There’s a great photography post doing the rounds at the moment called ’7 Super Shots’. HostelBookers.com put out the call to select 7 of your favourite photographs, one for each of the following categories, then tag 5 bloggers that you would like to take part. I was really pleased when Anja nominated me. So here are my 7 shots…

1. A photo that…takes my breath away

The pretty seaside town of L’Ile Rousse, Corsica and the stunning beach – the colour of the sea took my breath away the first time I saw it and no matter how often I return it still does. A shot taken in the other direction featured in my ‘ Travel snap of the week’ recently so check it out if you’d like to know a more about L’Ile Rousse.

2. A photo that…makes me laugh or smile

These wonderful children in The Gambia always make me smile when I visit their school in Brikama. Read about my last visit in ‘My dairy from the smiling coast of Africa.’

3. A photo that…makes me dream

Calvi beach (also in Corsica) with a back drop of pine trees and the mountains beyond – I regularly dream of being back in Corsica!

4. A photo that…makes me think

I took this photograph while on a photographic assignment in Senegal. Whenever I look at it I wonder what she was thinking. I think she looks sad. My guide did speak to her to ask if it was OK to take a few photos before I barged into her home.  I do hope she didn’t mind the intrusion too much. I felt frustrated that all I could do was smile and thank her in English or French without knowing whether she understood a word of what I was saying.

As a travel photographer you often find your self intruding in people’s lives. When is it OK and when are you crossing the line?

5. A photo that…makes my mouth water

Cupcakes topped with strawberries and cream, in Brighton, England. Delicious!

6. A photo that…tells a story

This statue in memory of the end of slavery is a poignant reminder of the tragic past of Gorée Island just off the coast of Dakar, Senegal. Once a transportation post for slaves leaving Africa it is now a very beautiful little island with pretty pastel painted buildings and flower filled streets plus a museum about slavery. A ‘must see’ when visiting Dakar. More of my photos from Senegal are on Flickr.

7. A photo that…I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)

This is a tough one! My favourite photograph changes regularly and I’ve already posted a few in my weekly ‘Travel snap’ features. Not wanting to repeat myself here’s another one of my favourites shots of a street in Mindelo on the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde.

Thanks again Anja for nominating me. There are lots of  bloggers’ I’d like to pass this on too but I better limit this to 5 as requested!

So I’m asking the following to share their ’7 Super Shots’ with us.

Suzanne, The Travel Bunny

Cynthia, Hapidayz

Abu, A Visual Journey

Andrew, Andrew Graeme Gould Photography

Greg, Wanders & Wonders

A while ago now I spent a very wonderful and very hectic three days rushing around Senegal on a photography trip for The Senegal Experience.

Here’s another photograph from that trip of some traditional textiles in a market in Saly. I love all the colours, patterns and pictures used in these textiles and I think it is no coincidence that I started wearing a lot more bright colours myself since I started visiting West Africa.

You can read about my visit to Bandia Nature Reserve near Saly in my post ‘A close encounter of the wild kind’.

And see more photographs from Senegal on Flickr.

Photograph on the right (me shopping in Senegal) courtesy of Louise.

If you’re using uencounter.me I’ve pinned Saly’s location.

If I spot something unusual on the menu chances are I’ll opt for that. I’ve crunched my way through scorpions, nibbled locusts and enjoyed ostrich steak.

...a slice of lemon with your seafingers and barnacles?

While on a photographic assignment for The Cape Verde Experience  I came across two local delicacies new to me: perceves (sea fingers) – they look a bit like purple fingers, you break off the end and peel off the skin to find the meat which is a bit like squid and cracas – I was served a lump of rock covered in barnacles and something resembling a knitting needle to poke around with! I’m sorry to say they were rather disappointing and more trouble than they are worth (but they were the only let down on my trip and I’ve since been back to the islands of Cape Verde on holiday).

Without a doubt the worst thing I ever eat was in Senegal, a really lovely country with very friendly people and some excellent restaurants (many with a French influence reflecting their colonial past). On a three day whirl-wind photography trip for The Senegal Experience I was invited to dinner at Hotel Espadon in Saly, a great hotel in a beautiful location on the beach. When I saw sea eurchins on the menu I couldn’t resist ordering them. My host suggested rather than have all six to myself that we have one each and I’m so glad he did. Imagine not-quite-set jelly made of seawater and that is pretty much it. Truly revolting but glad I tried it… just the once!

I’d love to hear your stories of the worst / best / most unusual thing you’ve eaten while traveling so please do leave a comment.

