Photoshoot of Tasneem

Fun in the sun..

The Family came down to Cape Town for a quick visit and took Dusty the beach for the 1st time. It was mission getting him in but once he got his feet wet it was all fun in the sun…

Arniston 2015

Took some time out over the long weekend to take some macro and low light shots during my morning and night strolls along the beach.

Behind The Scenes of Chelsea-Joy Olivier

Here is some behind the scenes footage of our latest shoot.  Most modern SLR cameras have an array of focus points ranging anywhere from 3 to 45 within the viewfinder.  I used the opportunity to explore the use of manually selecting focus points instead of auto in AP (aperture priority) mode.

Behind the Scenes Selfie

 

 Behind The Scenes Video

Photoshoot Preview

 

Weekend Getaway – Karoo1

Every now and then we need a break from our busy lifestyles and a weekend in the karoo was just what I needed. Karoo1 is a little hotel village about 100km from Cape Town. From overnight accommodation to mountain hikes, there something for everyone, even a Chapel if you want to get married.  I also had the privilege to get a private tour of the Manor House by the owner and he told me the history of the farm. The little village had too much to offer for just one weekend so hope to make a return soon.

About Karoo1

“Karbonaatjieskraal,” the farm on which Karoo 1 Hotel Village just off the N1 outside De Doorns can be found today, has a long and interesting history spanning a period of almost 3 centuries. The farm was named after the “Karbonaatjie,” a type of “padkos” or lunch pack that was synonymous with the farm. and the Hugo family that resided on the farm. “Karbonaatjies were meals wrapped in damp cloth and newspaper. The farm – like today, served as a stop-over for many travelers heading inland. The farm also played a role during the Anglo-Boer war when it was frequented by many Boer Rebel forces on route to the Republics. The modern day name “Karoo 1” also stems from this being the first stop in the Karoo on route north on the N1.  The farm had been known as a welcoming stop as far back as the 1860’s when this was the main route towards Kimberley diamond mines for fortune-seekers.

The original homestead building on the farm dates back to 1837 and still features the original thatch roof, wooden beams sourced from a nearby poplar forest and 47cm thick clay walls. “Karbonaatjieskraal” was also known for it’s superior rye thatch and it is rumored that several buildings in the nearby Worcester still has thatched roofs that originated from “Karbonaatjieskraal.”

Activities:

GUIDED NATURE DRIVES

The nature drives are conducted in open 4×4 Polaris by a qualified ranger and last between 1 and 2 hours. During these drives guests can expect views of the breathtaking vistas on Karoo 1 and interaction with wildlife roaming freely on the farm. Karoo 1 offers 3 types of drives each focussed on a specific aspect or attraction on the farm:
1. Hexriver lookout drive.
2. Fossil Koppie Drive (with  an abundance of shell fossils to view)
3. Kloof lookout drive.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

35km Route
Starts with a 3km dual track to the foot of “Fossil Koppie” where you can still see real fossils embedded in the rocks. From there a fairly bumpy and rocky single track will take you to the top of the koppie, followed by a fast dual track descent (watch out for wash-aways.) You’ll then pedal a loop through the Eastern section of the farm, following sections of the original dirt road towards Kimberley. A rocky 2km single track climb to the peak of the “Gemsbok koppie” is followed by a dual track towards the Hex River Valley and De Doorns lookout. Expect a few sandy patches, as well as potential great game viewing on this section. The route returns via single track with a climb to Boplaats and finishes on a dual trail near Karoo 1 Hotel.

15km Route
This is a relatively flat and easy ride but included the 1km single track climb to the summit of Fossil Koppie – perfect for beginners or not-so-fit riders.

A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Emerge yourself in the cultural tapestry that is Karoo 1 Hotel Village.

WINE TASTING

Explore the rich heritage of wine making in the Hex river Valley. Karoo 1 Vineyard and distillery offer guided tours of their facilities, while the Karoo 1 Wine Emporium offer tasting sessions of all the wine produced in the area. Enjoy an informative wine tasting session with a selection of complimentary cheeses.

ART & WORKSHOPS

Explore the Karoo 1 Art Gallery to learn about contemporary artist from the area as well as the extensive Karoo 1 Art collection. Karoo 1 regularly offer art, craft and photographic workshops.

CONTACT INFORMATION

RESOURCES

Phone +27 23 358 2131
N1 – R318 | De Doorns
E-Mail  info@karoo1.com

Gallery 

Benjee took a walk with me up the mountain

Couple Shoot – Candice and Chaz

I did my first couple shoot over the weekend. After doing mostly solo shoots, I was ready for the new challenge. Photo’s were taken with 18-55mm Canon Kit lens and Sigma 70-300mm. This was also my first portrait shots with the Sigma. All Sigma shot were taken in aperture priority mode.  Special thanks to Candice and Chaz who made my job look easy : )

Full photo shoot available on our Facebook page.

Photography Project 2 – Macro Photography

Macro Photography

The Sigma 70-300mm telescopic zoom lens comes with macro feature at 200-300mm. It’s a bit tricky to get it working at first so make sure you read the manual first I soon realized that a macro shot with boomed up saturation can make some amazing wallpapers.

This will be an ongoing project and will be adding to the new pictures to the gallery on a weekly basis.