“Secret” places and Art Deco buildings

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Anstey's Building

The fun thing about photowalking is getting to places you wouldn’t normally veture to for personal safety reasons. So I was rather chuffed when Jo’burg Photowalkers announced a meet-up at Anstey’s Building, a fine example of Art Deco architecture,  in downtown Johannesburg. (That’s it in the shot above, which I took while from the car while looking for the designate3d parking spot). I haven’t been to this part of town for many years so it was interesting to see how things have changed since the time I worked just a block or two away from this spot. And they have changed a lot, unfortunately not necessarily for the better in many respects. However, I was there to take pics, not lament the sorry state of of a once-beautiful city going to seed.

"New-style" shopping in the old Jo'burg CBD.

The change hits you as soon as you hit street level. I took the shot above as we exited the parking garage. From here it’s a short walk to the entrance of  Anstey’s  Building, our meeting place for this walk. After entering the building you walk down a fairly dull corridor and suddenly arrive in the lift lobby to be greeted by some stunning Art Deco work. It’s like stepping back to the 20s or 30s. I’m not sure if this is restoration work, or still the original craftsmanship.

Art Deco in Anstey's Building.

The cafetaria in the old Park Station.

But possibly the most fascinating part this particular photowalk was going into the old Park Station section of Johannesburg’s main railway station. Normally closed off to the public, the Photowalk organisers had arranged for the building to be opened for us. And what a place. I can still remember walking through this part of the old station when it was still in use some time in the 80s. I had several meals in the cafetaria above, which now just echoes with silent calls to ghostly waitresses. The corridors and halls of this venerable old building offer up a wealth of visual interest and you could easily spend a whole day in here and still not exhaust all the possibilities!

The main concourse of the old station.

Wonder why this old chair was left behind.

On the floor of the main concourse.

Entrance to signal room.

I think this was the pub. In those days it would have been a "men only" watering hole.

After the station we stopped off in a building called Manners Mansions. This is directly opposite Anstey's Building and was apparently designed by the same architect.

The main stairwell.

Manners Mansions terrace from Anstey's building.

The north facade of the Johannesburg city hall seen from the top of Manners Mansions.

 

The Carlton Centre office tower from the top of Manners Mansions.

Johannesburg CBD from the top of Manners Mansions

In the next post I’ll put uip a few more pics from this photowalk, but more views of town from street level. Until then…

 

Pretoria from on high

The Hotel 224, Pretoria.

A short walk from the Union Buildings is the Hotel 224, where we headed for the next photo session – sunset over Pretoria. The 15th floor conference centre, kindly opened for us by the hotel’s understanding management, proved to be an ideal vantage point for the spectacle. And spectacle it turned out to be, with just the right amount of cloud about to add interest to the sky without blotting out the sun.

Looking west

Loftus Versveld stadium, home to the famous Blue Bulls rugby team.

Arcadia, somewhat inappropriately named perhaps, is Pretoria’s main high-density living district.

“Thanks” to Hotel 224 for opening your facilities to us, and thanks to Pretoria Stadstappers Fotoklap for organising a great photowalk. In the next post we’ll venture in Johannesburg’s inner city and a couple of special buildings. Until then…

Union Buildings, Pretoria

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The Union Buildings in Pretoria are the administrative seat of the South African government. The imposing edifice was designed by Sir Herbert Baker, who designed many of South Africa’s most well-known buildings, and built with sandstone mostly quarried on the site. These pictures are from a photowalk organised by the Pretoria Stadstapper Fotoklap (Pretoria Photowalkers) group.

The Union of South Africa was born on 31st May, 1910,  with the amalgamation of the Cape and Natal colonies with the Republic of the Orange Free State and the Zuider Afrikaaner Republiek (ZAR). A new administrative capital for the new political entity was needed and these buildings were commissioned in 1908, with the cornerstone being laid in November 1910. The buildings were completed in 1913. You can learn more about the Union Buildings in this Wikipedia article.

I hadn’t been to the Buildings for some years. My previous visit was for the Nelson Mandela inauguration in ’94. (I remember well the cheers that went up from the assembled crowds upon the arrival of recently-murdered Libyan strong-man Muammar Gaddafi, and the tin-pot, psychopathic dictator, Robert “Mad Bob” Mugabe.)

Statue of Boer leader, Gen. Louis Botha

Steps leading up to the Union Buildings.

The grounds and gardens of the Union Buildings are a popular week-end gathering spot for people of all stripes. On the day we were there an Ethiopian wedding ceremony was in full swing, and, of course, proved to be a popular subject with the photowalkers, some of whom can be seen on the terrace just above the celebrants.

An Ethiopian wedding ceremony underway in the Union Buildings gardens.

Entrance to the main buildings.

In years past it was possible to walk up these steps and stroll around the exterior of the main buildings. However, increased security measures mean that this is as far as one can go these days. I didn’t have time on this walk to ascertain whether it’s still possible to get to the rear of the buildings, where a whole new vista opens up.

The dome above the eastern portico.

Union Buildings gardens.

