Firelight ...

How dramatically the views of the mountains can change!!! From the snows of  last week we had the sky glowing red with a massive fire on the very same mountain slopes to the west of Howick last night. In the space of a mere hour the flames flared, spread, and passed - but at their height they gave the dark night skyline an appearance I imagine akin to an erupting volcano. I hope there was no serious damage to forests or to life - the day's news reports will no doubt tell, but in the meantime here is the drama of it all. Midlands life is full of surprises.

I should have used a tripod to stabilise the camera for this shot, but as so often happens I was afraid that losing time in setting it up would have meant the moment may have passed. I did get one out and the fear proved to be true - by the time I was ready to shoot again the flames had mostly moved over the crest of the mountain, and the tepid images that followed are not worth sharing.

Falls View Centre ...

Looking somewhat like a timber fortress from a frontier town the Falls  View Centre in Howick houses an eclectic collection of fascinating shops and galleries from woven rugs, through art collections to a bygones and collectables emporium certain to satisfy the cravings of seekers of shabby chic and mid twentieth century nostalgia. You know - the sort of thing your parents or grandparents discarded that is suddenly this year's retro rage. All part of the Midlands Meander route this is why the dusty little (though fast growing) town of Howick rightfully claims its place as the hub of the Midlands.

The vibrant colours of the place make a tantalising image, which certainly reflects the spirit and vibe of the often busy little centre

Hollywood ...

Perched on the edge of the Umgeni Valley, and in close proximity to Howick Falls is an informal settlement that the locals call either Hollywood or Beverly Hills. While these names are obviously intended to be as ironic as they sound and you can be certain that living conditions for the shack dwellers is far from ideal, there is a  definite sense of order about the layout of the housing when viewed across the valley. The rapid growth and development of the town of Howick has lured many employment seekers to the area, and many have been disillusioned as planned residential developments have slowed in the current economic climate - but the announcement of two new planned residential estates in the sprawling development of the area known as the Ambers just outside the town offer renewed hope that things are about to get better. Remembering that property is all about location, location, location this must be one of the more spectacularly sited shack settlements in the country.

A widescreen setting portrays the panorama of township life.

Laager Wall ....

Another small but significant piece of local history can be seen in the small town of Howick. Often overlooked by, or its existence unknown to visitors to the Howick Falls it is the remains of the town's laager wall. Built by Sir george Sutton and the villagers of the area its history is recorded thus:

In 1879 (subsequent to the overwhelming defeat of the British at Isandlwana) a laager wall was built behind the Howick Falls Hotel to protect Howick from imminent Zulu attack. The Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Eleven days after the British commenced their invasion of Zululand in South Africa, a Zulu force of some 20,000 warriors attacked a portion of the British main column consisting of about 1,800 British, colonial and native troops and perhaps 400 civilians.The battle was a decisive victory for the Zulus and caused the defeat of the first British invasion of Zululand. 

The pattern of the stonework would make an interesting abstract image. Including some of the plant life growing from the crevices, and the sign recording the wall's origins almost tells of the age and story.

How now ...

Taking a round trip from Howick through the Dargle Valley and then onwards via Boston and back along the R617, takes one very close (again) to the omnipresent iNhlosane. I had no intention of capturing yet another shot of the mountain, but my eye was caught by this herd of cattle – mostly young Angus stock I’m guessing from their reddish brown coats. In their number was a solitary white specimen – an obvious subject to try and capture. At first, as I got out of my car, he managed to get himself lost in the deep midst of his russet coloured brethren, but after my patiently waiting and calling in my best imitation of bovine lowing he slowly made his way to the front ranks of the herd for literally a minute before disappearing shyly back into the background. Patience (again) rewarded!

I increasingly understand the time and effort which goes into capturing those seemingly “in the right place at the right time” images we all find so amazing and appealing. A bit like overnight success – it takes a lot of waiting, patience and effort, but when you get the shot you hoped for it’s all worth the while.

