SILKY BLUR AND GOLDEN REFLECTIONS

For this latest collection of photographs, I worked at very first light with Neutral Density filters to achieve a silky blur on the unpredictable wave patterns among the rocks. It is always a challenge to shoot in this incredibly low but beautiful light.

Choosing the lowest ISO setting of my FujiXT2 camera, an aperture of f16 with a slow shutter speeds results in a variety of effects. The best part about using ND grads is the surprise I get when I see the image on the screen. I am always amazed and excited at the result of enhancing the silky movement of the waves around different elements in my images.

This long exposure blurs the sea, adding mood and atmosphere I so enjoy and when I find gold reflections for ever changing in the moving water I like to concentrate on abstracts of textures and colours. It is such a satisfying and inspiring way to start the day!

 

CLOUDS, WIND AND SUN

 When we found out that yet another cold front would hit the region, we bravely headed off over the Franschhoek Pass into the wheat fields of the Overberg where the harvest had recently started.

The shadows of the racing clouds brought out amazing patterns in the harvested and ripening fields enhancing their contours and giving us a never-ending dance of light.

A cup of warm coffee was most appreciated while we battled in the icy wind identifying birds and looking for pictures. It was invigorating and the cloud formations could not have been more exciting. We had not seen the area looking more beautiful with the multitude of colours and tones still lingering in the landscape in the early stages of the harvest.

 

A FEAST OF FLOWERS

The previous experience was so fantastic that we decided to spend a week exploring the area around Kamieskroon in the heart of Namaqualand where a wonderful surprise awaited us.

Despite being late in the flower season, the reoccurring regular rains and cool weather kept them blooming profusely for some extra weeks and we enjoyed it thoroughly, visiting all our favorite spots and even discovering new ones.

It was years since we saw the daisies creeping up the slopes of the granite outcrops, making little flower gardens among the boulders and a pure delight to lie between them along the road for a spot of macro photography.

 

POSTBERG

In early September we spent a day in the famous Postberg Flower Reserve which is part of the West Coast National Park near Langebaan. Thank goodness we arrived at the entrance early as the queue of visitors was already stretching for some distance. After months of lockdown, everyone was eager to escape in nature and what better choice than to imbibe the beauties of the season in such a perfect setting.

After all the rain we have had this winter, Spring is exploding in a riot of flowers and we have enjoyed the most spectacular displays along the West Coast and Namaqualand in particular. It is years since the wildflowers have been so profuse and varied.

 

GROOT WINTERHOEK

 This World Heritage Site is perched on top of the mountains above Porterville where rugged and imposing rock formations frame the snow caped peaks in the distance. Driving up the convoluted Dasklip Pass to reach our destination for the day, we stopped along the way to admire the patterns in fields of the Swartland below us.

This important conservation area protects diverse wildlife and a wide variety of mountain fynbos species which were looking spectacular in their varied textures and bright colours. We had no more than 6 degree Celsius but there was not a breath of wind so we happily walked in the veld to admire and photograph the various types of plants which were glowing in the back light and also discovered  little stream quietly running in the thick grass which held our attention for a while.

Driving back in the middle of the afternoon, we were delighted to see fields of white daisies among the canola and wheat fields.