CHARL FOLSCHER

Music, film/video, social upliftment.

[charlfolscher]

One of my favourite songs...ever. I don’t write a lot of love songs but glad this one popped out.

[charlfolscher]

Is it a love song or something else?

[charlfolscher]

Bob Marley's don't worry chorus from Three Little Birds and something I wrote. Hopefully something that makes 2021 brighter for one second.

[charlfolscher]

About This Channel

I have done a confusing mix of content on Youtube in the past and it is time to do get some focus.

[charlfolscher]

The Lockdown Project - Day 3 - Breaking the Moan-o-Meter

Let me vent for a bit, just let me. Please. People who get upset and question the lockdowns and even take the government to court, just shut up and sit down. Please. People who ignore the lockdown and run around like it’s the holidays, it’s not. Get your but into your home and stay there. Read a book or comic. Whatever you need to not be stupid. 

Let me spell it out. This is not the normal flu. The normal seasonal flu has a death rate of well below 1%. Ask the WHO Director-General, he knows and I suppose he knows a thing or two. What he also said on the 3rd of March (link below) is that Covid 19 has a death rate of 3.4%. The global population hasn’t got any immunity to this thing because it’s new and not a variation of the normal strains out there. So please people, stop being stubborn, read a little more beyond Facebook and Whatsapp and stay home. When I hear about the heroic efforts from medical staff in Italy and the war zone that they are living through I find it utterly frustrating that some people think that we as a country, being South Africa will be different by not staying in lockdown.

Ok! In other news, the Folscher spaceship is still all systems green and we are slowly sorting through some things we haven’t had the time to do before the world of lockdowns. Today was a little more difficult with the photos because my head wasn’t in the game as much but here are some pics nonetheless. Oh yes! Our internet sucks! I should really type suuuuuuucks! Because it does. It’s either crazy slow or offline and then customer service is also non-existent. Supersonic is now Supersad and Superslow. Sorry! Didn’t mean to name drop.

That all said, every day I realize how easy our lockdown experience is compared to so many fellow South Africans and I always feel kind of guilty. Our church is exploring ways in which we can help here in town through legal channels and I have heard of others trying to do the same. Our homeless people in town are the most vulnerable and get a lot of grief and abusive treatment from police who need to stay professional and calm their crap down.

That’s it! The moan-o-meter is full. I’m done. Love you all and remember…don’t be an idiot. ;)

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WHO Director-General Speech - 3 March 2020 https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---3-march-2020

[charlfolscher]

The Lockdown Project - Day 2 - Spaceships

I love science fiction but I am particular about it. The genre covers a wide range of stories and although I am not difficult to please one thing usually determines if I will like a sci-fi movie or book. Are there airlocks? You see I like some kind of realism to my sci-fi and if the characters need an airlock to enter or exit a space craft it basically shows me the writer knows how space works. I am not big on the fantasy stuff. 

Since I was young I always liked the idea of traveling around space in a self-contained space craft from which one would have adventures. I loved the idea of a traveling base that had all you need and which you sometimes left in a pod to explore other planets and such. I would fantasize about how life on a small or large space craft would be. Have your morning coffee at a window through which you could see a nearby planet or even distant earth. This lockdown has made me realize we are all in our own individual spaceships without the view of course. Oh and our spaceships (aka houses) can’t travel anywhere. They are more like space stations in orbit around a planet and the only way to leave is via smaller spaceships or pods which in our cases are our cars or motorbikes. And our spacesuits are the homemade face masks we all seem to be wearing more and more. We leave only to get supplies from a trading space station (aka Pick n Pay) and return for further adventures in and around our static spaceships. 

There is an element of adventure involved to this whole global lockdown in the context of relationships. We have never had license just to stay home without feeling guilty and this is opening a treasure chest of experiences around relationships. We seem to be reconnecting and engaging more and deeper without running on to the next meeting or engagement even if only over the internet. We are actually engaging with that dreaded Whatsapp family group and some members have actually rejoined. We are talking more. And its only day two! 

It’s the first time in my life of 45 years that the world is fighting the same enemy together and it’s not a person, country or group. The world is experiencing a sense of togetherness and elements of unity. How refreshing. And then there is nothing refreshing about people dying. Let’s keep fighting this crap together by staying in our spaceships, but let us be ready to help our fellow humans when we see the opportunity. 

