Lost Flight

Derrick - Canon 1Ds

A Forgotten Time

We had taken a right turn onto a dirt road one Sunday afternoon and came across this lovely old disused bridge near Hartebeespoort Dam - can't figure out why it is not in use anymore as there appeared to be nothing wrong with it!
Merle.  Canon 5D 28-80mm 2.8-4 L

~My World~

Merle.  Canon 5D. 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 IS L

Late Purple Afternoon

Merle.  Canon 5D. 28-80mm 2.8-4 L

Film

These South African Airways markings on an old airliner, no longer in service, show the excellent quality of film. Shot with Fuji Reala (100 asa), this is an extremely low resolution scan done at a one hour processing lab. I was still pleasantly surprised at the result. High resolution scans of film such as Fuji Velvia and Reala will probably still outperform even the best full frame 21 and 24mp digital cameras. Derrick - Canon 1V HS (film)

This is the Canon 1V HS film camera used for the above photograph. Just remember, even an old point and shoot from the sixties will give virtually the same result. The virtues of film are many - but the most important would probably be that as filmstocks improved through the years, only the film needed to be upgraded and not the camera. It would be the equivalent of merely upgrading your digital camera's memory card to go from 6 - 12 - 24 megapixels, etc. If only!

Cold Land of Afternoon

Derrick - Canon 1Ds, 70-200mm f4L

Thunder in the Karoo

Derrick - Canon 1Ds, 28-80mm f2.8-4 L

A Winter's Tail

With winter approaching, rather rapidly, I thought that it would be appropriate to post this picture. Taken about two years ago at a little country hotel, north of Johannesburg.  Derrick - Canon 5D, 85mm f1.8

Freedom of the Skies

In the upper middle part of the frame flies a single European Swallow, gliding on a thermal high up in a February sky.
Merle. Canon 5D 28-80mm 2.8-4 L

Calm after the Storm

Merle. Canon 5D Mk2. 28-80mm 2.8-4 L

Rain Catcher

After spending most of the day in the Heidelberg area we drove home with the rain on one side and stunning cloud formations on the other.  By the time we reached home the rain was pouring down but I managed to get this shot of a now turbulent little pond with the raindrops stirring up the water.
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2. 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 IS L

Autumn Pond

With the arc of the sun now lower, the afternoon sun is now shining through in different places catching the opening of this water lily on a perfectly still pond reflecting the blue sky.
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 IS L

Pink Reflection

Taken yesterday afternoon when the light was perfect.
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2. 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 IS L

Sunday's Cloud

Today dawned crystal clear but soon clouds began to gather and by this afternoon drops began to fall turning fluffy white clouds into dark heavy ones!
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2. 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 IS L

Fire in the Cradle of Mankind

In the last week of August 2008 fire broke out in this area and burnt for days and 'travelled' for miles over hills and across plains till eventually it was brought under control.  This was taken in the afternoon at about 4pm, the thick smoke blotting out the brightness of the sun and reducing it to a disc in the sky.
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2. 2.8-4 28-80mm L

Into the Night

The sky above Johannesburg on Sunday evening. It started off a cloudless and sunny day...  Derrick - Canon 1Ds, 17-40mm f4 L

Heaven's Gate

Derrick - Canon 5D, 20-35mm f2.8 L

Go West

Taken on the far west side of the Waterberg. Derrick - Canon 1Ds, 70-200mm f4 L

The Last Wave

Derrick - Canon 1D, 300mm f4 L.  ISO: 200, Shutter speed: 1/800, Aperture: f/10.0

Perfect Flight

This is a 'crop' from another photograph, you can clearly see that both legs are ringed and their beaks are open, does anybody know why they fly like this?
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Going in Circles 1

Ever noticed homing pigeons going in endless circles?  On Ballyclare Drive, Bryanston, there must be someone who owns this flock of birds as they are often circling/flying back from wherever he let them out of their cages.  On this particular afternoon we were coming back from a drive when we spotted them and pulled over.  You get plenty of chances to get a 'group' shot luckily as they just keep going round and round!  Cropping into this shot I did see that every single bird flies with it's beak open - interesting!
Merle.  Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5-6 L IS

Going in Circles 2

It took a little while to get a shot where all/most of the birds were in focus and I wanted a shot of the underside of the them as they flew past, luckily again and again!  On close-up inspection every single bird had been ringed on both legs.

Merle.  Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Remains of the Day

After the brilliant orange sunset, it began to change to these coral-tipped clouds and disappeared into the night.
Merle.  Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6mm L IS

Burning Sky

All of a sudden the sky turned the most incredible flame orange, it looked like everything was on fire!
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 28-80 2.8-4mm L

Blue Sky Sunset

Taken parked on a side road watching the planes flying in (see bottom left of the frame) and crossing the setting sun to land at Lanseria Airport, north of Johannesburg.  We were very surprised just how busy this little airport actually is!!
Merle.  Canon 5D 28-80mm 2.8-4 L

Homeward Bound

I was so pleased to get this flock of forty Egyptian Geese as they flew home across yesterday's evening sky.  I would have liked to have cropped in a bit but then I would have chopped the stragglers off!  Taken from the Renosterspruit area looking towards Johannesburg.
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

RedGreen Grass

Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Silent Thursday

Driving past, I could not help but think of the many stories and lives that have crossed this secluded spot. The surrounding trees seem to secretly harbour all that has taken place here, as they whisper 'time to go'.
Derrick, Canon 1Ds, 17-40 f4L. Slight bleach

The Sky Tonight

Merle and I took a drive into the country this afternoon (see Merle's pics above). We took pictures of the sunset over a period of close to an hour. This was one of the final shots taken by me. Location: Close to Lanseria Airport, overlooking Cradle of Mankind.

