Learning how to take good pictures

A few weeks ago, Andre brought home a Canon G11 camera. He felt that his SLR was too big and heavy to carry around on our touristy outings here in Switzerland when we just want to take some snap shots, so that's how the G11 got to move in with us.

Andre has spent a lot of time reading up about photography, practising and teaching himself, learning through trial and error by taking hundreds and hundreds of photos.

And he's taken some nice ones.

In SA he used to spend a lot of time doing bird photography. On our honeymoon we spent some hours in a canoe following Malachite Kingfishers!

Twice he has tried explaining to me about f-stops and ISO and aperture but I'm not a good auditory learner. Not at all. I learn through doing. And doing it myself. Don't tell me. Don't even show me. I wont understand and I'll loose interest. I get impatient because I don't have a clue what he's talking about. Then I just say "Okay" and I snap away in my own way. Like this:

But now I've decided I want to really learn how to use this new camera. It can do much more than just snapping randomly. And I'm going to teach myself. Well I'm going to try. I'm going to do some reading so I can also understand about f-stops and light and all that. And I'm going to start with reading this blog here by the Pioneer Woman. I love her blogs, the way she writes, and her photos. You should go check out her blog. Not just the photography sections, go read her actual daily blog. I haven't actually read any of her photography posts but tonight I'm starting. This will be my new project and hopefully soon I will be able to post some of my own good photos.

Dinner with friends

Friday night we had a great dinner with friends at our house. I mean flat. I'm still used to saying house. We drank wine and chatted until the early hours of the morning. Here they are:

But what I really want to show you is the biscuits I received from these good friends.

Aren't they beautiful?

And they are just so delicious.

Each made up of many different layers and each one different.

I think I'll go have another one now!

Räbeliechtli

Last night André and I took the train to Richterswil, about a 45 min train ride down the Zurich See. A very full train ride. We knew we must be on the right train if the rest of Zurich is on it too! There were lots and lots of people.

Every year on the second Saturday of November Richterswil holds the biggest Räbeliechtli festival in Europe. Turnips are hollowed out and a candle lit inside.

There were lots of little children with their turnip lanterns and huge beautiful floats made of little turnip lights. The whole town is decorated with these lanterns. Really every windowsill and balcony. At 18:30 last night there was a loud gun shot (or something which made a big bang) and all the lights went off. All of a sudden it was pitch dark and all you could see were the lights from the turnip lanterns. Bands began playing and the parade started. We were lucky to have good spots to stand and watch the parade. It was a bit rainy and windy at times but I'm really glad we went. It was magical.

Here are some pictures Andre took and then also a video. You can also view the video by clicking here if it won't play at the end of this blog.

This is what we saw when we came out the station:

Little kids with their turnip candles.

Aren't they sweet...

But wait, look more closely, there's a little devil amongst them! Bored with just walking carrying a turnip, this little dude had some fun blowing out the candle of the girl in front of him. Repeatedly. The teacher kept lighting it and he kept blowing it out when he thought no one was looking. But ha! We got you on camera little man!

And then there were the floats. Really impressive.

Hey, hey, Vicky!

People were watching from their windows.

After the parade we strolled through the town. I definitely want to come back to Richterswil in the day time to see this town.

Räbeliechtli - Richterswil 2009 from Anneliese Mostert on Vimeo.

Watch out for the Polizei

Today I was on my way home from work, changing trains at HB like I do everyday. Except today as I got on the train I was welcomed by nine members of the Swiss Polizei. They stood at the entrance of the very first carriage. I was curious and wanted to see what's happening so found a seat right in front where I can watch them.

As soon as the train left the station they started walking towards the back of the train. The second last person, a lady stopped by my seat and said "bkflicnlsdh bitte." (There was one more quite large police man behind her for back up.) The lady opposite me took out her train ticket so I did the same, even though I wasn't so sure that this was what they wanted to see. She smiled and said "Nein, sdjkdcijnjsdn Ausweiss?" So I tried showing my other ticket: my brand new permit. Yep, that's what she wanted. They were checking everyone's ID's, making sure you were legal.

After reading my permit thoroughly she handed it back. Phew. What would I have done if this happened 3 weeks earlier?! I wouldn't want to be caught without identification, they were carrying guns...

So Swiss-expats, you've all probably heard that you're supposed to carry some form of identification with you at all times because you can be stopped in the street and asked for it. I know of some people who just don't bother carrying it with them. But I recommend you rather do.

I'm really glad this happened today, because if it didn't I would probably soon started leaving my permit at the bottom of a drawer somewhere at home. That's what I'm like. It's safer at home you know. But now I'll make sure I have it with me every day!

For those still waiting for their permits (like we did for 6 months..) I suggest you carry your passport and that piece of paper you get from the Gemeinde which says that you have applied for your permit. We never thought of doing this and I'm just very grateful we weren't checked before now!

Andre said I will be "put in a cage in Basel" for taking photos of the Polizei and their guns. But I had to show you some proof!

Weekend away in Germany: Part 2

Still in Germany, on Sunday after breakfast we went for a walk around the Echinger See (lake). Andre took some great autumn pictures.

Oh this one I took because that's Andre on the bicycle over there.

Weekend away in Germany

Since we now have our permits and are able to come and go as we like we drove to Münich, Germany this weekend to visit my mom and stepdad. We had some traffic and road works on the way there and it took us 4 1/2 hours to drive there on Friday afternoon. Coming back on Sunday we had a better drive and it took and hour less than on Friday.

It was sooo good to get away for the weekend and especially to spend it with my mom and Jürgen. Even though I never lived with my mom since she's been in Germany (We lived in Cape Town) it does feel like going home. Partly because I've visited there so many times over the past years but mainly because it's just going home to mom.

(Excuse my husband, he just got a new camera...)

I didn't want to see any sights this weekend. I just wanted to see Münich again. It's been three years since I've last been in Germany. And Andre is always ready for shopping which he did!

Andre was looking for a new winter coat:

Haven't found the right one yet...

We walked around the Viktualienmarkt which is a big food market in Münich which is open every day. It was busy. The whole of Münich was busy.

Halloween pumpkins and chillies at the Viktualienmarkt.

This is a Maibaum. I don't know the whole story about this but they put them up on the 1st of May each year. It is one whole very long tree trunk!

We had a divine dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Münich. I can't remember the name of the restaurant now but it was actually the Japanese word for divine.

This is my starter which was chicken and prawn fried in this dough. With sweet Thai chilli sauce. I love sweet Thai chilli sauce. So good! We also had some sushi and then I had a perfect chicken curry.

This my mom:-)

We watched halloween from the restaurant. Saw many dressed up kids pass by. It was my first halloween because in SA it isn't celebrated at all. I'd love to one day experience it in the US.

Tomorrow I'll continue with the weekend. Andre took some beautiful autumn pictures which I'll post.

Swine flu vaccination

Very interesting video. I'm not sure what to make of it or how much is true. But I'm not having that vaccination.

http://vimeo.com/7298827

BELL TOLLING for the Swine Flu (CAMPANAS por la gripe A) subtitled from ALISH on Vimeo.