2011-09-24 Phoenix Birthday Jol

I used to think photographers were just a bunch of happy snappers who stood around waiting for events to unfold so they could point and click with their cameras, go back to the office, download the pics they got onto a computer and hope they come across something interesting to add into an article!

After this weekend, spending some time behind the lens of my camera, yours truly had quite an awakening in this regard, because I realised that's basically what I do.

This weekend, however, was one of the first times I experienced the jol "from a distance", in a manner of speaking.

It was as if I was an outsider looking in on the world of the Biker Jol. I did not really feel as if I was part of the jol, even though I was...If that makes any sense?

Mainly this was because I  chose to use a "long" lens on my camera so that I could be further away from the subjects I was photographing. Now, before some of you get any ideas about sinister motives and whatnot...My reasoning behind this is the fact that I would rather take photographs of people being "natural", than ending with all these "posed", "let me see how I can pull my face for the camera" photos.






I also know that it feels wrong if I have to stand still and "smile for the birdie" while someonbe is trying to focus the camera and decide how much of your body needs to be in the picture! So, if people don't see you standing close to them, they tend to just carry on with what they were doing in the first place, giving you a more relaxed and natural photograph. Got it? Good!

Obviously, one has to be discerning when you take such photographs, because you don't want people to sue you afterwards for taking "compromising" photographs, so I applied my best judgement and the results can be seen in the album I posted on facebook. (I'm so proud of the fact that I didn't get any pictures with people's fingers up their noses, or something!

Part of the wonder of the day was watching the kids, and I am talking of those that actually qualify for this tag by virtue of the fact that they are still at school and not the way they act only, playing in the sand pit. The care-free attitudes. The laughter and unconditional trust in others. The belief that life was made for them to enjoy. Eish...No wonder the Bible says we have to have faith like little children!

Then, of course, there were also the bigger kids. You know? The ones that arrived on their own bikes, and would probably not be able to ride said bikes home at the end of the jol, because there was either not enough tyre left, or they just wouldn't be able to keep the bike upright long enough to make it out the gate!

But, then again, what is a jol without some smoke and mirrors? In the end, fun was had by all, even Bossie who had the misfortune of watching as his 'Busa blew a back tyre on the dyno at about 248km/h.

My first reaction was that it was a good thing it happened on the dyno and not on the way home! I know that Bossie likes to "give it some gas" when he gets on the highway with the 'Busa and apparently he had been approaching 300 the night before. As they say in the classics: "Someone up there likes him!"

Now here's a bit of something to think about...The tyre on the 'Busa had a plug in it, so how many of you still think that riding at speed with a plug in the tyre is a good thing? I must say that I am starting to have my doubts.

As I mentioned somewhere above, fun was had by all in the end and it is always nice to be among people that appreciate you, understand you and, above all, tolerate you...Can't wait fir the next jol to roll around, Smiley.