The Best Is Yet To Be

Barbara weds Mose

On Monday December 12, 2011, (during Jamhuri Day, a public holiday in Kenya) Mose and Barbara walked down the aisle, exchanged vows commitment to each other at Parklands Baptist Church. A friend invited me to help him shoot the wedding, i had lots of fun doing it. And here is what i got from that beautiful wedding. This words by Joanna Fuchs captures my wish to the newly wed. I wish them all the best.

Now to the photos.

On your joyful wedding day, You begin a brand new life.
Friends and family give their gifts, to joyful husband, blissful wife.

But the greatest gift you’ll ever get, a gift from heaven above,
Is love forever, ending never, everlasting love.

You’ll share life’s joy and pleasure; you’ll have plenty of that, it’s true.
But love is the real treasure, for your new spouse and you.

And if life hands you challenges, as it does to one and all,
Your love will hold you steady, and never let you fall.

Your wedding day is full of joy;  tomorrow you cannot see.
But one thing’s sure for the two of you:  The best is yet to be.

Congratulations to Mose and Barbara for their beautiful wedding. Enjoy the days and years to come.

In The Sweet By And By

Fare thee well Mary Kagure

On Wednesday December 21st, 2011, Mary Kagure will be laid to rest, exactly one week after she was brutally murdered by someone she had loved, her fiance. As i blog this photos, i remember the day we were shooting them. Mary was excited about this photoshoot, which we did on Friday December 9th, 2011 at Central Park, (the park next to Uhuru Park). We would have done this photoshoot two months ago but we kept postponing due to various reasons. On this particular Friday, she really insisted that we have to do it. We agreed that we will do it at 5pm after the day’s work. Throughout the afternoon, she kept reminding me about it, she insisted that we have to do. I could not understand why she wanted the photos done on this particular day.

The following week, on Tuesday evening, she sat next to me at my desk to look at her pictures and told me how she wants to print them and have a large print that she can frame and hang in her house. “I have a very nice frame in my house, finally, i will put it to use,” she told me. We agreed that she will collect all the photos on Wednesday. That was never to be. That Wednesday morning she was killed at 6am. She was stabbed several times on the neck and chest. She died on the spot, helpless. She never got to collect her pictures.

The large framed print she wanted to hang in her house, will instead be on her casket, other people will be looking at it while mourning her death. I keep thinking, “if only it would have hanged in her house as she had desired.”

Just like many other people have countless questions to ask, i equally have many of them. Questions that will never be answered for it is only God who has the answers. God alone knows why Mary’s journey on earth had to come to an end in such a brutal manner.  When He created her, He knew Mary before she was even conceived in her mother’s womb, and he all the days of her life as he says on Psalms 139.

Her son, Nathan, one and half years old, has lost a mother. Her family has lost a daughter, a sister, an aunt and a niece. We her friends, have lost a charming friend and workmates have lost a colleague. Just to think of the manner life was snuffed out of her, pain cuts through our stomach.

As Mary is laid to rest, i am reminded the words of this song by Dolly Parton, ‘In the Sweet by and by.’

There’s a land that is fairer than day
And by faith we can see it afar
For the father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blest
And our spirit shall sorrow no more
Not a sign for the blessing of rest

In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore

In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore

In the sweet by and by
In the sweet by and by, ohh

Baboon

Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae.

Baboons feeding at Mt. Kenya National Park near Batian Gate

Baboons are terrestrial (ground dwelling) and are found in open savannah, open woodland and hills across Africa. Their diet is omnivorous, but mostlyvegetarian; yet they eat insects and occasionally prey on fish, shellfish, hares, birds, vervet monkeys, and small antelopes. They are foragers and are active at irregular times throughout the day and night. They can raid human dwellings and in South Africa they have been known to prey on sheep and goats.

Their principal predators are humans, the lion, both the spotted and striped hyena and the leopard. They are however considered a difficult prey for the leopard, which is mostly a threat to young baboons.

Large males will often confront them by flashing their eyelids, showing their teeth by yawning, making gestures, and chasing after the intruder/predator. Baboons in captivity have been known to live up to 45 years, while in the wild their life expectancy is about 30 years.

Source: Wikipedia

My Guitar

How are you doing? I am glad to be here today after a while.

Back to Elyon House and the urge to post photos is still burning. I have been working on various projects as well as learning new techniques and skills in working with the camera. There is still so much that I am yet to learn.

Well, that aside, today, I present to you images of my younger brother, his name is Levi, he calls himself ‘Naitwa Levi’ on social media.  Recently, I travelled home and got to do a shoot with him, something I had really wanted to do for a quite some time but the opportunity never really presented itself.

