All apologies.
What else could I say?
- Nirvana
Eastern Cape, South Africa 5:21AM
A long road through the Karoo
…and out of South Africa (for now)…
Trying to capture a ‘best of’ retrospective set of images from South Africa has proved near impossible – too many images – too many subjects – too much personal connection – so I am going to wrap it up with this image taken on the road that runs from Middelburg through Graaff Reinet to Cape Town. It’s a long, straight and hot journey especially at 3pm on a Sunday afternooon when every cornershop inland seems to be closed…
About the photograph:
‘This photograph is taken on the N2 road to Cape Town, The Glen (my mother’s ‘family farm’), outside Graaff-Reniet, Eastern Cape South Africa, sits nestled among the taller vegetation to the centre of the image.
…if, like me, you haven’t been ‘home’ for a long time, go, look at your grandparents gravestones, smell the air, taste the food, remember your heritage, take a deep breath, give thanks you can, and go on…’
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Contemplating district 9.
South Africa is a land with substantial ‘visual interest’, and it’s often, as I have previously mentioned, not where you would expect to find it.
Take DISTRICT 9 for example, and the unlikely yet complex visual backdrop to the film.
10/10 for originality and juxtapositioning of ideas.
The film, along with a few others recently set in South Africa (disgrace, invictus..), has been on my ‘watch-list’ since it’s release, and, it is brilliantly original. The political and social references continue to re-play long after the last scene…watch it; even if sci-fi is not your thing.
&
Charging White Rhinoceros, Mpofu Game Reserve, South Africathe charging white rhinoceros
SITUATION: MPOFU GAME RESERVE
LOCATION: EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA (Approx 3-4 hrs drive inland from Port Elizabeth, some would say out of the way…)
TIME: 07:23:50 (22.05.2009)
SUBJECT: CHARGING WHITE RHINO
FOCAL LENGTH / APERTURE : 450mm F/2.8
POST PRODUCTION: ADOBE CS3
About the photograph:
‘You just do not get to see this everyday…’
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JM Coetzee, John Malkovich, Eastern Cape, South Africa…a recipe for something of interest…disgrace.
If you have been following the retrospective posts you will be aware of the time I spent in South Africa last year – in the heart of the Eastern Cape – 100 kilometers from Grahamstown – it’s currently a dry place where ‘post-apartheid’ South Africa doesn’t neccesarily carry the same understanding as it may in other parts of the world…the film is worth watching…
'small town, eastern cape'
About the photograph:
‘small town, eastern cape’, Adelaide, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 2009′
View from ‘Nel’s Hill’ over the town of Adelaide, with the Winterberg Mountains in the background.
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Watch the film…
four zebra at the waterhole.3
About the photograph:
‘’four zebra at the waterhole’.3, Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 2009′
Posed, yet alert, in the bushveld that surrounds them, at the edge of the water.
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the quiet sunset.2 - Storms River Mouth, South Africa, 2009
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp part of the Garden Route National Park on the border of the Eastern / Western Cape has to be my favourite National Park in South Africa.
A strip of lush vegetation, a large and sudden topographic change down to the coast, and probably some one of the most awe inspiring and as ‘close to the ocean’ official camping sites and chalets that you will find without breaking some rule… and, then there’s the scenerey.
About the photograph:
‘the quiet sunset.2, Storms River Mouth Rest Camp, South Africa, 2009′
Unable to do justice to this incredible place – with one photograph – I have posted an image that captures a typical evening combination of sunset, coastal rock formations and just a hint of accommodation. It will take some time to get through the images captured here so keep a lookout on my website as I will be adding a ‘travel’ type section soon. If you are planning a trip to South Africa this is one spot not to miss.
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www.douglasmarkblack.com
snow in a dry land.1, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 2009
2009 was an interesting year…3 countries, 3 continents, for almost 3 months at a time – with the last -being Australia, (which is where we have now settled). It really was, an interesting year.
Indulging in a little ‘retrospection’ the 3+ months in South Africa were definitely the highlight of 2009. A unique opportunity to indulge photographically, slow right down, and spend time with family. Being in a place where you still have a sense of ‘freedom’ or unaccountability was both frightening and liberating at the same time and in stark contrast to the CCTV socities of most major international cities.
The country, on the cusp of hosting the 2010 Football World Cup, is an interesting place to be. Ignoring crime for a minute (if you can) and I am not going to blog down that road…I had some fantastic photographic experiences ranging from charging white rhino to a horrific RTA/MVA (for those in SA) outside my window at 3am one morning…
So, as a last look back over the shoulder at 2009, I have decided to share some of my highlights and the images created during that time.
As I have often found, when travelling, it’s the places and situations slightly off the beaten track that present opportunities that you would least expect to capture some of the most dramatic images…
About the photograph:
‘snow in a dry land.1, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa 2009′
The irony is that the nearest country town situated an hours drive by 4×4 is currently rated as a disaster area due to the incredible drought … far from the night glow of urban sprawl people in areas like this need one thing to survive and when no water comes out of the tap, you have a problem.
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www.douglasmarkblack.com
Just back from a week without internet, emails and twitter! Fantastic
…but yes, behind schedule…visited Tsitsikamma National Park at Storms River Mouth, which has to be my new favourite National Park in South Africa, as well as a quick stop at Leisure Island in Knysna and then on to Graaff-Reniet (& surrounds), via Prince Alfreds Pass, for a few days, sadly missed the Owl House in Neu Bethesda but have to save something for next time…
Will post images on website and blog shortly once the dust settles and in the meantime will be uploading my ‘Blackberry photo a day’ for the last week via Flickr (see last test post).
I am loving the Flicker to WordPress and Flickr to Twitter applications!
Between the odd mountain bike ride and a touch of TV (read Springboks* narrowly defeating the British and Irish Lions on the weekend, the end of the 20/20 Cricket and the start of Wimbledon) and a touch of ‘work’ I seem to have not posted for a couple of days… so here’s a 3 special locations that I have found incredibly awe inspiring and are just great for lansdcape photography…
* …anyone else digging that player 23 advert on tv at the moment?
Soussusvlei, Namibia –
There is something amazingly spectacular about the desert and the way light changes the colour of the sand – this is photographic paradise IMHO.
Les Contamines Alpine Lake Surrounds, French Alps, France –
France is so vast I am sure there are so many special little corners for amazing photography, one such place is the Alpine area of the Jovet Lakes a few hours hike up from Les Contamines. Fresh mountain air snow capped reflections in high altitude lakes – awesome.
The road to Mt. Cook, South Island New Zealand -
My 2 week experience of New Zealand (like most I guess) was largely weather dependant, thankfully the weather played its part and we were blessed with 10 from 14 days of sunshine, 1 such day was on the road to Mount Cook, from Christchurch. The light, the colours, the roughness of the mountain peaks – I could have spent a month there…
…shots taken using my holga 120N…
LONDON
PARIS
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