Photo Journal

ANYA and ROMA. PROPOSAL

couples, family, portrait, wedding

What started as a love-story photo-shoot, ended up with Roma on his knees holding a ring!

These two love-birds joined a recent Surf Еxpedition to Mozambique via Kruger Park, South Africa, organised by Unravel Surf Travel, June/July 2014.

Being an organiser and photographer for Unravel Surf Travel, Roma approached me in advance and told me about his plan to propose to his girlfriend, Anya, during our Surf Tour.

At more or less the same time Anya contacted me and booked a couple’s photo-shoot during the Surf Tour.

Obviously this was the perfect setup for a proposal! Anya would be convinced that she was getting ready for their couple’s photo-shoot, while Roma and myself were preparing for something far more special!

After an hour of taking beautiful photographs of the couple, we moved to a little beach-restaurant where Anya thought we would simply carry on shooting.

But as we moved onto the beach, in the gentle light of a setting sun, I stepped aside and Roma’s eyes started glinting mischievously.

He took Anya’s hand and opened his hand onto hers. At first she had no idea what was happening.

But then she saw the ring. At first there were no words. She had had no idea, but now it was clear. Roma wanted to marry her! She was surprised. She was happy. And I was quietly saying to myself “please say yes, please say yes!”

After a few moments, but what seemed like ages to Roma and myself, she finally said it. Softly. Yes.

There were lots of tears. There was laugher. And there were hugs all around!

It felt incredibly special to be a part of such an important moment in their lives!

They spent the rest of the night alone at their private dinner table on the sand, surrounded by nothing other than stars and the warm Indian Ocean waters along the coast of Mozambique…

All photographs by Jenya Zhivaleva

Place: Barra, Mozambique

A love-story photo-shoot turned proposal!

couples, travel, wedding

Meet beautiful Russian couple Anya and Roma.

What started as a love-story photo-shoot, ended up with Roma on his knees holding a ring!

These two love-birds joined a recent Surf Еxpedition to Mozambique via Kruger Park, South Africa, organised by Unravel Surf Travel, June/July 2014.

Being an organiser and photographer for Unravel Surf Travel, Roma approached me in advance and told me about his plan to propose to his girlfriend, Anya, during our Surf Tour.

At more or less the same time Anya contacted me and booked a couple’s photo-shoot during the Surf Tour.

Obviously this was the perfect setup for a proposal! Anya would be convinced that she was getting ready for their couple’s photo-shoot, while Roma and myself were preparing for something far more special!

After an hour of taking beautiful photographs of the couple, we moved to a little beach-restaurant where Anya thought we would simply carry on shooting.

But as we moved onto the beach, in the gentle light of a setting sun, I stepped aside and Roma’s eyes started glinting mischievously.

He took Anya’s hand and opened his hand onto hers. At first she had no idea what was happening.

But then she saw the ring. At first there were no words. She had had no idea, but now it was clear. Roma wanted to marry her! She was surprised. She was happy. And I was quietly saying to myself “please say yes, please say yes!”

After a few moments, but what seemed like ages to Roma and myself, she finally said it. Softly. Yes.

There were lots of tears. There was laugher. And there were hugs all around!

It felt incredibly special to be a part of such an important moment in their lives!

They spent the rest of the night alone at their private dinner table on the sand, surrounded by nothing other than stars and the warm Indian Ocean waters along the coast of Mozambique…

All photographs by Jenya Zhivaleva

Place: Barra, Mozambique

 

Ross Taylor Surf Contest 2014, Buffels Bay, South Africa

events, kids, Surfing

The Surfer Kids NON-Profit have become an integral part of the annual Ross Taylor Surf Contest. This was the fourth consecutive year that The Surfer Kids attended the event! It is without a doubt one of the highlights on the programme’s calendar and the kids look forward to this weekend all year long!

The event is held annually in Buffels Bay (South Africa) in memory of Ross Taylor, a local surfer who died of cancer. His final wish was that a surf contest be held in his memory, the proceeds of which would be donated to Hospice, after the care and support they had provided to him and his family in the final years of his debilitating illness.

The Surfer Kids is a Non-Profit Organisation operated by Unravel Surf Travel OUTREACH. The programme works with kids from a local rural primary-school and high-school. Its mission is to explore and teach life skills, using surfing and travelling as a medium, in a marginalised rural community.

The Surfer Kids Non Profit also offers  a voluntour program, a combination of volunteer work with the kids and a travelling experience in South Africa.

The Surfer Kids attendance at the Ross Taylor event has been made possible by the support of the organising committee. We would like to thank them for their crucial support, without which we would not be able to spend the weekend in Buffels Bay at the Ross Taylor Surf Contest.

To learn more about the The Surfer Kids go to our website or follow the programme on Facebook

Jenya Zhivaleva, co-founder of The Surfer Kids Non-Profit.

All photos by Jenya Zhivaleva, Your Foto Story, http://www.yourfotostory.com

Ross Taylor Surf Contest 2014, Buffels Bay South Africa

kids, Surfing

The Surfer Kids NON-Profit have become an integral part of the annual Ross Taylor Surf Contest. This was the fourth consecutive year that The Surfer Kids attended the event! It is without a doubt one of the highlights on the programme’s calendar and the kids look forward to this weekend all year long!

