the appropriate stock site to submit your photos to, you can start cashing in on that extra money you may need. They key tools for this, a DSLR camera and the eye for photography.

Rule #1: Get pictures that are marketable.

The reason this is certainly rule number is because it is the most important point to selling stock photography. Think about it. Would you pay money for any basic photo? Probably not. This is true for almost all folks who buy stock photos. You have to think like the buyer.

People who search stock photos are looking for specific concepts. Photos with individuals in business settings generally sell well. Pictures of consumers in successful postures is actually recognizable props can also be very popular. There is one photo which has shown up almost everywhere online. It is an effective picture of a young woman sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and her laptop on them, her hands are raised just as if in victory, and she has a huge smile on her face. If one takes this sort of image and submits it to some stock photography website, they would probably be cashing cheques on a weekly basis.

Other images that sell well are snap shots of landmarks. Recognizable places/ features like Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the Taj Mahal in India, Table Mountain in South Africa, the Pyramids in Egypt and any other other such well known places can do very well if your picture is that much different from all the others. Find an effective way to stand out from the crowd.

Rule #2: Grab the keywords right.

It really wouldn’t be possible sell an image if no one can actually see it, regardless of how good it actually is. When people seek out stock photography, they generally type in certain keywords to look for that which suits the specific purpose they want it for. Consequently, when distributing your photos, be sure to have a wide variety of keywords that are connected to your images. The six simple problems of “Who? What? For what reason? When? Where? How?” should help in figuring out the appropriate keywords for your photos.

Rule #3: Zero noise.

Even though you can make lots of revenue with stock photography, competition is surely stiff. Your images must remain technically correct. One of several things that will result in your picture being denied is excessive image noise. Before submitting any pics, make sure to check each photo at 100% magnification or even higher. In most cases when there is a small amount of noise, you may correct it through some image processing software. If this noise is disproportionate, discard the image.

Rule #4: Know the legal disadvantages.

If you are going to submit pictures of men and women whose faces are recognizable, you must have a model release from each one in the snapshot. Stock photography companies are really strict about this specific rule.

Things to Consider When Heading on a Kenya Safari

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Safari is a Swahili word meaning journey. First thing that comes to your mind whenever you see this word is the site of the best African safari holidays located in exotic tropical locations or that drive through the dusty wild. Kenya is a country situated on the eastern coast of Africa and apart from being beautiful, it offers the best expedition experiences. Kenya has 59 national parks and about 70 lavish safari lodges that would definitely make you enjoy your trip.

Kenya presents you memorable African safari holidays because it really is acknowledged for its best tourist attractions. It’s a household towards the common Masai Mara game reserve that is open all through the year and is best known for The Great Wildebeest Migration, which is considered one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World”. Nowhere in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the wildebeest migration. Over two million animals migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya during July through to October. The Mara Reserve is inhabited by the lion species, rhinos, zebras, elephants along with other wild beasts.

The climax from your trip to this unique place would be a visit to the sandy beaches around the Mombasa coast in Kenya. Here, you can either decide to bask and get your skin kissed under the sun, go swimming or even involve yourself in the different water sports available at the beaches for a fee.

Enjoying a Safari holiday inside Kenya is one of those dream holidays you’ll never forget. So you want to make sure you can be prepared and read up in what to take before you head to Africa. In this post we will view some simple advice you want to consider before your trip of a lifetime.

Clothing – As you know, you possibly wouldn’t desire to be dressed in your designer suit when heading out for a hot and dusty safari. Neutral colors and durable, breathable elements are recommended. As the mornings and evenings shall be cooler than midday, layers are recommended for you to adjust to the varying heat. Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses are very important to take with as it will help keep you safe from the strong heat in Kenya.

Money and Language – The state languages of Kenya are the Swahili and English languages. Many of the local people understand English but it wouldn’t harm to have a Swahili phrase book so that you can play around with a few phrases in Swahili with the local people.

As for money, the currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling. At the period of writing this article, 1 Sterling Pound was worth around 140 Kenyan Shillings and 1USD worth 90 Kenyan Shillings. This however, is always changing but the figures gives you an idea of what to be working with.

Weather - Like most countries, the weather is determined by the months you visit. However , Kenya generally has warm days with the evenings getting chilly. To know the ideal time of year to go, frequently look at the average temperature and rainfall charts.

Photography – Everyone wants to remember their safaris for the rest of their lives and for that reason, taking top quality photographs is vital. Make sure you discover how to work your digital camera before heading to foreign countries. Read up on the best settings that you can make use of.

You should be sure to have proper cases to keep your equipment in, extra memory cards in case yours become full and straps to assure your camera is safe when exercising. You could even consider carrying a spare camera should yours becomes spoiled. Carrying a laptop with could also be a smart idea to make your daily photo back-ups.

Always ask the before photographing the people. Many would be very happy to have you take their photo but some might expect some pay in return.

You might spend a lot of your time taking photographs but a good set of binoculars would be useful for taking a look at the animals during your safari.

If you haven’t already, get to planning that superb holiday you’ve been wanting to all year. Be sure to enjoy your trip and don’t be afraid to take as many photos as you can!

 

 

Nature Photography in Africa

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When I take a picture, I don’t wonder if the photo will sell. I am looking at the subject as well as scene and seeking what moves me. To me, nature photography is simply not about selling but capturing an instant and sharing that magical moment with others. I could be shooting a rolling stream or a beautiful bird. It could be organic textures or lines formed in nature or an animal perfectly formed by nature.

How can you bring out the personality of an animal when photographing it? You can know when one is sick, hungry, fearful, pleased or enjoying itself. If you can capture these moments and communicate them through your photographic lens, then you are successful as a photographer. In Africa, there are plenty of experiences and locales where you can become one with nature and find exotic species of animals to photograph.

