South Africa Video

Here's a quick video I made using adobe Premier with video recorded from my Canon 7D that highlights the 4 months I spent in South Africa.
I think the music lyrics are quite appropriate for me as I, after being in South Africa, "I woke up in london some where in the city near piccadilly." So I have been traveling quite a bit living the good life.


South Africa Spring 2010 from Jonathan Dickson on Vimeo.

New Website!!!!

Well, this is me creating a place that is entirely dedicated to my photography and my thoughts. 

It seems like even the most amateur photographer has a website or blog these days, so i decided it was time that i started one too. Hopefully as time goes on this will be a place to not only showcase my work but the thoughts and experiences I encounter along the way. My goal is to go beyond just the still image and capture something more. So invite you to join me as I venture in to the large world as I capture the moments that mean the most to people and capture the moments that are often overlooked but important none the less. Its a spiritual journey as much as a creative journey. 

Haniville Portraits

Sooooo… wow. It’s been a while huh? And yes a lot has happened.

We started service sites last week. And it had been quite eventful from that point until now.

First of all allow me to give you a little background to our service sites… Because there are 53 of us on this trip, they had to split us up between 5 service sites. We got to have a kindof say or vote as to which one we would be going to for the next month (in terms of a first choice, second choice matter). I was granted my first choice: Walk in the Light. This is a really cool ministry that is based on a farm right across the street of the town ship of Hanivile. Walk in the Light gets their income from their crop of sugar cane, Rose geranium, and Protieas. Walk in the light also serves as a local church for the community.

Passing By

Having a blog is really quite difficult. There are some things that I don't want the entire world to know, but I feel like shouting it out on top of a mountain. Some things need to get brought up. I have no idea where this conflict inside of me occurs but its there. I think its that my heart wants to shout it out but my mind is saying, "I don't think that’s a good idea." But some times I wonder if I'm getting my mind and my heart mixed up. Just like when was in high school causing problems on my Myspace blog. Good times

Any ways...
Warning: this one may get a little corny. Deal with it.

Facts of Life in South Africa

• ·      Monkeys are Evil
• ·      Living with bugs is a norm
• ·      Counting grass is not as fun as it sounds
• ·      You can have 5 seasons in one day
• ·      Every thing is damp… get over it.
• ·      Card games take the place over any other forms of entertainment
• ·      If you don’t know what’s for lunch its probably Beef and Rice
• ·      God’s favorite color might just possibly be green… its everywhere.
• ·      Bible papers are not always a burden… they can open eyes.
• ·      It’s proven biological female nature that when girls see something cute their voices get rapidly high pitched.
• ·      It is also female nature that when a bug is close to the face a loud scream will erupt.
• ·      A computer with an Internet connection is crucial to survival of a 12 hour day of class.
• ·      The party bus is usually only the party bus for the first hour… then everyone falls asleep.
• ·      Head lamps are good if you want to see where you are going and have bugs fly at your face all at the same time.
• ·      If you ask some one where a craft store is they will mistake you for look for a crack store.
• ·      And last, but definitely most important… God is amazing, massive, loving, and definitely knows what he’s doing. 

Don't Worry, God is in Control :)

Well It’s been a while since my last post… about 3 weeks. I know of only two people who read my last one and that’s enough for me to keep going…. Sooooo.
Life in South Africa has taken some getting used to. Its one thing to go away for a couple weeks but to spend what has is now been 4 weeks is getting to me. It’s exciting at times and at others it’s very exhausting. Now we have I believe 14 more to go. So here’s the deal… one blog post a day. Many will be short, and pointless but nonetheless it’s going to happen. I’ll talk about God, photography and experiences.

Hope you enjoy.