After the walk around the Union Buildings we all went to Hotel 224 who had kindly allowed us to use their 14th floor conference centre for some sunset photography, but I’ll save those shots for my next post. Until then…

 

Kalahari Dreaming (Part two)

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In my next post I’ll conclude this series of images from the Kalahari. Until then…

Kalahari Dreaming (Part one)

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Kalahari sunset with moon

This was my first trip to this dry and desolate area of South Africa and I certainly hope it won’t be my last. The people of the Kalahari do not waste words, and in that spirit I’m not going to make this post too wordy, adding descriptions or observations only as necessary, although one incident stands out; on first arriving at what we thought should be the camp we were to stay at, we got out our car to investigate. About 30 seconds later I almost stepped on a puff adder. Puff adders are deadly venomous snakes , which, despite their sluggish appearance, can strike with lightening speed. Fortunately they give a warning hiss before striking. At probably two feet or less away, I was within easy striking distance and the sound of that hiss, not to mention the sight of the snake reared up with mouth agape and  fangs bared, will stay in my memory for a long, long time to come. Unfortunately, with my heart beating somewhat more rapidly than usual, and after moving a bit further away to a relatively safe distance with some alacrity, I did not have the presence of mind to snap a quick shot.  The rest of the trip passed without major incident and, sitting here at my desk in Johannesburg, I find it hard to take my mind away from this truly special place.

First things first...get the fire going. But what lurks in the darkness?

We arrived in the dark and only got our first good look at the camp, our home for the next few days, at sunrise the next morning.

Home sweet home for a few days.

Camp perimeter.

Tea and sunrise.

The camp in context

The bush awakens.

A tree with a massive communal bird nest a few metres from the camp.

Could make a lot of soup from this.

In the next post we’ll venture a little further afield and take in some of the sights one encounters in this part of the world. Until then…

Impressions on the road from Johannesburg to Upington

An old hotel in the town of Potchefstroom

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I recently found myself on a journey to the Kalahari along with some  colleagues, to meet up with clients for a few days deep in the Kalahari. This entailed a lengthy road trip (10 hours) from Johannesburg to the town of Upington in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, where we turned north to travel a further 180 Kms to reach our final destination, a bush camp near the village of Askham. In this entry I’m posting some of the pictures I took during the trip. This is not intended as a detailed travelogue, but merely, as the title suggests, a few impressions along the way.

The first major town one encounters on the trip is Potchefstroom, or “Potch”, as it is known locally.

Building in Potchefstroom

If a culture is defined by its architecture, then grain silos are certainly the defining symbols of South Africa’s agricultural heritage. Agriculture still plays a vitally important part in the South African economy and one finds these silos outside many small, rural towns. I think farmers, being so dependent on weather patterns, rely a great deal on faith, and to me the silos take on an almost cathedral-like significance – built in faith that the harvest will be good.

Cathedrals to agriculture dot the South African landscape

Just outside the town of Delareyville

Small diesel locomotive

Those parts of South Africa that lie outside of the major centres are know as die platteland. An Afrikaans word, “platteland” makes reference to farms and farming, so if someone tells you they come from the platteland you would immediately associate that person with some kind of agricultural activity, or know they come from a rural community. But, literally translated, the word means “flat land” or “flat country”.  The early European settlements in South Africa were located along the coast, which is much more hilly and mountainous than the hinterland. However, once you travel beyond the coastal areas you’ll encounter vast open spaces that stretch to the furthest horizons, such as in the picture below.

The flat countryside of the North West Province.

A rocky outcrop near the road.

 

The town of Vryburg in festival mode.

The banner in the picture above advertises the Vryburg Texas Vleisfees, or Vryburg Texas Meat Festival in English. Vryburg is one of the larger towns in North West Province. I’m sure there was some really good eating to be had at the Skougrond (Show Grounds) on September 24!

After a missed turn at Olifantshoek we found ourselves about 50 Kms off course, in the town of Postmasburg, where I noticed these signs. The Northwest Province is home to South Africa’s iron mining industry, as reflected the name of this little establishment. One can’t help wondering if the name is appropriate given the nature of the offering. But, as one of my friends notes, maybe it’s packed with minerals.

Iron Ore Chicken, Postmasburg

We stopped for a quick lunchtime bite in the small Northern Cape town of Kuruman, where I was able to take a few snaps.

Unusual name for a fashion outlet.

You know you’re in the Kalahari when…

A butchery in a Kalahari town advertises its fare.

Unfortunately, I can’t remember the town in which I saw this wall, but the proprietor is obviously very  proud of his products. Biltong is dried, salted and spiced meat, similar to beef jerky I am told. While beef biltong is the most common variety, it is also made from ostrich and various types of game. Biltong blara laterally translates as biltong leaves, which would be thin slices of biltong, or possibly biltong flakes.  Biltong stokkies are sticks, which are easier to break into smaller pieces and eat. If you ever visit South Africa your trip won’t be complete until you have tasted some biltong. Droëwors is the dried version of boerewors (lit. farmer’s sausage) which is a South African staple at braais (barbecues) all over the country.