The event is held annually in Buffels Bay (South Africa) in memory of Ross Taylor, a local surfer who died of cancer. His final wish was that a surf contest be held in his memory, the proceeds of which would be donated to Hospice, after the care and support they had provided to him and his family in the final years of his debilitating illness.

The Surfer Kids is a Non-Profit Organisation operated by Unravel Surf Travel OUTREACH. The programme works with kids from a local rural primary-school and high-school. Its mission is to explore and teach life skills, using surfing and travelling as a medium, in a marginalised rural community.

The Surfer Kids Non Profit also offers  a voluntour program, a combination of volunteer work with the kids and a travelling experience in South Africa.

The Surfer Kids attendance at the Ross Taylor event has been made possible by the support of the organising committee. We would like to thank them for their crucial support, without which we would not be able to spend the weekend in Buffels Bay at the Ross Taylor Surf Contest.

To learn more about the The Surfer Kids go to our website or follow the programme on Facebook

Jenya Zhivaleva, co-founder of The Surfer Kids Non-Profit.

All photos by Jenya Zhivaleva, Your Foto Story, http://www.yourfotostory.com

VANESSA AND DARRYL

family, portrait, wedding

Wedding photoshoot with beautiful Vanessa and Darryl.

Vanessa is the owner of the Besters’ Bridal Boutique in Knysna, hence the gorgeous dress and shoes, and Darryl is the artist behind Goldsmiths Knysna. It sounds like a match made in heaven.  Wedding rings were designed by the groom as a wedding gift. Their ceremony was special indeed. Lots of smiles, tears and laughter.

Venue Simola Lodge

Dress by Besters’ Bridal Boutique

Jewellery made by Goldsmiths Knysna

Cake baked by Cake Frills

Make up & hair done by The Art of Make-up by Karin Chan

Eye Lashes done by GLOW Skin & Beauty

Decor hire by SRT Special Events Hire & Functions

This photoshoot was a collaborative effort between myself and Eon Cotzee (Eonphotography).

All photos bellow taken by Jenya Zhivaleva (Your Foto Story)

Vanessa and Darryl’s wedding

couples, family, portrait, wedding

Wedding photoshoot with beautiful Vanessa and Darryl.

Vanessa is the owner of the Besters’ Bridal Boutique in Knysna, hence the gorgeous dress and shoes, and Darryl is the artist behind Goldsmiths Knysna. It sounds like a match made in heaven.  Wedding rings were designed by the groom as a wedding gift. Their ceremony was special indeed. Lots of smiles, tears and laughter.

Venue Simola Lodge

Dress by Besters’ Bridal Boutique

Jewellery made by Goldsmiths Knysna

Cake baked by Cake Frills

Make up & hair done by The Art of Make-up by Karin Chan

Eye Lashes done by GLOW Skin & Beauty

Decor hire by SRT Special Events Hire & Functions

This photoshoot was a collaborative effort between myself and Eon Cotzee (Eonphotography).

All photos bellow taken by Jenya Zhivaleva (Your Foto Story)

Mozambique Surf Expedition via Kruger Park

landscapes, Surfing, travel

Here is the blog post with a full photo story on Unravel Surf Travel expedition to Mozambique via Kruger Park, South Africa. I have been privileged to be part of the organizers team. It was an incredible adventure full of special moments and inspiration for my photography. Being an in house photographer for Unravel Surf Travel brings me lots of special photo opportunities. Check out the post to see the full photo story of our expedition.

NICOLA Fashion Shoot

portrait

Another exciting shoot with beautiful Nicola.

This time we arranged co-creative shoot with a talented photographer Eon Coetzee.

Its quite an interesting experience for two photographers to shoot one model at the same time. But you know what, once you get into it, its double the creativity.

You share ideas as you shoot, so you get to try new angles, settings and tricks, Highly recommend photographers out there to give it a try.

Here is what I got after the co-creative shoot.

Fashion shoot with Nicola

portrait

Another exciting shoot with beautiful Nicola.

This time we arranged co-creative shoot with a talented photographer Eon Coetzee.

Its quite an interesting experience for two photographers to shoot one model at the same time. But you know what, once you get into it, its double the creativity.

You share ideas as you shoot, so you get to try new angles, settings and tricks, Highly recommend photographers out there to give it a try.

Here is what I got after the co-creative shoot.

Point of Human Origins, Mossel Bay , South Africa

travel, Uncategorized

Last week I joined archaeologist Peter Nilssen on his tour “Point of Human Origins” in Mossel Bay South Africa. Rainy cold day didn’t spoil the experience. It was an exciting interactive talk on our origins and present human condition combined with an archaeological walk to scenic caves.

Until year 2000 it was believed that modern human behaviour first appeared in Eurasia about 50 000 years ago. The Pinnacle Point Caves of Mossel Bay show evidence of modern human behaviour that dates between 72 000 and 162 000 years ago. The evidence suggests that Pinnacle Point of Mossel Bay has the traces of the earliest modern humans. In other words until they find something else, that is where modern humans come from, that is where we come from or have been on our journey.

The big part of the Peter Nilssen’s tour is dedicated to understanding of the human bahaviour 100 000 years ago and comparison with our behaviour today. What was driving humans behaviour back then? Are we any different today? What did modern human back then knew and practiced that we’ve lost today? Where are we going as a specie?

Anyone interested to join the tour please check out the website http://www.humanorigin.co.za/