  PS. When we are stuck in our static spaceship we start seeing and appreciating the basic things more. Our lives, be it ordinary or extraordinary are built on the daily where much is mundane. These black and white photos try to display those mundane things in a new way. What we see in our houses and what we see through our windows.

[charlfolscher]

The Lockdown Project - Day 1

Day 1 is almost in the bag and for some reason, it has been rather filled with anxiety, at least a little more than usual. We are locked in at home with more time on our hands. More time to send coronavirus stats to one another and watch the news...ah! It’s been weird and kind of peaceful interjected with moments of anxiety. I worry about my family and myself but I keep thinking about those who are homeless and vulnerable here in town. 

The quiet here was disrupted by a police van stopping next to our house and the officer getting in some homeless guy’s face and swearing at him to get off the street. So much for protocol and respect. The gentleman might be homeless but he is the citizen this officer is meant to be serving. I had some words in my mind for this serviceman but for the sake of this blog let’s settle on idiot. 

It is amazing how much I have learned about this ugly virus which illuminates all the more the amount of misinformation out in the wild west that is the internet and for that reason I do purpose to read my Bible and some books more than the media otherwise I might just go bonkers. Just writing this now I am again reminded of the absolute surreality that we find ourselves in. In your mind just replace everyone outside your house with scenes from the Walking Dead and you might believe you are in a movie.

Ok folks before I go I want to consider that a certain police officer mentioned earlier might have been stressed out seeing as he is on the frontlines so to speak. I will cut him some slack and downgrade idiot to onbeskof. 

Oh and yes I have started taking some pics for my future book titled Lockdown. Not really, but let me know if you like them.

[charlfolscher]

Here We Go

It is almost time for the dreaded and very weird time of lockdown in South Africa, following suit with many other countries during this pandemic. It really is the stuff movies are made of and this time it is far from make-believe. The closer we get to midnight the more uneasy I feel and it has not helped to have a 3-year-old who just came out of a crazy fever for a few days. And no it isn’t “that” virus. 

My wife has been running around town trying to get stuff sorted before it goes all apocalypse here in our small town while this time I’ve been caring for a sick child. Let me point out that I get a little stressed when our boy gets sick and my demeanor can get somewhat rude for which I apologize continuously. I feel I have to say this. Maybe it’s another attempt at saying sorry babes! This morning with Ben feeling way better I tried to read a little but not very successfully because now it was playtime again after two days. For days I was busy with stress and now I was busy with, well, a busy toddler. 

What I did read was this paragraph from a book by Matt Knisely called Framing Faith.

“Stories reverberate and embed themselves in our shared memory. They may not immediately change our lives, but they descend deep into our fabric and rest there. They settle and grow and then when the time is just right, they begin to do their work. Stories influence. They motivate, and they direct us from the outside in, surfacing and returning to remembrance as we experience new stories and life experiences. Stories shape us.”

Let this forced new rhythm of having to stay home be a time when we catch up as families and share those untold stories that we as parents or grandparents have so many of. Let's not take stories to the grave one day that might be the very anchor or guiding light our children will need when we aren’t around anymore. Let’s tell our life stories at home, at meals, over Skype or Whatsapp. We have the time and the means to. 

This time of physical isolation is far from social isolation and thanks to technology many of us can capitalize on this forced rest. Many of us are allowed to be together at home. What a blessing during a very stressful and fearful time.

The above are all nice and cuddly but I do want us to take time to also think of and pray for those who are most vulnerable in the context of South Africa during this pandemic. And please do the same for our people on the frontlines like our police, first responders, nurses, doctors, hospital staff and more. They are literally keeping us safe however they can.

Oh and about the photo: I dedicate this post to the humble bog roll which has been one of our most comforting “security blankies” the last few weeks.