Paradise Road …

I have mentioned a couple of times how beautiful the autumn colours are in this part of the world, and at the risk of becoming boring, or repetitive … or both, I have a few more images that simply beg to be shared. Today’s shot is of the main road (imaginatively named Main Road) into Howick from the N3 highway Tweedie offramp. The trees lining the roadsides are the ubiquitous Liquidambar Styraciflua (imaginatively named Liquid Ambers ;-) which along with London Plane trees seem to thrive in the area. Natives of eastern North America these trees grow up to forty metres in height, and are sometimes incorrectly identified as Maples due to their very Maple like leaf shapes. The Latin name comes surprisingly not from their amber autumn colouring, but from the gum resin they yield which is a decidedly amber like substance when solidified; this also gives the tree its common American name of Sweetgum. The location of plants will cause some variation in the seasonal colouring which is partly affected by factors such as light conditions, watering and even wind, but there is also a wide variety of cultivars selectively propagated for their varying hues from burgundy through reds and oranges to pale yellow.

For a second time I was caught ‘parking’ in someone else’s driveway while I searched for just the right angle to shoot. Amazing – two autumn tree studies, two coincidental driveway blockings – my propensity to be in the wrong place at exactly the most inconvenient time is incredible. Hopefully the drive owners would concur – the image was worth the small inconvenience.

Picturesque (Craigieburn) ...

If you wondered where that country road took me, here (amongst other places) is the answer. The day was originally planned with a newfound friend as a trip to Greytown, with hopefully a picnic somewhere along the way. We did get there, kind of, but will do the town more justice with a later follow up visit. Making the journey a round trip from Howick to Greytown and back via Mooi River we passed Craigieburn Dam. Once a popular day venue, it seems to have lost public favour and is now one of the area's well kept secrets. This posting may just change that status, although I suspect not - and that's not a bad thing for the fortunate ones who do find their way there. Lunch happened a little later than we planned (OK we didn't really plan anything for the day other than to enjoy it), but his is the view that finally stopped us. At the side of the road we did what I haven't done since I can't remember when. We spread a blanket in an open field, and had a good old-fashioned Sunday picnic. Try it sometime - it's great for the soul.

In all the years I have been snapping photographs (if you remember Kodak Brownie box cameras you'll know how long that is) there are probably some twenty of my own shots I just cannot erase from my mind (there are plenty of other peoples'). Somehow sometimes everything seems to come together as if by magic. A sparkling blue dam, a small country chapel and its graveyard, grazing cattle, autumn coutryside colouring, distant signs of human settlement and a sky to inspire Pierneef. No further mixing required for the recipe. Nature had done that. This makes it twenty one shots.

Howick Falls & Gorge 1

This week will be dedicated to the Falls and its gorge. The 95 metres high, single drop Howick Falls on the uMngeni River are probably the most well known attraction of this small (but fast growing) Midlands town. Known for its restorative air, Howick has for many years been a popular choice for convalescents and today the area boasts a couple of luxury spas, many B+Bs, country inns and lodgings, and ongoing upmarket retirement and leisure developments. And, if any visitor has but one enduring memory of the place it is of the spectacular waterfall.

The town was named in 1850 after the family seat of the British Colonial Secretary at the time of its establishment, the third Earl Grey (Henry George), (son of the eponymous tea Earl) – Lord of Howick (in Northumberland).

This first view of the falls is one well known to the drive-by tourist, the falls as seen from the public viewing deck. Although it is an attractive vista, as a declared national heritage site I often wonder what the foreign visitor makes of the backdrop of the partially tree-screened, disused Dunlop factory and the ever present local washer women with their multicoloured laundry draped across the rocky crest of the falls cliffs. Laundry activities in the river however are nothing new – historic photographs of early settlers show that they too found the location to be a natural Laundromat.

On a clear sunny day such as this there is little required of a photographer to get a good image in 1/380s, other than the ability to set the camera to ASA 100, use an f stop of 5, a focal length of 4.6mm, aim and press the shutter. Nature (and those washer folk) provides the rest.