Derrick, Canon 1Ds, 17-40mm f4 L

Two Years Later

Time passes without one realizing just how slowly things change (in our terms). Here, two years later (see post titled 'The Drowning Pool') all that seems to have changed is the water level (and colour balance) in the early 1900's pool. 

Derrick, Canon 1Ds, 17-40mm f4 L

This is the picture taken just over two years ago.  Derrick, Canon 5D Mk1, 20-35mm f2.8 L

Peace

Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Power for the People

There are many of these power stations between Witbank and Middleburg adding interest as you drive along with the light and angles changing just as they did here.
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

There they Go!

Another pylon design marching through the Witbank/Middleberg farming area.  The rows of corn/mielies stretched on forever, so orderly in squares and diagonal lines nearly ready for harvest, taken in February.
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Power Giants

These silent giants seem to march everywhere across the country in single file stretching far into the blurry distance.  The sky was the most incredible blue this crisp winter's day as we drove through the Free State.  Rather than being a blot on the landscape I have grown to like them and now use them as a 'feature' a lot of times rather than curse them! (mind you, you don't ALWAYS want them around sometimes)
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

The Small Farmer

A little squiggly ploughed field in a very dry yellow landscape waiting for the rains to come in the Free State.
Merle. Canon 5D 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS  (we very seldom stop unless Derrick wants to take some pictures so all the landscape pics are taken from a moving car!)

Crop Patterns

After the harvest and waiting for Spring, perfectly patterned fields by an artistic tractor driver!  Taken when driving to the Drakensburg in July (winter) last year.
Merle. 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

PurpleBlue Terrace

Winter fields lying fallow ready to be planted in Spring.  Taken in July last year near the 'Amphitheater' in the Drakensburg Mountain range, Natal.
Merle.  Canon 5D Mk2. 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

The Holy Grail

To compliment Merle's post below I decided to add this photograph - taken with a Canon 1D and 50mm f1.4 lens.

Sundowners 2008

After a gorgeous New Year's Day with friends where we were staying at Sky Lodge, i noticed the warm  coral pink sunset rays shining through these glasses on the patio. The Lodge is situated on the upper slopes of the hills around Hartepeespoort Dam, the view of the dam from here is stunning and perfect to watch the midnight fireworks going off to mark the incoming year.

Merle. Canon 5D Mk2. 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Up Up and Away!

I don't think there are too many who live in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg who have not seen this balloon high above the Monte Casino complex morning, noon and night!  We went up one evening and were amazed just how far you could see.  The balloon is visable from as far as the Renosterspruit area when you are drive back from Hartebeespoort Dam, and that's pretty far!!
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2. 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Pearly Shimmer

The little speed boat in the bottom right hand corner is heading for Hout Bay harbour after a day out fishing.  The whole day had been rather dull so when we came round the bend and saw the sunlight coming through the clouds and dancing on the water it was incredible.
Merle. Canon 5D Mk2. 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Better Days

Apparently we have well over 400 000 windmills dotted around South Africa!  If you travel around and take side/dirt roads instead of covering miles of tar you will see that this is very possibly correct.  This was taken late Spring in the Vaal Dam area on a guest farm but has seen better days as some of the blades have fallen into the grass below but i love it together with the brick/coral fluffy waving grass.
Merle.  Canon 5D Mk2 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

NightCap

A full moon can be so perfect, but then there is very little or no definition at all so I prefer photographing the moon before it is full when you can see more craters.  This was taken early evening when the sky is still a darkish blue therefore less contrast and glare.
Merle, Canon 5D Mk2, 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Flashpoint

The Sandton area, as you will see, seems to attract lightning and when we detect that we are in for a display we rush off to Bryanston Shopping Centre and from the empty carpark are able to take incredible safe lightning pictures till the rain catches up with us. (Derrick's captures make this one look like the common 'squib'!)
Merle, Canon 5D Mk2, 28-80mm 2.8-4 L

Monkey School

We found a whole group of monkeys one afternoon having a wonderful monkey-time going backwards and forwards through the fence on a private farm in the Cradle of Mankind area, they almost seemed tame and ran around like they owned the place!
Merle, Canon 5D Mk 1, 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

After the Rain

Gorgeous pink rose 'Simplicity', (pink 'Iceberg') with the most perfect rain droplets taken in our complex gardens.
Merle, Canon 5D Mk2, 100mm F2.8 Macro

The Promise

A rainbow is always so beautiful but this little piece of one was the only indication that there actually was a whole rainbow somewhere! Merle, Canon 5D Mk2, 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS

Don't Look Now

Huge rain in the Karoo! Derrick, Canon EOS-1Ds, 17-40mm f4 L