[charlfolscher]

Last night in the bush. I have been in a bubble for 2 weeks but tomorrow I start with the airport. Will be washing my hands a lot I guess. . . . . . Landscape 5 #nakedplanet #theglobewanderer #roamtheplanet #fantastic_earth #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #colors_of_day #visualambassadors #nature_wizards #ig_countryside #fiftyshades_of_nature #stunning_shots #igersmood #adventurethatislife #nature_brilliance #keepitwild #nature_sultans #master_shots #ourplanetdaily #stayandwander #sunsetphotos (at Mokopane ; Limpopo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B99-Ejflr4y/?igshid=crywlw1za6un

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Had this beast for the last 2 weeks. Tomorrow we say goodbye to these views. Can’t wait to see my family. . . . . . . #astrophotography #milkyway #longexposure #stars #nightphotography #nightsky #astronomy #milkywaychasers #space #nature #landscapephotography #astrophoto #universe #travel #longexposure_shots #night #photooftheday #nikon #landscape #canon #galaxy #starrynight #sky #nightscape #naturephotography #longexpoelite #longexpo #landcruiser (at Shikwaru Lodge) https://www.instagram.com/p/B98UhwhlNEg/?igshid=1tkhqnlwdg7o1

[charlfolscher]

Mood. Time to zzzz. . . . . . #wildlifephotography #animal_captures #animals_in_world #splendid_animals #animals_captures #animal_fanatics #animalelite #animal_sultans #animal_sultans  #wildlifephoto #wildlifelovers #earthfocus  #WildlifePhotographyTours #wildlifephotographyu #wildlifephotographyhides #wildlifephotographyoftheyear #wildlife #myrmecologist #nature #naturephotography  #wildlifeplanet #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeaddicts #natgeowild #natgeo #natgeowild_hd #natgeopix #closeupanimal #natgeohub #natgeowildlife (at Mokopane ; Limpopo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B94q0FClsk5/?igshid=ghvkvtfqbe3f

[charlfolscher]

Trying to caption this and finding it hard not to reference the current pandemic in our world. My time in this beautiful place is drawing to a close and I wish it was under better circumstances. Stay safe, be wise and above all don’t be fearful. . . . . . #wildlifephotography #animal_captures #animals_in_world #splendid_animals #animals_captures #animal_fanatics #animalelite #animal_sultans #animal_sultans  #wildlifephoto #wildlifelovers #earthfocus  #wildlifephotographyu #wildlifephotographyhides #wildlifephotographyoftheyear #wildlife #nature #naturephotography  #wildlifeplanet #wildlifeonearth #natgeowild #natgeo #natgeopl #natgeowild_hd #natgeoru #natgeopix #wildlifeperfection #natgeohub #natgeowildlife (at Shikwaru Lodge) https://www.instagram.com/p/B91iX6QFhLZ/?igshid=dlwvw4960toi

[charlfolscher]

This black and white pic does not fit my IG grid and who cares really. In the context of the Covid-19 reality and rising fears and measures in the world, this pic I took a few days ago in the middle of the bush, drinking in it’s night sounds and missing my family directed my heart and mind toward God. He has my family and my life and soul in His hands and He is good. We will call on God in our day of trouble and He will surely answer. . . . . . #covid19 #covıd19 #coronavirus #landscapephotography #landscapephotomag #landscapephotos #landscapes #landscapeshot #landscapeslovers #landscape_specialist #natgeo #nationalgeographic #naturephotography #nature_prefection #ourplanetdaily (at Shikwaru Lodge) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9yg25ylHo9/?igshid=1b5x4jgo6h33t

[charlfolscher]

I got the keys to drive a Land Cruiser game viewer for the weekend. Whoop whoop! Gonna be clicking away!!! . . . . . #zebra #zebraphoto #wildlifephoto #wildlifephotographer #wildlifephotographic #wildlifephotographic #safariphotography #safarilive #agameoftones #africanbush (at Limpopo, Mokopane) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9rrQ_bFsL_/?igshid=1wa2hgf3nhzzy

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After Cyclone Idai I went to Mozambique with a mobile medical team as a photographer. I made this film from the video footage I shot.

[charlfolscher]

My most vivid memory of Christmas is family and more specifically Christmas Eve when my grandfather handed out gifts to the family. I miss those times...

Some Christmas sentiment coming your way. Its in Afrikaans but there is a clumsy translation of the song.

Vir almal wat hulle somervakansies in die Strand gespandeer het...

[charlfolscher]

This is my friends’ daughter Lilandi Meyer. She is the sweetest! If you would like to be part of their journey check out https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/lilandi-meyer