Taranaki wave classic
The warm up day. The Friday before the competition started was THE day. Klaas had taken the day off. We arrived in Pungarehu in Taranaki fairly early in the morning. And that´s when the ocean told us:
“Back into your cage you bragging Dutchies!”
Man o man, that´s a different ballgame. The first time in my life I had muscle ache from being tense, instead of exercise. I had only windsurfed for one and a half hour and my muscles were completely cramped. Ah well, it was not only from being tense, you know, after surfing a wave of 300 m you do get a bit tired. Especially if it´s mast high. And it´s clean. And it´s sunny. And there are only 5 people out.
And as Klaas knows now… If you get to close to biting dogs, you´ll get bitten. Klaas left the waves often too late and got washed by the rest of the set. It was all worth it. These were the most beautiful waves we have ridden in our lives so far. Without a doubt. Although Wellington has living up to its full potential recently! Cross offshore near mast high conditions with some friends out, ah well, better than working ay!
Back to the Taranaki wave classic. We were happy to score that day. The rest of the weekend was quite quiet windsurfing-wise, but was heaps of fun fun-wise! In a group of about 90 windsurfers we´ve been driving around a bit looking for the right surf or windsurfspot. On Monday there was finally enough wind to hold the competition, but in minimal wind conditions, but in great waves. We both didn´t do really well, wind from the right, light winds, too many sausages from the bbq (oh wait Merel not of course), had nothing to do with the party the night before, blablabla.
Photography
My (Merel) first photographic convention. To be honest, it was a bit of a long shot. I didn’t know what to expect, so I expected the worst. Old people, going on and on about photography, not being able to relate to somebody beside themselves. Dull workshops.
I even checked with one of my club mates if he was going, than there was at least one person I new.
Well, there were old people indeed, and they were going on and on about photography, but I really liked it, haha! There were also a lot of ‘younger’ people. And the workshops and fieldtrips were GREAT. Those of you who sometimes take a walk with a photographer know what it is like. You have to stop every second, because they want to take a picture of something ‘interesting’. Something you perceive as an old plastic bag for instance. Really annoying! Well frankly, for the photographer it is the same. Therefore it was such a great experience to go to a wildlife reserve and was left alone for 2,5 hours only to take pictures. WOW! Like a kid in a candy store!
They had organized a group of models who would walk around in bridal dresses, and would pose for you whenever you wanted. Bride at the pond, bride with flower, bride with the birds. I think some of the guys only have brides on their disk.
The photojournalism workshop was given by an elderly couple, which had been working together during their photojournalism career. They were lovely. They started with dive photography and they showed us some amazing shots alongside practical tips to write and shoot your own first article. Their working day is amazing. Packing for a good dive and explore the underwater world. Crazy!
I was a bit hesitant the first day with shooting the brides; shooting people close up in general. That was to change the next day with the workshop of Australian based wedding photographer Julie …. She was amazing! She chose three shoot locations and allocated three groups of brides (incl two goth brides and a fairy). The only thing we had to do was direct the brides and take up our camera’s. She was not specific on directions, but instead really encouraged us to find our own shots. She gave a free pass to try whatever you wanted to try and that was amazingly liberating. I think I got about a 1200 shots from that day. The workshop finished with a trash the dress shoot. Something she does with a lot of couples after the honeymoon. It is really about making fun in your pretty clothes, without bothering it getting dirty. After all, the wedding is long over.
Julie set up a setting with a lot of brides and grooms who would do a paint fight. Bazooka’s filled with paint were pointed at the beautiful dresses. Look at the pictures to see some results.
Painting
While exploring the depths of my own mind and motivation I decided to start a painting course. Together with five other ladies we take our first (or retake our first) steps in painting. This is really exciting and especially a good activity in which the conscious mind in not directing the orchestra. I love the Tuesday mornings at painting class. I’ll let you know more and maybe show some of my work (if it is good enough 
.