         Through the past 4 weeks there have been some awesome experiences, one of the greatest things was getting to see the sunrise over the Indian ocean… for most a sunrise over the ocean period was a first being from the west coast and only watching sun sets. The weather on that morning was perfect; cool, breezy, with just enough clouds on the horizon and in the sky for the sun to reflect its light on. As the sun came up it was absolutely beautiful. I sat there in awe of how amazing God is. Looking at the sunrise I was reminded and decided to open my bible to Job 38; The point right where God answers Job out of a storm and goes off on how awesome he is. It was amazing to me that the first things that God mentions is how he created the ocean and then the sunrise. I stood there absolutely humbled. That weekend and the week before, it seemed as though God took every opportunity to remind me about how to act during times of brokenness and suffering. During daily reading, an email devotional I got from a friend, in conversations with people, in studying medieval iconography, and church services. I read scripture and understood that, good comes from God, we should take joy in trials, we find God in dark places and brokenness. It was truly incredible how much this was being pounded through my head. Then I though about why God was teaching me this. I though about what suffering and confusion I’m going through right now and came up with… I’m a little tired and I haven’t gotten enough sleep. Then I thought… wait… that cant be it… what if God is preparing me for something. That was it. Monday during class I was notified that one of my close friends and youth leader from back home had committed suicide.

This sucked. It was definitely something I didn’t need wile in South Africa. I definitely felt it. But luckily I was reminded and prepared how to act in such a situation. I found peace for the family, and others effected by this, that God is in control. And he knows what he’s doing. I could only pray that God had prepared the family and was there helping them through it all, cause I know it had to have hit them harder than me. God prepared me so I was able to pray.

Verses to consider

Job 38

James 1:2

Isa 45:7

God Is Good

All the time

Grace and Peace

-Jon

Monkeys and Updates

Yes I am now finally posting a blog!!!!

Just so you know I am now here at my temporary home away from home in Pietermarizburg, South Africa. The place where we are so fortunate to stay is tucked away in the misty humid hills just out side of the main town. I honestly don't think the location could be more beautiful. Words definitely could not explain exactly how awesome it is. It’s amazing what a whole lot of moisture could do to the land, for starters its VERRY GREEN, and its Fairly close to a jungle. I will definitely post some more pictures soon.

One of my favorite parts about this place is the monkeys. Yup the monkeys. Interaction with them has become somewhat of a norm and their pranks and antics are expected. There really is no American equivalent to these monkeys. I suppose the closest you would get is raccoons. Except the monkeys are much smarter and more agile.

We cannot leave windows open, not even cracked, sometimes its even best to have them locked. The first day we were here monkey encounters started happening, stealing sugar packets, Jelly, Bread, Fruit, and pooping on beds and pillows. Let me make it a point that these monkeys seemed to practice strategic pooping. One got in to a girls room and pooped on her bed, pillow and in laundry bag; which was only discovered days later by the smell. They have become such a problem that the campus has equipped the us guys with a paint ball gun. Some times it seems like it doesn't help, and the monkeys only come back in more numbers. 

I my self have had one memorable experience with the monkeys. I woke up one morning to go for a run. It was 6am and there were not to many people out and about. I started running on the road and up ahead I saw 7 or 9 monkeys on the road in the trees and playing on the grass. I decided that I was on top of the food chain and they would run away and disperse. Most of them ran away or jumped in the trees, but one, the big one, started running in front of me at a much slower pace. He then turned right around and didn't move. I stopped dead in my tracks. These monkeys will attack and have been known to bite. I started to make some noise and raise my arms but he didn't move. He was now about 10 or 12 feet away and began to yell or hiss at me. I knew if I stepped any further he was sure to jump on me and the other 8 in the trees watching might join in. I backed up and picked up a rock, as soon as I did he saw me and bolted away into the jungle. Jon 1 Monkeys 0.

Well now that you are aware of the worst threat to my safety. I'll tell you more about what you should know.

I have started my course work taking, intercultural communication, Humans and Nature, Life and teachings of Jesus, and history/culture travel study. The humans and nature class is going to be very intensive, but every Thursday we get to go out on excursions into the various wildlife areas and game reserves, all on top of the regular trips with the entire group. I'm Supper excited about that. So far it’s been really good and feel free to ask any questions for information. Basically we will be remaining here completing course work till March then it’s off down the coast to Capetown. I miss you all and hope this post finds you well. Grace and Peace!