For those without the opportunity to travel to far off places to view these animals, landscapes is another wonderful subject to indulge in. The African landscape is varied from the snow capped Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya to the low coastal plains bordering the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. The African night sky is one of the most impressive across the world. Deserts, forests and plains dot the whole continent with a number of countries possessing all the major geographic features one can want to document. To wildlife photographers, Africa is unique. We have blue skies, extensive game parks and reserves, wilderness, and deserts containing more wildlife.

So take your camera, leave the concrete jungles behind your and get to experience the real Africa. In most urban areas, an hour drive in any direction ought to put you in an experience where you are one with nature and ready to capture the next magical moment for the world to enjoy.

Footprints In Your Heart

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Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.

Anger is only one letter short of danger.

If someone betrays you once, it is his fault;
If he betrays you twice, it is your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas,
Average minds discuss events,
Small minds discuss people.

He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses much more;
He who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
But beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.

Friends, you and me.
You brought another friend,
And then there were three.

We started our group,
Our circle of friends,
And like that circle -
There is no beginning or end.

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.

That’s why it’s called the present.

Eleanor Roosevelt

I knew I loved you before I met you

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A mother’s breast
A child’s rest
For comfort or food
Anywhere, in any mood
A newborn baby or an older child
Just for a sip, or for a long while
Black babies, white and asian too,
latino, indigenous be it many or few
All have one thing they want and adore
Milk from their mother, ever more, ever more

Google Photography Prize

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Great art deserves great exposure. Google think so too and are teaming up with  Saatchi Gallery, London, to offer student photographers around the globe a chance to showcase their work on the worldwide stage through the Google Photography Prize .

This will give students around the world a chance to showcase their photos on Google+, as well as have their work exhibited on the world wide stage. If you are a student aged 18 years or older then this contest is for you. You stand the chance to have your work exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery, London and go on a once-in-a-lifetime photography trip to a destination of your own choice with a professional photography coach.

Google is challenging you to come up with photographs that will make them laugh, cry, listen, hop on a plane, start a conversation, or start a revolution. Process is simple, pick from one of the 10 categories below and submit up to 8 of your best shots;

  • Me : Show  images that best capture you — moments with friends and family, dancing with your dog, or your favorite pair of beat-up sneakers
  • Food: Shots that tantalize — from mouthwatering ingredients to dishes to die for.
  • Travel : Take us there with photos of your travels that give us a sense of place and culture.
  • Fashion : Here’s your chance to stroll the catwalk and reveal your fashion sense.
  • Action : Action takes many forms—whether it’s the raw speed of a racetrack or the gentle ripple of a waterbug on a still pond.
  • Street : Capture the urban vibe with big city boulevards, tree-lined avenues, or the street where you live.
  • Sport : Bring your A game. Show us the passion, excitement, and athleticism of sport.
  • Night : Keep us in the dark or light up the night. Any natural night view is eligible.
  • Sound/Silence : What does sound look like? Can you show us in a photo?
  • Point of View: Document what is happening now – from protests to celebrations.

The Contest begins at 08:00:00 A.M. Pacific Time (PT) Zone in the United States on 10 November 2011 and ends at 11:59:59 P.M. PT on January 31, 2012

For more information about the competition, visit the Google Photography Prize webpage

11Eleven Project

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Most of us on Fridays are usually planning for a night out at the movies, partying or some just want a quiet evening indoors. On unique dates though, wherever we are, we always log into our social media accounts and share our experiences. 11/11/11 will be no different…well not quite. This year, the 11Eleven project will be happening and it has been dubbed ”A day in the life of the World” for charity purposes. We at Africa Knows are giving our support to the 11Eleven Project and are rallying to have our friends participate in it. Here is a brief of what the project is about.

 On 11/11/11, humanity will be invited to participate in the largest collaborative storytelling event in human history. On this auspicious day, anyone in the world who has access to any recording device will be asked to capture their lives through film, photography, music, sound and text. It’s quintessentially “a day in the life of the world” told by the people of earth.

Post the date, participants will submit their creations to the 11Eleven Project team, who will then filter and curate the work and turn it into a few different projects, including a book series, world music collection and a documentary film. The narrative of the project will be guided by 11 key topics given to participants to inspire their creativity. These topics are:

  • Faith
  • Beginnings
  • Heart Break
  • Make a Wish
  • Darkness
  • Beauty
  • Routine
  • Water
  • Courage
  • Play

The last component to be released will be the feature-length documentary film. It will be
screened on the 21st September 2012 – International Day of Peace. The film will be made available to all people – for free – and will be shown in public spaces such as universities, urban screens, town halls and community spaces.

All the profits raised from the project will go to supporting charities aligned with the United
Nations Millennium Development Goals – these charities include the World Wildlife Fund, The Hunger Project, Save The Children and Global Voices. Currently the 11Eleven Project is available in multiple languages, with traction in 119 countries and holds partnerships with 131 universities. The entire project is being run through volunteer passion, bringing people from all walks of life together, to unite the world on 11/11/11.

A major objective of the project is to raise significant amounts of money and awareness for some of the greatest problems currently facing humanity. These include hunger, environmental sustainability, gender equality, poverty, education and maternal health. The 11Eleven Project is an artistic venture that aims to explore our di erences and recognise our similarities.

Its purpose is to bring individuals together, lift man made boundaries, shatter misconceptions and open a universal narrative that brings about positive communication and pro active engagement between all people.

For a PDF download of the brief:11_onepage

Here are 11 easy steps in PDF format to make the project a smooth process: 11 steps to the 11Eleven Project

Visit the 11Eleven Project website www.11elevenproject.com for more information.