Nelis' Photo Blog

Maybe I was in grade 7 when our English (second language) teacher taught us a poem telling the story of a train journey from Worcester crossing the Hex River mountains. He got so excited that I still remember him exclaiming, "out of De Doorns she thundered, and over the vast Karoo!". This came to mind when we recently travelled from Britstown to Carnarvon. Therefore I tried to capture the vastness of this little part of the Karoo with a panorama. Do yourself a favour and open the photo on a bigger screen, zoom till the height fills the screen and then pan from the one side to the other (covering about 150 degrees). PS: I found the poem (Crossing the Hex Mountains by John Runcie) on the Internet, but the line I remember reads, "Then out of De Doorns she thundered, and over the starved Karoo". Did the teacher change the wording to "vast Karoo" or was it changed in my memory because I have experienced the Karoo? SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: h...

When visiting coastal areas from time to time I've been fascinated by the long streams of birds flying in one direction in the morning and coming back in the evening. The Cape Cormorant (Trekduiker) may fly up to 40km to a feeding location (following the movements of schooling fish) and can dive to a maximum depth of 37m. Their population have declined from millions in the 1970s to "endangered" in recent times - attributed to shortage of food due to commercial overfishing. Click on the images to view them in full.  Previous post of sea birds:  https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/sea-birds-at-gansbaai.html SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

Keys can be buttons that are depressed to be accepted as input by a computer.    They can be tonal systems necessary to play music in line with the composer's intentions. They can be notched and grooved metal implements to open or close locks. Keys can enable us to understand or achieve something. It may be what we need to solve a problem.  Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

The wildflowers of the Western Cape become a tourist attraction when fields are covered with flowers after a good raining season. What a joy to drive through landscapes of flowers! There is also joy in following trails and pay attention to individual flowers. These were taken during a lovely walk with friends in the hills of Hermanus. Leucospermum cordifolium (Red pincushion-protea) Berzelia lanuginosa (common button bush). Click on the images to view them in full.  Previous posts with wildflower photos: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/tankwa-2016.html   https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/wildflowers-at-elandsbaai.html   https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/2023/08/spring.html   SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

"Vintage" cars can be (according to dictionaries): " representative of the best and most typical";  " of lasting interest and importance; classic;" or " representing the high quality of a past time". These cars give me a feeling of nostalgia - even though they come from a time before I was born. (Photos taken at the Old Tannery, Wellington.) Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

"Geometry is a branch of mathematics that studies the sizes, shapes, positions, angles, and dimensions of things," is a picturesque explanation - a graphic description. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

The many benefits of walking is well-known and we are often reminded thereof.  Maybe the best is the pleasure of enjoying nature while walking. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

A triptych consists of three sections, mostly paintings, that are presented as one artwork. The three sections may convey one story or events that relate to one another. In the Middle Ages some artists used this format for altar pieces with a Biblical narrative. A wide variety of triptychs have been used in many artforms - also in photography. Click on the image to view it in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

Do you look at the clouds for familiar figures? An animal, a face, a tree, or something that triggers your imagination? It's interesting to find hidden figures in photos. Resemblances of a vase with flowers, a running figure, a dragon's face. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

Although Street Photography is practiced by many and an important type of photography, I find it awkward to take photos in public. Then again, people can be so fascinating. I am glad that I captured these friendship moments (the last one with permission). Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

Warm colours (red, orange and yellow) are preferred by many photographers. One should guard against the overbearing presence of blue that might ruin a photo, some say. Therefore the advice to take advantage of the "golden hour", when colours before sunset and after sunrise are richer and softer.  It took me long to appreciate the "blue hour" (before sunrise and after sunset), when colder and calmer blue hues have their own magic. Then there are the vibrant blues of a sunny day, while the ocean has its own variety of beautiful blues. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

Following up on a previous post on Analogue Electronics ( https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/2023/11/analogue-electronics.html ) I found a few discarded digital boards.  Compared to the 3-dimensional impression of  the analogue board these boards look almost 2-dimensional.  They are at a much smaller scale. On closer look, they have fascinating patterns. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

Trees can be wonderful and full of character: they can be social, alone, young, old, vibrant, struggling to survive, small or majestic. Some trees could have been around when our parents or grandparents were young. They may have wonderful stories to tell - if only we can discover how to listen to them. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

"Texture" refers to the visual and touchable property of a surface.  In photographs textures are often one element of the composition. Texture could appeal to your imagination: how would it feel when touched?  It could also communicate feelings (emotions).   I am often fascinated by textures and then I try to capture the characteristics of that texture. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

This candle burned quietly as centrepiece of our table on Christmas Day 2023. It's pleasant light added to the warmth of our family gathering. It even changed into a beautiful figure. Precious memories of that day are still glowing in our hearts. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

A search on the internet shows that screen backgrounds are very popular. Everyone will have their own preferences. My preference is a background with a soothing image where my icons will blend, but not disappear. Here are three examples I use on my PC monitor.  Click on the images to view them in full.  You are welcome to download and use them as long as you do not edit them. Please let me know if you have downloaded (email: nelis.dutoit@gmail.com or use the comment option). SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

In a previous post I shared photos of the tiny white flowers of the Sacred Bamboo. (Link:  https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/flowers-of-sacred-bamboo.html ). Here is a closer look at the berries: Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]

Whenever I get to visit a vineyard in Spring from time to time I am amazed by how fast the shoots grow. (According to Wikipedia they can average 3cm a day.) After every week there are so many new leaves.  Hidden among (under) the leaves the small flower clusters, that will eventually become clusters of grapes, begin to appear. Click on the images to view them in full.  SHARE this page OR share the blog's link: https://ndt-photoblog.blogspot.com/  FOLLOW this blog through the subscription widget on the sidebar.  [Click on the "3 lines" on the top left of the home page to open the sidebar.]