Through the Looking Glass

After a night's rain, a droplet on an agapanthus stem acted as a magnifying glass capturing part of the flower behind it.
Merle, Canon EOS-5D Mk2, 100mm Macro f2.8

A Farm in Africa

A gate separating the paddocks on a cattle farm near the Vaal Dam other side Heidelberg.

Merle, Canon EOS-5D Mk2, 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS

FireOrange Sunset

Late orange sun taken after a crystal clear day at Mountain Sanctuary, between Brits and Rustenberg.
Merle, Canon EOS-5D Mk2, 28-80mm 2.8-4 L

Shy Full Moon

The full moon peeping though the clouds, 31 March, taken by Merle, with Canon EOS-5D Mk2, 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS. The 'flare' is due to plenty moisture in the atmosphere.

The Drowning Pool

One of my favourite but different pictures. I just loved the strange atmosphere and the reflection which hides what lies beneath... Derrick, Canon EOS-5D, 20-35mm f2.8 L

SuperStrikes

One of our many lightning pictures over Sandton City. Derrick, Canon EOS-1Ds, 70-200mm f4 L

Into Africa

Our short wheel base Land Rover Defender which gets us almost anywhere - to take pictures. With the state of our roads everyone should drive one! Many of our secondary dirt roads are in better condition than the main tar roads.

Highveld Rain

Canon EOS 5D, 70-200mm f4 L

Return to the Stars

I was fortunate to come across these old steam engines patiently waiting at the end of their line. Pity that they are rusting away but at least their atoms will soon take the shape of something else in the universe. There are still at least fifty or more in this, one of the last remaining steam engine graveyards on the planet. Derrick, Canon EOS-1Ds, 17-40mm f4 L

Sunday drive to Parys, Free State SA

We left Johannesburg under sombre grey skies which eventually broke over our heads with spray blinding us every time a car, or even worse, a truck passed us!  As we neared the town the sun began to break through the clouds (it was still raining when i took this picture) chasing them away to give us a wonderful sunny afternoon.

It was about lunchtime when we drove into town and came across this stunning little restaurant called Hoi Polloi!  It is situated in the roof of a building on the Main road which runs through town.  Whilst eating your lunch on the balcony you could watch everything driving by from bicycles to petrol tankers/sheep trucks - quite amusing!

After lunch we drove out of town and took a right turn and came upon the most amazing patch of Cosmos flowers next to the road opposite to where Derrick has parked the Discovery.  These flowers usually bloom in Spring and Summer but I have never seen so many at this time of the year.

Before long our tar road disappeared and suddenly we were on dirt and going through farms, we rounded a corner and startled this flock of Guinea Fowl which took off as best they could being a bird that is a bit too heavy to fly at a moment's notice!  This road eventually took us back to where we had started but it was great to see a different part of this area.

The end to a really great relaxing day!