Tag Archives: sunrise in the country

Grey Goose Grounds

December 9, 2015 Andrew Harvard 2 Comments

“The Grey Goose which is situated at the foot of the Drakensberg mountains, offers a sense of tranquillity and promises your stay to be a home away from home, come enjoy your stay with us whether its work or play we guarantee to give you the stay you will remember. We are proud to be one of the few places in Newcastle to offer a variety of fun activities that you will enjoy without having to leave Grey Goose. Our activities include fishing, horse-riding, breath taking game drives, picnic walks, exhilarating helicopter flips and a two day hike up the Northern Drakensberg mountains” ~www.greygoose.co.za/

Ideal for weddings to get some amazing sunset shots after the church / ashram and before the drinks start flowing

Photography, Travel

Gateway to Heaven

June 14, 2015 Andrew Harvard Leave a comment

It was very cold on the old Memel Road outside Newcastle Country Lodgelate last night. I was alone and having my first serious attempt at some star photography. Dinner at Nando’s down the road with a Magnum ice-cream to round it off had me on a sugar rush. I did 5 minutes reading on camera settings and thought let’s give it a bash.

The one tutorial said “you will not see the milky way with the naked eye so get an app for … USD”. I thought let’s go see what we see. Initially, I was a little worried and only saw a few stars. As the city lights faded and it got later I thought “Oh my fish!!”. I was trying to focus in the dark with a faulty weak flashlight (very important tool) but still got to see three shooting stars in less than a minute.

The Memel Road is not the safest road on earth. Motorists and large trucks go like bats out of hell. There was also a taxi / bus driver war on the go so I didn’t feel too safe. I also had to avoid over-protective shotgun Frik farmers who might have fired buckshot up my rear.

Ok that’s most my excuses out of the way.. lol. Here is the photo shot with myCanon South Africa 6D from Orms using a Canon EF 17–40mm lens lens all set on F4, ISO 1600 and 25 sec manual / tripod.

If you thought I was mad over seascape photos let’s see what I get up to in the next few months wink emoticon. It was one of those photo shoots where I felt the blessings raining down (happens every 20th sunrise or so).

PS: my 2nd place prize from Sigma South Africa for the wide-angle competition was delivered to my door yesterday – a Sigma lenses 10-20 Canon mount. Thank you to the gent who cheated his way into 1st place and then got disqualified; you pushed me from 3rd (no prize) into 2nd smile emoticon like emoticon. I see Sigma has a 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM II lens that would fit nicely onto my 6D – I was thinking of asking if I could swap my prize for this lens with a cash difference pay-in smile emoticon.

Photography, Travel

A Simple Life

June 8, 2015 Andrew Harvard 2 Comments

Thank you for giving me today and I pray I may see the sun rise tomorrow, Amen

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Canon South Africa 6D, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens, F2.8, 1/1600 sec, ISO 640
Sunrise at Cedara, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa – photo “A Simple Life”

Photography, Travel

Andy on Mt. Thesiger

April 1, 2015 Andrew Harvard 2 Comments

Just to recap: On Tuesday morning, 24 March 2015 I woke up before sunrise and headed alone up the hill to the top of Mt. Thesiger (Port St John’s – South Africa) at around this spot GPS: -31.603330, 29.527454. I spent the night before having a scrumptious seafood feast and filter coffee plus hot chocolate at @amapondobackers. I was photofit!

I set up my Canon South Africa camera (6D & Canon EF 17–40mm lens) and tripod in anticipation of the forthcoming sunrise. The river lodges were some 300 m or more below and I could faintly see their lights through the mist or low clouds.

It was calm, peaceful and dead quiet except for the medium-size predatory birds that were circling the mountain and squawking at each other. Every so often they would fly fairly close and it was amazing to hear their wings “woof – woofing” through the air.

The view across to Mt Sullivan on the other side of the river was glorious to say the least for about three minutes or less at one point of the sunrise. The sun then “disappeared” but not completely, although there was no more golden light forcing through the somewhat thick clouds.

The accompanying photo is a self-shot image using the camera’s 10 second timer.

If I’m looking a little tense and you wonder why I wasn’t doing some classic pose / holding a flashlight, then wonder no more. I sprinted 15 metres across rocks to get to my posing position, all the while trying not to trip and end up 300 metres down to the left. The “woof-woofing” birds flying around me were big enough for me to suspect they might be brave enough to try pecking my eyes out while I’m alive! Community of Port St Johns, Wild Coast

Settings F11, ISO 320 & 1/8 sec (-2 exp. comp.)

Cremorne Estate, Port St Johns Amapondo Backpackers Port St Johns Amapondo backpackers Port St Johns Port St John Port Saint John’S, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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Photography, Travel

Amapondo Valley

March 10, 2015 Andrew Harvard 4 Comments

When I can see it and action it I love to talk about it: Turning obstacles into opportunity, exercising patience and then taking the gap when it appears.

The day before New Year’s Eve… Task: drive 6 hours to do a job in Umtata E Cape. New Year’s Eve drive 6 hours to return home while some are cracking open their first beer.

Not the worst but I’m sure we would all rather be home at this time.

Solution: take camera with, don’t stay in Umtata rather Port St John’s on the sea and crack open a beer or two on the night before New Year’s Eve at a vibey backpacker spot called Amapondo Backpackers. Have a smashing meal with chilli and early night.

Sunrise next morning at 05:00: it’s raining. Solution: drive towards Durban at 05:00 and wait for the gap in the rain. Get out of car and take photo.

Benefits: what a smashing trip, job done sooner than later, pre-New Year’s mini-party (feeling like a backpacker), home in time for New Year’s party with two photos which remind me of the beautiful countryside I had to drive through.

Here is the first photo: Amapondo Valley

Canon South Africa 6D: F14, 1/40, ISO 320 using 17-40 available at Orms

Eastern Cape, South Africa