Restoration

While traveling back from Durban over the weekend I stopped over at many interesting places and met some lovely people. While in the Nottingham Road area I stumbled upon a old rusty barn which I wanted to photograph. As I was driving up the private driveway a big 4x4 came rumbling towards me. This is it, I thought. Now I'm in shit.
The truck pulled up next to me and the man asked if he could help me. I asked if he would mind if I photographed his old barn. Not only did he give me permission, he promptly invited me to his house which he had restored from an old barn, similar to the one I saw.

After showing me his house and garden, we sat on the veranda and had a cold beer while he told me interesting things about the area, and showed me photos of what the farm looked like when he bought the property. As a point of reference I show you a picture of the rusty barn, which is similar to what his house looked like before the restoration. Altogether 1.2million rand was spent getting the house and the farm back to it's former glory.

The old barn did have the original sandstone walls, which were sandblasted and cleaned.

You don't even need a map. Just get in your car and go. Take the road less travelled, and see our country while you still can.

Die kaalvoet dame..

In 1843 het n afwaardiging van 400 vroue by kommissaris Cloete protes aangeteken oor die anneksasie van die Republiek Natalia. Johanna Smit, suster van Gerrit Maritz en eggenote van eerw. Erasmus Smit, het by hierdie geleentheid gese: Liewer kaalvoet oor die Drakensberg as onder Britse vlag.

In 1843 a delegation of 400 women protested to commissioner Cloete against the annexation of the Republic of Natalia. Johanna Smit, sister of Gerrit Maritz and wife of hon. Erasmus Smit, declared at the gathering: Rather barefoot over the Drakensberg (mountains) than under the British flag.






If you ever want to visit the 'Barefoot lady' you would really have to want to. The sign to turn off is between Harrismith and Bergville, on the Alternate route R103. Opposite the Sterkfontein dam, which interesting enough is the second highest earth dam wall in the world. That means no concrete, bricks or steel, just stone and earth. (Correction done here)

Anyway, the sign reads Retief se Huis(Retief's house) and Retief se klip(Retief's stone). The first part of the sign; Retief se huis, is what I was going to drive 11km's to see. It turns out, to my great annoyance, the distance was actually 23km's one way, the road was barely suitable for a 4x4, and get this; there is no house!
I was very glad that I, by chance, met up with the barefoot lady. She was worth the visit, and we had a long chat about the wars, the concentration camps and of course, whether or not she ever did walk over the berg. If the internet wasn't off during the time I wrote this, I probably would have the answer for you.

I think, as tough as she was, tannie Smit would have smiled at the flowers I left her.

After arriving at the end of the road, with no House in sight, I called out to what I thought was someone approaching over the ridge. Felt rather stupid when I realised it was tannie Smit. (Yes, I blushed and looked around if anyone saw what happened!)

Get out there and see the beautiful country.

Top ten..

I remember that I listed Deep Sea fishing as one of the ten things I wanted to do before I die. Well I was offered the opportunity to do just that this weekend. One of our suppliers invited me for fun and excitement and I latched on like a leach gone bezerk. Here are some pics I took over the weekend. The pics on the ocean are from the official photographer.

Sterkfontein Dam

Midlands Tranquility

Durban at night. From Cafe Fish.

One of ten boats that went out at the crack of dawn.

Wish it was mine. A Marlin on the line is the best at the time. This one actually got away through some sloppy Gaff-work.



High Swells

Catch of the day

Urban Life

I was a member of a local photo club on the internet, and they often made me wonder whether or not the photographic medium is properly understood or my photos correctly interpreted.

When I published my photos I used to ask for technical comments, in order that I can understand the terminologies, as well as use the positive and negative critique to better my work. Unfortunately the critique has begun to overshadow the message I wish to portray with my work. I feel one does not have to follow classic photo technique(rules) in order to make a photograph great, or at least good. Art is my intention with my camera and my 'digital darkroom'. I don't just want to take pictures, but I want to take a picture and transform it in subtle ways and turn it into art.

I don't care if my composition is faulty and I couldn't bother if the rule of thirds is not evident in my photos. Nor do I bother removing noise (grainy) when it clearly influences the emotion of the photo; giving it a mood that would otherwise be lacking if the photo was clear and grain free.

So I nervously joined an international Art club, and published some of my better photos. The feedback was refreshing to say the least. Instead of the usual technical jargon, I was blessed with interpretation. Members would analyse the photo in terms of it's artistic merit, and each would write what the photograph meant for them. Not all if it was flattering, but it made me confident that I was on the right track to start with.

I have often stopped by the side of the road and taken a photo of something I thought looks very eye catching, something that might appeal to someone else as well. However, more often than not, the outcome(photo) is not what I saw with the naked eye, and a certain amount of manipulation is required to replenish some of the lost features which were evident in the first prespective (eyes). This is often frowned at by traditionalists and doomsayers of digital material.

Instead of concentrating on the technical, I started taking photos of what I like, and my darkroom work has become more free and expansive.

I feel liberated.

Shadows and Darkness

Blue Eyes

Stuck in my mind..

Unforgettable.

..and God said..

The Mhluzi and the Leopard

Hiked 12 k's on this day. The trail is not really a trail, but mostly bushwacking. I only heard on my return that Leopard are still prevalent in the canyons. I guess the skull and bones I found of a Rooihartebees was evidence of this. Very exciting.

Took a short break on the banks of the Mhluzi. This is the small brother of the Mighty Olifants that flows through the Kruger National Park.

Botshabelo Game Lodge

Thank you all for the season wishes. It's good to be back.

Here are some photos I took on my vacation To Botshabelo.

http://www.botshabelogamelodge.co.za