New Website

So after a year of procrastination, my website is finally up and running. For now it just has photo's that I have taken - but more of my work will be updated there shortly. 

Please visit -----> www.stefelino.com 

Flower Time

These beautiful "stone" succulents, or lithops are flowering. They are the size of your thumb nail, yet flower this incredible crisp yellow flower. They constantly split or divide in 2, each time flowering, and multiplying. Supposedly you can save the seeds from the flower - but somehow I have never managed to ever find them! For now I can stare at their beauty and watch them open and close as they sleep and wake up each morning. God is in the details.

Autumn

The first signs of autumn for me is when the Gladiolus's start to bloom together with the crisp golden leaves that start to shed from the giant chestnut tress throughout the city. This to me is bliss, a season of change which should always be welcomed with an open heart. I am going to enjoy every moment of autumn before the landscape does a turn, becoming dry and arid. 

Peter Magubane

Last week was the opening of the photographic exhibition of the legendary South African photographer, Peter Magubane at the FADA Gallery. His photos are of "Child Labour" captured through his brownie camera back in the 1950's. The photo's are of children who, willingly or non-willingly worked for money. As some of the photographs explained, were that boys in the city, generally willingly went out in search of work. They wanted to get away from their families and earn a living for themselves. Why? Most probably because of the genes imprinted within us, the 'man kind' instinct of fending for oneself? 

The boys working on the farms, or coal mines, were almost forced to… Peter Magubane went out in search to capture photo's for his country, through reading Drum, The Times, and Life, he wanted to be apart of history. When searching for these children working, he often offered them a place to stay, a better life than what they were currently living in. Those who did want a "better" life went with him, and he would take them home and feed them with a 1/4 load of bread and a carton of milk. This is the reach and extent Peter went to help these children where possible. 

Ït doesn't matter how expensive the camera, even if it is R20… because its not the camera that takes pictures, it is you. You are the one that chooses what picture you want to capture." Some amazing words for a amateur photographer like myself. This wise, eloquent man is remarkable. Not to forget is how through his photography did he become Nelson Mandela's personal photographer through the apartheid regime as well as through his presidency. 

Some amazing advice from the master himself, "Taking photo's is like a woman giving birth, it pushes you for more, 'I want more of this' is what you say" it becomes the next best addiction. "Today is the day to start working… Work hard - now!"

In & Out…

In & Out of Time - Maya Angelou

The sun has come.

The mist has gone.

We see in the distance...

our long way home.

I was always yours to have.

You were always mine.

We have loved each other in and out of time.

When the first stone looked up at the blazing sun

and the first tree struggled up from the forest floor

I had always loved you more.

You freed your braids...

gave your hair to the breeze.

It hummed like a hive of honey bees.

I reached in the mass for the sweet honey comb there....

Mmmm...God how I love your hair.

You saw me bludgeoned by circumstance.

Lost, injured, hurt by chance.

I screamed to the heavens....loudly screamed....

Trying to change our nightmares into dreams...

The sun has come.

The mist has gone.

We see in the distance our long way home.

I was always yours to have.

You were always mine.

We have loved each other in and out

in and out

in and out

of time.

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life

does go on, and it will be better tomorrow." (M. Angelou) Yet life is still has those unpredictable curve balls that it throws at you. Some you dodge, and others just smack you right in the face. But if its one thing that I have learn, is stand tall and proud, and have persistence. It will just get 'easier' along the way - and do not forget to have faith in Him... He is my strength, my light & my Savior.

Of Pride

The neighborhood of the Game Reserve and the presence, outside our boundary, of the big fame, gave a particular character to the farm, as if we had ten the neighbors of a great king. very proud things were about, and made their nearness felt.

The barbarian loves his own pride, and hates, or disbelieves in, the pride of others. I will be a civilized being, i will love the pride of my adversaries, of my servants, and my lover; and my house shall be, in all humility, in the wilderness a civilized place.

Pride is faith in the idea that God had, when he made us. A proud man is conscious of the idea, and aspires to realize it. he does not strive towards a happiness, or comfort, which may be irrelevant to God's idea of him. His success is the idea of God, successfully carries through, and he is in love with his destiny. As the good citizen finds his happiness in the fulfillment of his city to the community, so does the proud man find his happiness in the fulfillment of his fate. 

People who have no pride are not aware of any idea of God in the making of them, and sometimes they make you count that there has ever been much of an idea, or else it has bee lost, and who shall find it again? They have got to accept as success what other warrant to be so, and to take their happiness, and even thor own selves, at the quotation of the day.

They tremble, with reason, before their fate.

Love the pride of God beyond all things, and the pride of your neighbor as your own. the pride of lions: do not shut them up in zoos. The pride of your dogs: let them not grow fat. Love the pride of your fellow-partisans, and allow them no self-pity.

Love the pride of the conquered nations, and leave them to honor their father and mother. 

Blixen, K. Out In Africa. First Published 1954, Penguin England. 223, 224.

Soul Cleansing

I step onto the beach this fine morning. I pray that with each wave that washes over me I am able to release all hurt and anger within me. Wash it away; out of my soul. Fill me up with only goodness, love and life. I stand alone and I am perfectly at peace with this (idea) - for now...

