Chris Allan

Damn.. Sorry for the oversized images. Again.

Check out www.chrisallan.co.za for a more manageable set of images with the blog post.

All the best

Chris

Happy New Year everyone.

So 2011 was a cracker.

Here comes 2012.

In some ways I still feel as daunted by what lies ahead as a small child beholding his “Big School” from roadside curb outside for the first time. Armed only with a new school uniform (scratchy and over starched), and a lunch box (with brown sarmies bread wrapped in wax paper, and liquifruit), I feel horribly underequipped to take on the monster in front of me.

But as they say, “Every Journey…etc”

Upon inspection however, this year it appears that I have a little more than a tuppaware lunchbox packed in my schoolbag.

I am big now. I have an office. And a studio. In that studio are gizmos and gadgets that will help with vanquishing 2012! A safe place, with airconditioning, from which to launch sorties into the new year! So bring it on I say! I am ready!

Hope you are all well and as excited about the new year as we are.

Check out the pics of the development of the new Peppermintpix Studio, from grubby building site to the launch of the centre in Ballito called the Quarter. I also threw in a pic of an article in the local “The Ballito Magazine” about the Peppermintpix team and their tale.

Have a great one!

Chris

Braamfontein holds many special memories for me…

My folks owned an Art Supplies shop there once upon a time, and I still remember my first adventure in the city without adult supervision.

The Mission: Obtain 4 toasted cheese sandwiches from the Breadbasket 2 city blocks away from the shop.

Financing: probably R16- R20… it really was back in the day

Modus Operandi: North Star Tekkies

Potential Threats: about a bazillion rapidly moving cars and two streets to cross, odd looking city strangers and a habit of losing my way when confronted with an oversupply of distractions.

So hand in hand, two little boys set off into the big bad city with the promise of the oiliest toasted sandwiches ever made, injecting courage into every step. We made it back, sandwiches and all, heart racing and super proud of the achievement, and munched away, happily dripping cheese oil over the majority of the clothes we wore.

During the years that followed Braamfontein struggled a bit and became a little scary for suburbian folk. But now, more than 20 years later it is racing back and becoming a cool place to be with artists, musicians, boutique restaurants and galleries all taking up residence.

With a few more wrinkles and slightly more sophisticated tastes and addictions we visited a great new place in Braamfontein called Velo ( http://www.facebook.com/ulovevelo ) for cappuccino’s and fresh ciabatta sandwiches. The coffee was top class and deserved a second helping, while we either looked at the great photography on the walls, or wandered out to watch the rugby in an open air courtyard on the big screen outside. A great start to a Saturday in my books. (Cnr Juta and Melle St. Braamfontein Tel:011 403 0695 )

More by chance than design, we happened to be around the corner from the new Neighbourhood Goods market just around the corner from Velo. If you have ever been to the Biscuit Mill Market in Cape Town.. this is done by the same people. (73 Juta Street Braamfontein, http://www.neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za/directions-jhb/)

And it is Fantastic! It is on every Sunday, 9-3. Go hungry.. with cash in your wallet. Some pics of out experiences that great Sunday in JHB are below.
Take it easy,
Chris.

In an effort to distract myself from the Springbok loss that will see them coming home while the tournament continues, I spent some time working on images of a peaceful place. A place of zen and happiness. A place without rugby balls, referees and smiling happy Australians.

This place was in the southern Drakensberg.

I hope these pictures are a comfort to you as well.

Chris

I think this is the 2nd time I have been lucky enough to spend time in Knysna over the Oyster festival. It is of course and easily justified holiday when your mom lives there, sends through an action packed itinerary, and it is possible to combine the eating and drinking with one or more of the great athletic events they line up every year.

This year we took part in the “Salomon Featherbed Trail Run”, the “Pick and Pay Knysna Half marathon”, and the “Four Meter Bathroom Sprint Enduro”. The first two were outstanding events and had competitors giddy with endorphins and grimacing in pain. The last event had competitors grimacing in pain only. First we blamed bad oysters but apparently a particularly enraged and contagious virus was at fault. Whatever it was seafood was definitely off the menu for a few days, and at least we didn’t gain the standard kg a day from overindulging.

The gallery below is once again shot, and edited on my iPhone. I promise to return to images shot on a DSLR soon … but for now I am just wallowing in touch screen bliss…

Have a great week.

Chris