The bar over the sea at Hotel Espadon

With musicians from three different continents it is hardly surprising that, Bristol based group, Baraka’s musical influences reach around the globe as they skillfully blend music from West African highlife and South African township with Caribbean calypso, soca and reggae to produce a unique and exciting mix of polyphonic rhythms, soaring melodies and funky dance grooves.

After headling at Nyodema’s Festival in 2008, they were such a hit with the audience that when Baraka asked to return the following year we responded with a resounding ‘Yes!’. This year kora player and percussionist, Mamadou Cissoko, joined them on stage adding even greater depth and energy to their wonderful music.

Baraka at Nyodema 2009, courtesy of Adam White

Their line-up includes Ben Baddoo on vocals, percussion and balafon. Ben started drumming with his older brothers when he was six in his home village of Nsakina in Ghana.  At 17 he joined a professional drum and dance troupe and went on to form his own group, Sankofa, with whom he toured all over Ghana. In the 1980’s, after being discovered by a UK promoter, they became one of the first exponents of African drum and dance in the UK.  Ben is now a highly respected session player, having worked with artists as diverse as Vangellis, Peter Gabriel and Temple of Sound. He is also well known for his drum and dance workshops, which he has held in festivals around the world as well as in UK schools and colleges. A solo drum track that he recorded for the Womad Talking Book CD is now part of the UK Schools curriculum.

Guitarist, Simwinji Zeko, spent many years performing and recording throughout Zambia and South Africa before moving to Europe. He now lives in the UK and plays with a number of bands including Baraka.

Baraka’s drummer, Mark Bradley, was born in Belfast and his first taste of music was drumming in punk bands as a teenager. He has lived in the UK for 20 years and has played (and still does) with numerous bands covering a wide variety of musical genres.

Royston Gage on bass guitar and vocals brings the sounds of  The Caribbean to the group having played with soca and reggae bands in his homeland of the Commonwealth of Dominica before moving to the UK.  Other early musical experiences include hanging out with Led Zeppelin when they used his band’s rehearsal room on the island!

Saxophonist, Brendan Whitmore comes from Carlow, Eire. He discovered world music through reggae, having been a founder member of Bristol’s first and foremost reggae band Talisman with whom he has enjoyed numerous TV appearances, chart success and played on the same stage as the Rolling Stones.

Senegalese Kora player, Mamadou Cissoko, spends much of his time running workshops and story telling as a solo artist. He doesn’t usually play with a band but he particularly likes Baraka’s music and ethics so when available he’s only too happy to join Baraka as a guest artist.

With such a wealth of experience to draw on it is no wonder that they are now delighting audiences the length and breadth of Britain, as well as mainland Europe and Ireland with their exciting blend of world music. Every time I see them I find it impossible to sit down, even if I’ve been on my feet all day running a festival, I just have to get up and dance!

www.barakamusic.co.uk

For  more photographs please visit Nyodema’s Flickr stream

For as long as I can remember I have had a keen interest in animals, both wild and domestic, in fact, although I now work as a graphic designer and photographer my main subject at University in Bristol was Zoology and one of the first jobs I ever had was in a zoo. You can imagine my delight when, with just three days notice, I was asked if I’d like to visit Senegal to photograph some new hotels. The visit would also include a mini-safari to Bandia Nature Reserve, near the coastal resort of Saly. Before you know it my bags are packed, I’ve got my malaria tablets and I’m on my way.

I was only in Senegal for three days but we did so much, visiting many hotels, the beautiful Sine Saloum Delta, Gorée Island, craft markets, a fishing village and, of course, Bandia. One of the highlights was the chance to see these wonderful creatures up close. “Could that rhino turn this truck over?” I thought, as he (or it could have been a she) stood just a few feet away serenely posing for my camera. “Yes” was the answer from our guide.

My favourite animals, however, were the giraffes. We were allowed to get out of the truck and move closer to the family of three – a little shyer than the rhino but never the less a close encounter. A family of ostriches were also delightful – the father on constant guard of his mate, youngster and four little ones. The males can be quite aggressive so we photographed them from the truck.

Antelopes, impalla gazelles, buffalo, monkeys, tortoises and crocodiles were all caught on camera but sadly the herd of zebra in the park proved too elusive. We did not even catch a glimpse of a black and white stripe. I guess I’ll just have to return someday!

See more of my photographs from Senegal on Flickr

For information on holidays in Senegal visit The Senegal Experience