Another small town, another butchery.

Sluighuis is the Afrikaans name for butchery. It’s also my wife’s maiden name. When her family arrived here from Holland (via Australia) my mom-in-law thought these were all relatives of theirs! Slaghuis means something else in Dutch.

Vineyards outside the town of Upington.

After a long drive we finally arrived at Upington, with the late-afternoon sun breaking through an overcast sky, and were surprised to see row after row of vineyards just outside the town. Upington is one of those places one keeps hearing of, but knows very little about. Some further research reveals the town receives it’s irrigation and water from the abundantly-flowing Orange River, on the banks of which the town is located. So perhaps the vineyards are not all that surprising.

I hope you’ll join me in my next post when we’ll travel still deeper into the Kalahari. Until then…

Emmerentia is ablaze with spring colour!

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Emmerentia Dam is a large dam and park in Johannesburg which is home to the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens (not to be confused with the Walter Sizulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort). Every Sunday morning my wife meets her friend there to take the dogs for a walk. Yesterday she was raving about how beautiful the place is looking right now with the trees in the rose garden section in full blossom and so I suggested we go a bit later in the day. Glad we did.

Children frolic under a blossoming tree.

The park is a popular recreation spot for many Johannesburgers. On any week-end you’ll find hordes of both young and old. Mothers walking their babies, pet lovers walking their dogs, lovers walking their hormones. The park is also favoured by many wedding photographers.

I guess they all know which party they belong to.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little stroll around one of Johannesburg’s most beautiful attractions. “Til next time…

Knysna…cont.

Heading inland from Knysna along the Prince Alfred Pass road, one encounters a totally different landscape. We took a drive out there to see a property on which our Knysna friends were contemplating building a small cottage. As you can see, this would be an incredible place in which to wake up  every morning, but a bit of a schlep if you run out of milk or sugar at 9.00 pm.

Imagine waking up to this every morning.

This is an area where proteas grow in wild abundance.

While we were there some wildebeest on the adjoining farm ambled past.

Even a few calves among them.

At the bottom of the property there’s a river which one can reach via a steep descent. The problem with this is that the one thing one always faces with descent like this is that there’s always a steep ascent afterwards. However, mindless of the hardship to follow, butr ever mindful of the snakes one could encounter, we made our way to the valley floor.

A rocky section of the river.

 

Interesting rock formation.

After a long, hard slog back up the hill and a somewhat dusty drive home, a perfect end to the day.

Knysna sunset

Until next time…

 

Knysna…dusting off cobwebs

Sometimes when I don’t get an opportunity to head out for new pictures, I like to go through old disks and files to see what I’ve got from other trips and shoots. Which is just what I was doing when I came across these from a trip Knysna in 2006/7. I have previously posted shots from this trip which you can see here and here.

Apart from the memories they bring back, sometimes looking at pictures you’ve taken some time back helps you see them through the perspective of distance and time, almost through new eyes, as it were. You’ll look at some and think “what on Earth possessed me to take that picture!?”, or maybe you’ll think some are worth a second look.

Knysna is situated around a beautiful estuary, called Knysna Lagoon, in an area of South Africa known as the Garden Route, which stretches along southern coastline of the country. Separating the lagoon from the Indian Ocean are two massive rock outcrops called the Knysna Heads. The shot below looks to the lagoon from the top of the Eastern Head. (Click on images for larger views.)

Knysna Lagoon from the top of the Eastern Head

The route between the Heads can be quite treacherous and difficult as many an intrepid, or foolhardy, seafarer can attest.

A small fishing boat returns to Knysna Lagoon between the Heads.

Once a port used by much larger vessels carrying timber from the forests surrounding the town to world markets, today only smaller craft such as houseboats, fishing boats, yachts, speedboats and such-like are to be seen in Knysna’s little harbour.

Knysna Harbour

Our friends own a home on the Western Head, at the top of a very steep hill. From the front lawn one gets uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean. There’s a path leading down to the small beach you see in the bottom right of the picture below.

Indian Ocean from the Western Head

And, of course, what good is a beach without a dog to enjoy it.

Ah, what bliss.

I’ll be dusting off a few more cobwebs from this trip in a day or so.

A view from beach level

And what a beautiful way to end the day. Until next time…

Celebrations

Not much chance for photography this week-end with a busy Saturday shopping for a birthday present for a good friend of 33 years standing who turned 60 on Saturday, and writing a short speech to deliver for the occasion. We ended up not doing speeches as the venue just didn’t suit it. Ah well,maybe I’ll keep it for his 70th! Anyway, only took the wife’s little Canon PowerShot A460 along for the party because I think small p+s camera’s are perfect for social events like parties. Most of the pics I took on the night fall into the “happy-snaps” category and not very interesting except maybe to the folks who were there. But I turned off the flash for this one of hands lighting the candles and was quite pleased with the result.

So many candles, so little space...

A few seconds later I snapped the shot below, which I think has a nice party feel to it.

I thought the little Canon A460 performed admirably under the circumstances.

Needless to say a fun time was had by all.

‘Til next time…