Perfectly Pampered

It's great when birthday celebrations linger ... makes getting older a bit more bearable.
Today my new 'fashion' camera bag arrived - a present from my parents - and I also redeemed a voucher for a two hour Pamper Package gifted to me by a very dear friend.
I got quite used to being 'pampered' on recent trips to Bali and Thailand where massages, manicures and pedicures were almost daily (and still wonderful) occurrences. However here in little old NZ, the cost of regular pampering of this kind, is prohibitive for most of us. So I was extra happy with this gift.
The experience consisted of a 30 minute massage (it was awesome), a manicure and a fantastic facial. I also paid for a pedicure (Blue toes to match my blue bag hehe)
But! Post massage and pre manicure I had my first ever "hand mask". It was delicious! If you haven't had one it consists of submerging your entire hand into (in this case, rose scented) warm, gluggy wax, which immediately sets on your hand when you pull it out. The hands are then wrapped in cling film and put inside huge mittens to stay warm while the beauty treatment continues. When all is unwrapped 30 mins or so later, the wax just falls off and your skin feels amazing (So many superlatives in this post!)
My post 40 year old hands feel fantastic! I'd go back just for one of those.

Serendipity

Serendipity has always been one of my favorite words.
Now I have combined that with one of my favourite things - photography.
Thanks to the inspiration and advice from a group of special fellow-amatuer photographer friends, the "Serendipity Photography" Facebook page is now up and running.
In the 'long description' they ask you to give on set up, I wrote...

It is said that quality photos are made, rather than simply taken. I definitely believe this. However I personally find joy in that special moment that presents itself, and take great pleasure in capturing that serendipitous moment in a photograph. 
I am always scanning the environment around me for those informal moments that may never present themselves again. My camera is almost always with me.
I love shooting people, and enjoy building a relationship with my subjects to enable the real person to be seen through the lens. I enjoy creating simple images that tell a story. BUT... I look out for that serendipitous moment again in these shoots, and it's often the photos that cannot be recreated, that tend to be my personal favourites.
Whilst 'finding' the photos is a favourite aspect of photography for me, I also love learning more about the technical side of things, and am increasing my post-processing skills all the time as well.
Making photos makes me happy; equally, sharing them with those who are invested in them, and seeing their reactions, gives me just as much pleasure!


Please visit my page and 'like' it :)