Day of Reconciliation

An unexpected trip I decided to go on with my best friend who is like a sister with me, brought me to this place. We glided into King Shaka, and a short drive we were here in the north coast: Zinkwazi. A lot of change has happened in my life in the past couple months where I have been left feeling mixed emotions: sadness, anger, hurt, depression, hate... This trip is exactly what I needed at this moment in time. It has been so good for me to 'forgive and forget' however this is harder done than said. But it was perfect timing, with this trip and that the day I arrived, the beginning of my trip stared on the Day of Reconciliation (16th December). I have asked for guidance from Him how to do all of this... How to reconcile the past... Everyday is a step forward, and step closer to my sanity, peace and 'normality' - I welcome it with arms wide open.

Faith

I'm sitting on a moss covered bench in a secret garden at the 111 year old St. Peter Anglican Church in Melville. I feel so at peace. The door to the church is locked - that is fine, perfect - I would have not found this secret bench. There is music blaring in the distance - something that would have irritated me much, but the water trickling down the fountain behind me is calming. EXCATLY what I need. It's year end. My head is in a complete spin. Much change has happened, and I think I have finally lifted my heels that are so pain-stakingly digging in the dry earth everyday. I feel close to Him. At home. Beas, insects, buzzing, birds, pitter - patter, vroom... 

The air is fresh from the newly wet garden. So fresh I can smell the jasmine, the voluptuous roses, the soil and some other sweet smell I cannot think of right now... It will come.

Lord I pray for guidance, hope and humility, as I sit blissfully here upon You. 

Tropical Summer

This past weekend was a crazy one. Filled with tons of emotions, fun, laughter & tears. Something that I was not expecting, because all that I longed for was just reading in my bed. It was a surprise to be summoned out of bed by my mom… I took her to one of my (our) favorite pizza places in the whole of Jozi - Ant Cafe on 7th Street, Melville. We shared a delicious Italian pizza, and gobbled it before it even hit the table. The scene inside was just perfect. The moodiness in the air, the light, the time of day, and the atmosphere. We will be back my mom has demanded. And with that so will a bottle of wine beside us :-)

Room-mate

I wake up to this sight every morning - bliss. I especially love that it is summer and that by the time i wake up the sun is beading through my blinds, just asking me to open them. I love my space - my room. Its a 'pokey' 8 x 5m space, but it is something that I could live in the rest of my life. I do not need more than this. The past few years i have seen a transformation in myself. Moving from this crazy obsessed materialistic world, to something which is more grounded, down to earth and simpler. My priorities are much different now. I'm a big boy, so I keep getting told… But life is still hard, and this space is what I admire, I love. Theres nothing here. Almost symbolically like myself. Theres bricks, motar, plaster and paint. Nothing fancy. Just bare, plain, naked. What you see is (almost) what you get…

Daisy Delight

Summer is finally here, which brings a sense of happiness and smiles to my face. A very dramatic season in terms of all the different moods it plays out. Tonight is another moody night with silent lighting on the horizon, I sit here on my 'zebra' stripped couch fittingly placed by my bedroom window as I stare into the nights abyss. I should be happy and fulfilled - but I am not... Something is picking at my door - inside I'm scared, hurt, angry and confused.

Tomorrow is a new day and with it brings the light that I seek on a daily basis. Something that fills me with life, together with all other living organisms out there that roam this beautiful place.

Lord bring into the light what is in the dark, protect me and let my light shine.

A Red Affair

Therere is nothing better than a nice cup of plunger coffee. Red is a colour that I have in my bedroom - do not ask me why, I guess it just happened, but maybe it's because of the warm and love I get from it?

Lost Love

There are things on life we can never predict. Some come as shock, other with joy and surprise and some with great deep sadness. But such is life - this is change is one of the most beautiful actions in life. You can either ignore it or run with it. Running with it as fast as your legs can carry or go. However not everything seems crystal clear, so baby steps are needed at first - I'm crawling at the moment, with uncertainty of what is around the corner, but at least I'm in the forward motion, slowly in Gods care and grace. Slow, careful, so I can hear and appreciate his every move - for me, for MY LIFE. Time will pass and like the egg, the circle of life will continue, majestically, beautifully, uninterrupted as it has been doing for millennia.

Lord I pray for wisdom and understanding - and I pray for the strengthening and renewing of my mind. Amen.

Change

I was sitting romantically by myself watching the drama of this boring coffee shop that I so much love and hate. CHANGE: is what it's suppose to be! Change is good so I'm told... Change in seasons, change all around me. Change, change, change with pocket change. Together with it comes a form of resistance! GET OUT! Now, where's the exit? Follow the signs! Think and tap into that creative energy that looks, looms within you - that is screaming; softly, gently! L.O.V.E

Catastrophe!

This cute little thing, is not all good looks - but the other night brought in the largest rat from the veld it could find! It was all blood, gore and guts over our lounge carpet! Thanks Mika! Cute little girl of mine...

Coffee?

The power had been out for several hours and now well into the morning. I needed my fix of caffeine. What better way than to brew fresh coffee on a cold winters morning in your fire! How innovative - I could think of nothing better!

Faith aka Mama

She had the Faith to come to the back door of the house on a stormy summers night with her two kittens, and Charles took them in with open arms. Now she has become the Mama of the house - always there for love and hugs, tears and laughter. She is my other 'Mama'. I love you!

Orange Juice

There is nothing better in this world than a freshly squeezed glass of OJ! Me loves! Another great thing about winter :)

Winter

Winter is here - there are 3 things I love about winter; 1) the crisp perfect blue skies, 2) the crispness in the air the tingles your skin and 3) the amazing sunsets that mark the close of each day. There are only a few weeks left till the longest night of the year, and I can't wait!