Hex River Valley Celebrating Autumn

“Sometimes I get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.” ― Ansel Adams. Today God was on my side, and I want to share how this perfect day, with the South African flag raised, became a memorable part of my journey, inspiring you to find your own special moments.

It’s only when I stand surrounded by the ever-present mountains that I really realise how insignificant we are.  We’ll all come and go, and they’ll still be there.  We are so small, yet we can wreak such havoc.

To spend a morning with someone who grew up at the foot of the mountain is special and a rare treat. The earth is still fresh in the early morning when the sun peeks over the horizon with its bright light from the East.

Can you see Queen Victoria?

Meandering through the orange, purple, and golden colours of the vineyards along little-known paths gives us the advantage of taking lesser-seen photographs.   The view from that rocky koppie overlooking Kanetvlei with its breathtaking vistas was a highlight.  I rarely walk with the hounds, and that was a real treat too. 

Homes must have large windows for us to appreciate the ever-changing landscape; unfortunately, birds often can’t see the glass and fly headlong into it.  The pain and shock must be monumental, and it’s a miracle they sometimes survive too.

Doing photographic walks and outings with another photographer is always inspiring, and I think it certainly lifts one's game.   What normally happens when I’m alone is often tragic, as I cowboy around shooting from the hip, hoping something good happens. Unless I’ve planned a “tabletop” still life, things can go awry as I might be pressed for time, reluctant to ask someone if I may take a photograph of them, or the area may be dicey; there’s safety in numbers, they say.

Having my partner in crime helps me see things differently and makes the journey more meaningful, which I hope inspires you too.

“A lone peak of high point is a natural focal point in the landscape, something by which both travellers and locals orient themselves. In the continuum of landscape, mountains are discontinuities -- culminating in high points, natural barriers, unearthly earth.” ― Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking.

Thank you, Chris, for walking with me, and thank you, Louise, for trusting us to explore freely; it means a lot. 

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