o v e r
b l a c k s a n d chris murphy
d ed i c a ted to
kar in
wit hout her i would not be in t his s pace
ch r is toph er j. photography 083 540 6131 orchard@wcaccess.co.za w: w ww.chri s topherj photo.com www.heri t agechroni cl esa.org c:
e:
n an anthology of landscape photographs, an experience of a time in a rural part of the world, the western
cape, south africa.
n after a life in cities a relocation to the vast, open vistas opened
my eyes to the myriad colours, tones, textures, shapes that all contribute to the agricultural environment.
n for agricultural it is. little of the endemic vegetation has
survived, and that which has is often under threat. so this is a record of the altered landscape , albeit often with surrounding mountains as remaining sentinels of an earlier epoch.
o v e r
b l a c k s a n d over ove rbe rg black swar tland sand s andveld
chris murphy
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n the groot winterhoek mountains near vier-en-twintig riviere
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n the groot winterhoek mountains near vier-en-twintig riviere
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n a storm approaches . . .
n . . . the mood deepens . . .
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n . . . lightning strikes . . .
n . . . at the heart, the intensity of the storm at its zenith
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n bales lie scattered after the harvest
n warmth resonates at the end of a blistering day in the swartland
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n a farm lies in the centre of the groot winterhoek wilderness area
n at bridgetown, a former crossing of the berg river, the blue sky is reflected in the placid waters
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n a chapel in the overberg, a dramatic setting in the spring canola
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n the southern ocean rushes to the shore at buffels bay
n a stream meanders across one of the valleys in the cederberg highlands
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n clouds and mist pervade this aspect of the northern swartland
n the road snakes into the cederberg, with the ranges unfurling to the horizon
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n sometimes the overwhelming characteristic of the swartland is a calm balance and serenity
n ceres mountain looms through the enveloping clouds
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n obiqua mountain peaks behind the swartland fields
n fire is an omnipresent threat towards the end of the wheat harvest
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n rolling hills in the overberg, sensuous, softly contoured shapes
n a rail line to nowhere; many of the local routes have been abandoned
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n rolling fields in the overberg near greyton, a road leads through
n the paardeberg, a multi-textured granite outcrop
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n ripe wheat envelops a structure
n dawn light picks out a building overlooking walker bay
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n although the majority of the cedar trees that gave their name to these mountains have long gone, there is still an inspirational aspect to the range
n near porterville, a forlorn, small dwelling occupies a field
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n a side of the karoo is snowfalls, especially in the vicinity of one of the colder parts of the country, sutherland
n skies can be dramatic and turbulent in the karoo, belying the small amount of rainfall prevalent in the area
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n space pervades this tanqua karoo landscape, redolent with a past indication of inhabitation
n during harvest time the daylight hours cannot delineate the working day, but a full moon arose and assisted
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n into the sunset, a storm threatening
n the rump of porseleinberg from the heights of kasteelberg
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n rays pour down onto the riebeeksrivier
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n the contrasting colours and textures of the swartland
n at the end of its journey the berg river at velddrif encompasses a large swathe of water and a small harbour
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n in the deep gloom a bakkie crests a hill
n cloud driven onto the eastern flank of kasteelberg rebounds
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n three dimensional clouds hang in the sandveld sunrise
n a misty tranquillity envelops langebaan lagoon; only a gull lands
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n a gloomy scenario descends on the way to mcgregor
n laaiplek sublime
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n low mist shrouds the lighthouse at cape columbine
n stark against a darkening sky, a wind pump and dammetjie stand proud
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n tumultuous spray cascades before a tower at the fish factory at lamberts bay
n a rainbow over the sandveld with its promise of gold
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n the harvest is complete
n peter gabriel’s red rain comes to mind with this sweeping shower across the sandveld vista
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n riebeeksrivier ‘pass’ is hardly one at all; the road crests the highest point
n textural patterns form in the late afternoon; the harvest is in
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n a track leads to kasteelberg . . .
n the piketberg with a westerly storm rolling in
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n in the southern overberg, colours and textures overwhelm
n as do the subdued hues near riversdale when snow and rain descend
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n turbines have come to dominate many rural landscapes, yet can introduce a visual factor in featureless vistas
n sheep trekking into the sunset, the turbines of little consequence
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n the swartland depicting the green side of its character
n the piketberg overlaid by a linear cloud formation
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n burning as a farming technique is part of the ritual of land preparation
n near moorreesburg, tracks in the ripening wheat
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n cottages huddle together before the elandskloof mountains
n a lone crop sprayer makes it way back to base after an intense day
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n winter snows blanket peaks in the tulbagh valley
n a reminder that the swartland is not far removed from the cape’s icon
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n a tree stands proud, highlighted against a black sky and lit canola fields
n a dark, black, impenetrable land
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n a tree glows in the late afternoon light on the paardeberg
n towering above webersburg near the town of stellenbosch
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n harvested wheat and ploughed land, post and pre-production
n sun rays cascade across the tulbagh valley and winterhoek mountains
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n during sultry days the turbines stand as testament to their reliance on wind
n and bask in the sun’s last rays
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