We did a number of shots just outside our house; the sun was in the right place and that allowed us the best shots. My aim in the shoot was to bring out his personality and his love for music. His musical instrument, the guitar, was the best accessory to show his love for music.

Here are some of the shots we got. Enjoy and remember, your comments are highly appreciated.

And finally, here’s a song that has been playing in my mind today. Kirk Franklin always makes my day.

Why We Sing

Someone asked the question
Why do we sing?
When we lift our hands to Jesus
What do we really mean?

Someone may be wondering
When we sing our song
At times we maybe crying.
And nothings even wrong

I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow
That’s the reason why I sing

Glory
Hallelujah
You’re the reason why I sing

Glory
Hallelujah
I give the praises to You

Glory
Hallelujah
You’re the reason why I sing

And when the song is over
We’ve all said
Amen
In your heart just keep on singing
And the song will never end

And if somebody asks you
Was it just a show
Lift your hands and be a witness
And tell the whole world
No

And when we cross that river
To study war no more
We will sing our songs to Jesus
The one that we adore.

My little sisters

Maci and Zina

My little sisters are always there, they are the best little sister ever.
My little sisters have a way of making everyone laugh when they have a bad day.

My little sisters are annoying too, but we still love them anyways.
My little sisters are special.

Zina & Maci

To our mum, they are dear, a source of joy, hope and encouragement.

This poem by Wilma Watson captures our mum’s feeling about these precious little girls

I and Blessed:

Maci

I love you, my daughters, with all my heart
I’ve adored you all from the very start

I thank God for making you who you are
To me you’re just like shining stars

Zina – The precious treasure, that’s what her name means.

You give me encouragement and praise
I so appreciate your special ways

Can’t you see our smiles? Maci & Zina

I love to talk with you and share
You show me that you really care

Time to relax and pose for the camera – Zina

I’m so proud to call each my friend
On one another we can depend

Scrambling for the mother’s hug – Maci, Mum & Zina

With you in my life I am blessed
My daughters, you are the very best

 

Children are amazing

I have always enjoying being with kids, they are wonderful to be with and their words and acts are innocent. They  face life with less worry and anxiety. They are indeed amazing.  The poem below by Mel Vincent Basconcillo describes them well.

Children are amazing

Laughter echo through the skies, - children are amazing

So young and so innocent, - children are amazing

Care free yet compassionate and kind, - children are amazing

From birth to walking and finally speaking ”Dada” - children are amazing

Enthusiastic at day, pristine at night – children are amazing

Naive and curious, motivated to learn –  children are amazing

Heaven sent, God’s little miracles – children are amazing
Working young, carrying sacks heavier than them – children are amazing

Selfless, working for their families – children are amazing
Naked in the streets, asking for money to eat – children are amazing

Dreams to nightmares, hearts strengthened in mud – children are amazing
Staying resilient through adversity and poverty,

That is truly AMAZING!

Kenya’s Landmarks

As Kenya’s first tallest building built in 1969, KICC is prominent in Nairobi’s skyline. Most international and national visitors have visited KICC and those who haven’t been to Nairobi, the first image of Kenya’s capital city they probably have in mind is the KICC. The 30 Storey landmark has been photographed and continues to be photographed everyday.

Recently, i was coming from a function at KICC and thought of getting my own shots of the building. Here’s a few of those images.

And finally, the Jomo Kenyatta Monumant and the Judiciary Building next to KICC.

 

Enashipai Resort and Spa

Enashipai – a Masaai term meaning a state of happiness

A few days a go i was in Naivasha for an assignment. while there, i discovered this magnificent Resort and Spa. I call it magnificent because i was blown away by the Resort’s beauty, design and decor.

I was impressed by Enashipai. The architectural design is fantastic, this impressed me the most. The service there was great as well;  i can tell you the breakfast and dinner i had, were very delicious, served with friendly waiters. The facility has a water heated swimming pool, meaning you can take a dip anytime. How cool!

Here’s one place you can do a Lake side barbecue, it is at the shores of Lake Naivasha, garden wedding, honeymoon, picnic, and others. Have a look at some of the pictures i got while there.

For more information on Enashipai Resort And Spa check out this site  www.enashipai.com

Sarova Salt Lake Lick Lodge

Hi my reader, welcome to my blog.

This blog has been long in coming. I have been toying with this idea for quite some time and now i am very excited that finally i can post something.

I have to admit that WordPress displays photos in a very unique way and that is i have decided to relocate here, from another blog, which i think in some way, it limited me from achieving the results i wanted.

Now that i am here, i will start blogging from a place that took my breath away the moment i landed; Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge. This lodge is tucked away somewhere in Taita Hills. The Lodge’s architecture is amazing; it’s beautifully done as you can see in the photos. So here we go. Enjoy. If you can, please leave your comments. As a photography student, i am open to more learning.