Lake Victoria from my front lawn

The view from my frontlawn overseeing Lake Victoria. Just preparing to enjoy some coffee.

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The Republic of South Sudan soon a reality

It's a strange feeling around Bor today. I was moving around town today wanting to take pictures of the place the last day while it is still within Sudan. Normally Fridays are very busy but today it was calm in a strange way. In 1 hours and 58 minutes The Repbublic of South Sudan is born. The last two days people have been happy, cheering and there is so much anticipation about what is about to happen. As I write this there are some random gunshots of light and heavier caliber. Shooting out the old Country. While driving around I did not take any pictures except the one above. I am in the town where the war that has lead to the new Country being born started. I have never been in a place where a country is about to be born. Its a strange feeling but a very happy one.People have struggled , fought and many have died. Elections have been done and it was clear. The people want separation and it is about to happen.  Something very big is about to happen. So big that I think few can actually imagine the historical importance and impact it will have on the people involved. I am glad to be here to see and feel it happening. The birth of The Republic of South Sudan.

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Original vs Bracketing for HDR

Above is the original as the Canon 5D Mark II took the picture and presented it as ready. Below is the bracketted version +-1 step taken through the HDR process in Photomatix Pro 4.0. I tried as much as possible to keep the original feel of the picture but as you can see there is more dynamic range within the picture. If you download both and then preview back and forth you will be able to see all the detailed differences.

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Rainy season is back in Jonglei

The heavy clouds closing in just after sun had set on the horizon with some nice reflections over our compound.

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Coffee-shop in Pajut

I was on a road assessment last week and the final place to reach was Pajut. After 4 days on the road getting stuck here and there in the mud we found the passable roads we needed. So we stopped for a nice cup of coffee before heading back to Bor.

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In between the clouds in the PAC750 heading to Bor from Juba. This during the rainy season. the Pilots trying to dodge the turbulent areas flying around the clouds that covered the area ahead.

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Sunet Sonaisali Island, Fiji

Sunset at Sonaisali Island Fiji. Sometimes the best colors come out after the sun is already gone down with the reflections being through the clouds to the ocean. The effects of the clouds cutting slices in the sunrays was very interesting. This picture is a 9 picture stepped Pseudo HDR. - 4 to + 4 EV. Taking the pictures in RAW helps making sure it is possible to maximize the use of the data available in the RAW file. It would be possible to bring out the stones to be visible more but I feel the picture would then not reflect what I saw.

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Beach on Mana Isand, Fiji

Photo on the north beach on Mana Island. Gone through the pseudo HDR process to get the full dynamic of the clouds.

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Jonlei - Cattle - Roads and Floods

While Jonglei is now in the dry-season since almost 2 months half the state has not been accessible even up to now. The above picture shows the reality in many places. The soil is dry with cracks all over but then flooded areas are seen.  In this particular spot a river was passing. However a road was built in the previous dryseason without any culverts to lead the water away. Effectively causing major flooding for villages along a 50 km stretch. Most have now dried up but pools like these with the soild present means no vehicles can pass. We managed to cross twice but after that the road was again too soft in the mud. The picture shows a typical day in jonglei with cattle being moved to the wetlands 150 km away. People, cattle, goats and cars trying to pass in the mud.

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Sunrise over pacific

Picture taken 10,000 Meters up after the sun has risen and is partially hiding in the clouds.

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Islands in Fiji

Photo taken from Mana Island.

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Mana Island Fiji

Spent the first day of 2011 on Mana Island , Fiji with my daughter. Crystal clear water and nice sunny place.

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Sonaisali Island sunset

The picture is taken looking away from the sunset. There was a big rain on the way over the island and the clouds are lit up by the sun behind the camera. Again a pseudo HDR photo. The colors due to the clouds covering part of the sun where very deep.

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Victoria Harbour , Hongkong by night

Photo is taken through the panorama window I had at InterContinental, Hongkong. The colors were just amazing.

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Sunrise over South Pacific 10,000 meters up in the sky

I am back from a one month holiday, needed to leave Africa for a while. Flew to Fiji in South Pacific and had not even reached when I could start taking pictures. This on is run through a pseudo HDR process to get the full range of the colors in the sunrise.

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