https://www.hougaardmalan.com/latest-work daily 0.75 2020-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601543308335-VNJNEV27AE88EB4H7Z9F/image-asset.jpeg Latest Work - Serenity Sun burns through the mist, illuminating a historic church in the Overberg farmlands on a perfect winter’s morning between fronts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601543308335-VNJNEV27AE88EB4H7Z9F/image-asset.jpeg Latest Work - Serenity (Copy) Sun burns through the mist, illuminating a historic church in the Overberg farmlands on a perfect winter’s morning between fronts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578496119912-X8Q3L1LFDCEGNJLY7NHF/DSC_2199.jpg Latest Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598879627407-WL6MRPB77COV4P3O08XD/_DSF4925.jpg Latest Work - Torrential (Copy) Sunlight breaks through a curtain of hard rain on a blistering summer afternoon over Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598879628230-ISTT899QZD0JOGKG9FBV/_DSF4868.jpg Latest Work - Sweeping (Copy) A heavy curtain of precipitation sweeping the landscape west of Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488890960-W7032QPF3RHSDU0XPC3J/DSC_2689.jpg Latest Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345302575-KG6Q4YD52BOC4PHC9TIH/DSC_9921_blended.jpg Latest Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345282401-ZCHCKV57Y9D0Z50NO699/DSC_6179.jpg Latest Work - Phenomenal (Copy) A moment of incredible coincidence over one of South Africa’s most iconic landscapes; Hole in the Wall. A dark and cloudy afternoon turned into unbelievable magic when an isolated curtain of rain started falling behind the wall and a gap in the clouds opened up, allowing the sun to paint a partial rainbow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342824960-J7CJQQWLS36P1J7MJXUA/DSC_7209-2.jpg Latest Work - Desert Minerals (Copy) Magnetite, Rubelite, Garnet and Mica create beautiful striations in the dunes of the Namib Desert’s Skeleton Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342818425-MJO123ZNUB3RNJIQIIZC/DSC_6726.jpg Latest Work - Skeleton Coast (Copy) The wreck of the Shawnee, lost to Namibia’s southern Skeleton Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342814058-N2R4XRXJ22W5OG2XZ9XM/DSC_4744.jpg Latest Work - Empty Promises (Copy) What looked like it might have brought much needed rain, passed with nothing but some extreme wind gusts and a few drops of rain, kicking up dust on the drought-stricken plains of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282651159-U2P3PF5S0U726RC26AJ0/DSC_4242.jpg Latest Work - Secrets of Sossusvlei (Copy) Behind a high dune, out of sight of the Tsauchab Valley, this circular pan lies hidden amongst the sands of Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335402465-PZQJJNRTM8SZ2LG6XFDA/DSC_2210-Edit2.jpg Latest Work - No Man's Land (Copy) Light breaks through thick fog, somewhere in the south of the Namib Desert, where no one ever sets foot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282500863-0QLRPXA9442R9PWJK035/DSC_2199-final.jpg Latest Work - Koichab Blues (Copy) Dappled light illuminates transverse dunes intersecting marble rock shelves in the southern Namib near the Koichab depression. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335353855-QJI0YT0NWW46B6H74Q26/DSC_1508.jpg Latest Work - Desert Veins (Copy) Although water is rarely present in this landscape, it’s rare occurrence leaves behind a clear mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335325027-4HNCU5QLI2T0MG6NML48/DSC_1277_Luminar3-edit.jpg Latest Work - Left Alone (Copy) It’s difficult to put into words how far these Himba kraals are from any form of civilization. We flew westwards from Epupa Falls, exploring a vast mountain range along the Kunene river, with peaks reaching close to 3000m. For most of our fuel range, we didn’t see a single road or jeep track, yet here and there, atop a mountain or deep in a valley, were signs of humans who choose to live a life completely removed from modern society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283390674-D6JW9VIH8CMXK14XJDE0/DSC_1941-blended_Luminar3-edit.jpg Latest Work - Flood Plain (Copy) Beautiful patterns created by super rare thunderstorms that can send massive flash floods rushing down this rocky plain during Namibia’s summer rainfall season. Somewhere in the vicinity of the Tiras Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335047265-LNAP033MQQMD6E3X2H5Z/_DSF1199.jpg Latest Work - Cape Point (Copy) Rays of sunrise light slice through the southern tip of Cape Point on a calm autumn morning. The mountains in the back are Kleinmond, Rotary Drive Hill (Hermanus) and Maanschynkop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335040531-5WI0HGCMYL14153S4TD7/_DSF0929.jpg Latest Work - The Blanket (Copy) In summer, Table mountain wears its iconic cloth, created by the wind. In autumn, the mother city wears a blanket, created by calm April mornings and moist ocean air. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334639609-38NK1I56737PLNQE69M5/DSC_7138.jpg Latest Work - Morning Calm (Copy) A herd of Zebra grazing on a fresh carpet of grass on a cool April morning. During 2018 the Namib Rand got plenty of rain in select, concentrated areas. The result was giant congregations of wildlife in a few valleys. This was the lesser green of the two valleys either side of the Kameelhof mountains. The other valley presented scenes that looked like the Serengeti, but the animals were so wild that I couldn’t get within practical shooting range of the herds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595059869869-ZCE9N88XYUG1RTJ8V51R/DSC_0009.jpg Latest Work - Personal Favourites (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057255747-ZEK8X2T1X4Q9A16NY1W1/_DSF30532.jpg Latest Work - Winter Blues (Copy) A clearing front puts a final few drops on Table Mountain on an icy July evening https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057255807-NIBJAW2NNCKWZ23OO464/_DSF2978.jpg Latest Work - Electric Kogelbay (Copy) A massive bolt of lightning strikes the sea just off Rooi Els, illuminating the night for a fraction of a second during what was a 2-minute exposure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495123215-P22B4B9J9A3YV9PLGFWC/DSC_6978-Recovered-Edit.jpg Latest Work https://www.hougaardmalan.com/the-drakensberg daily 0.75 2020-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334868877-RI9EIXT9ULIVQYGGZJWR/DSC_5633.jpg The Drakensberg - Fangs Pass An incredible sunrise illuminates the depths of the Mnweni cutback, a deep “notch” in the otherwise straight escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334868877-RI9EIXT9ULIVQYGGZJWR/DSC_5633.jpg The Drakensberg - Fangs Pass An incredible sunrise illuminates the depths of the Mnweni cutback, a deep “notch” in the otherwise straight escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334796293-JQPHRPLTVOMZSO11OFYJ/_JLB9837-cropped-Edit.jpg The Drakensberg - Edge of Earth There are few things in life better than a day atop the Drakensberg escarpment when there’s a cloud inversion. It truly feels like you are walking at the edge of our planet, staring into an infinity that is free of all of humanity’s self inflicted problems. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334801101-3HSTK4LTJJOYBBYHU3BQ/DSC_1652.jpg The Drakensberg - Freedom The experience of a sunrise above the clouds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334784485-5YYPZH9HXH9ONGGF5YJ4/_DSC4789.jpg The Drakensberg - Mnweni Dawn Rays of morning sun crest the Mnweni Needles and illuminate the depths of the Mnweni cutback, one of the most incredible places on earth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334837598-70EOJAKVS87PHGGH38M8/DSC_4797.jpg The Drakensberg - Summer Bliss For some reason the vast majority of people hike the Drakensberg in winter, when most nights are below freezing, the wind howls most days and there’s extreme smog from all the seasonal grazing fires in the areas below. In the shoulder season of summer, everything is green, water is plentiful, temps are pleasant and most afternoons there is the excitement of minor thunderstorms. If you ever plant to hike the “Berg”, trust me, go in March/April. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334852128-UN1UM8YDNF41ST91D84K/DSC_5004.jpg The Drakensberg - The Mnweni Pinnacles The morning sun crests one of the Mnweni pinnacles - two gigantic basalt spires deep in the cutback. The two peaks in the distant background are the Mnweni needles, but most people will agree that it should be the other way around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334832166-JA9Q914AOA0D1IO2FID0/DSC_4728-Pano.jpg The Drakensberg - Wrath of the Dragon Capturing a dramatic storm like this is an exciting, but dangerous game. 99% of the time, the lightning either strikes the edge of the escarpment or the higher hills behind the escarpment, which is why one always camps in the valleys between the two. However, If you want to capture a scene like this, you have to stay at the escarpment edge as the storm approaches, hoping to capture the best of the dramatic scenery before the lightning strikes too close for comfort. This particular storm put on an incredible show and I stayed perhaps a little too long. When the time came to retreat to the tent, I was too late to get away from the hail and I got a proper lashing. This time may have been worth it, but many times the light just isn’t good enough to justify the effort that goes into capturing it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334811681-8VXIIDIOGWSIOK7HSEWT/DSC_2979.jpg The Drakensberg - Luck Sometimes one can plan an attempt to capture certain conditions and pursue it for years, but as nature relentlessly reminds us, we are forever at its mercy. In 2017, I had a hike up the amphitheater, which was planned about 18 months in advance as a shoot-along opportunity for my workshop customers. We managed to get up the chain ladders just before it starting raining and shortly after setting up our tents the rain changed to sleet and the sleet soon changed to snow. Between that night and the next, the northern berg got nearly half a meter of snow. On the second day, the front rapidly cleared, the clouds lifted and we were treated to an incredible winter wonderland. Most of the snow melted within a few short hours, turning a trickling Tugela Falls into a smoking white veil, nearly a kilometer long (next image). On day 3, we hiked back down just as the last ice melted from the pathway. Sometimes the photographic gods smile upon you and deliver conditions so incredible that it still leaves you in amazement years later. Other times, you spend two weeks in a location and get two solid weeks of bad and mediocre light or you can return to a location for years without getting something special. When you eventually get the once-in-a-lifetime light, it just makes it so much more worth it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334820406-8NZF734JOHXA88YR2H2Q/DSC_3495-Pano.jpg The Drakensberg - Tugela Falls This incredible waterfall at the northern tip of the great Drakensberg escarpment is the world’s second highest. It plunges 980m in five major cascades. Compared to Venezuela’s Angel Falls, it has an extremely small catchment area and much lower average annual rainfall, so seeing it in spate is not simple or easy. One either has to wait it out in high summer, hoping for a thunderstorm cloudburst over the catchment, or go up when a freak system like a cut-off low pressure or an anti-cyclone is forecast for the berg. People have been up there right after such conditions and there are a few cellphone snaps of the waterfall with ten times the amount of water you see here, but is yet to be captured by a professional photographer or videographer. This is the most flow I’ve ever seen going over the falls. It happened after a powerful front put down nearly half a meter of snow on the berg in November and as the front rapidly cleared, the summer sun melted all that snow in a few short hours. I am yet to see Tugela in spate, but it is something I am extremely obsessed with and will hopefully witness before my time on earth is over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578494256538-RHGBXA27URS67BTRH4CC/_DSC4789.jpg The Drakensberg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334784847-VQN5K3CQIUAC3GEBQZUK/_DSC4470.jpg The Drakensberg - The Dragon's Tail The Mnweni Needles and the Cathedral Peak ridge protrude above the clouds on a perfect summer morning in the Drakensberg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334790744-VNLSSWH0RBZRS8AJO3YE/_DSC5190-Pano.jpg The Drakensberg - Origin of the Senqu Looking into the far corner of the Mnweni Cutback with soft dappled afternoon light falling on the scene. The slopes in the bottom right part of this image are where the first veins of South Africa’s mighty Senqu/Orange river begin their journey to Atlantic coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334796033-BLF7UVWIAE5IT6A0D80N/_DSC8340FP.jpg The Drakensberg - Below Looking a thousand meters down to the lush foothills of the Drakensberg as the sun crests the horizon in the east. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334801967-B9TK8I2DGIS1GC2W6AOE/DSC_2681.jpg The Drakensberg - Grandeur *Notice the person bottom right. We as humans are quick to think that we are in control of of our lives. Especially in the cities, where we pour endless resources into infrastructure and systems to try and mitigate the variables of our environment. That perception of control can be extremely numbing and it can make daily life seem boring and meaningless. For me, there is no better “reboot” of that numbness than to spend a week in the mountains. Even with the comforts of a modern tent, sleeping gear and dehydrated meals, the mountains will quickly humble you. Whether it’s the simple challenge of ascending two kilometres to reach the top, braving a powerful storm in your tent or the euphoria of spending a day above the clouds in pristine wilderness. Mountains have an incredible effect on the human psyche and it satisfies so much of our evolutionary programming. If you’ve never done a week long hike in the a major mountain range, you have no idea what you’re missing. If you’re South African and you’ve never been atop the Drakensberg, you need to make a plan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334838715-A6GHDV690OR4FT5LVA7Y/DSC_4853.jpg The Drakensberg - End of Summer Looking north along the escarpment from within the Mnweni cutback. As summer draws to a close, cooler days means less convective energy to build powerful thunderstorms along the escarpment. This cloud made a few rumbles and gave the escarpment a light “watering” before dissipating as the sun set over Lesotho. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334823459-O7VPJ7P0YKYGQEO802XC/DSC_4650.jpg The Drakensberg - Ancient Eden The meandering valleys of the Mnweni cutback, one of the most incredible places on earth. Up close, the entire valley looks as if it was designed by a master gardener, but it is completely wild and untouched. Decorated with sandstone boulders, Protea trees, Tree Ferns and a plethora of South Africa’s most beautiful indigenous flora. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334828575-CGMLBHTFG698XVKAJNOJ/DSC_4730.jpg The Drakensberg - Cumulonimbus Collapse A powerful thunderstorm unleashes a heavy downpour over the Mnweni needles on a hot and humid summer afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334809346-TSK1E5CNBWF9F07R0ARP/DSC_2761-blue-removed.jpg The Drakensberg - Settling for the Night A perfect evening in the Drakensberg - no wind, an inversion below and a colourful sunset. Moments like these justify all the effort of exploring the berg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334852311-NHJRT2E6JHARBZGM3C7H/DSC_5097-Pano.jpg The Drakensberg - Rockeries Pass Clouds swirl around the flanks of Rockeries pass, which is one of the easier passes to the top of the escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334860422-AEFK01E2UDXMXP8VNIIU/DSC_5174.jpg The Drakensberg - Jurassic Landscape Afternoon light filters through the edge of an appraoching thunderstorm as thunder rumbles through the valleys of the berg. There are few things more exciting for a landscape photographer than the potential for incredible light that comes with isolated thunderstorms over a beautiful landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334860997-NPJK2IJ09HLWT977M4H8/DSC_5248-2.jpg The Drakensberg - Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo Believe it or not, that is the name of these rock pillars in the Mnweni cutback. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334865979-3B3YF3KU59TL6BLV1PKI/DSC_5342.jpg The Drakensberg - Rockeries Tower One of the highest freestanding towers of the Drakensberg and home to hundreds of vultures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334868843-DGYHKN8AX6QKVGQ7K6X3/DSC_5712-HDR-Pano-lightened-cleaned.jpg The Drakensberg - Dawn Glory An incredible sunrise over my favourite place in the world. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/namibia daily 0.75 2020-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495068701-V8F359XVAB0QZ1BU0HBP/_MG_2598-copy-Edit.jpg Namibia - The "Tree" 2020 marks nine years since I took this photo and it’s been fascinating to hear viewers’ interpretations of what exactly this is. The most popular is an imprint of a fallen tree or erosion around old tree roots. It is in reality tiny water erosion patterns created by the drainage of water. Once a decade or sometimes less, a thunderstorm can drop serious precipitation over Deadvlei, flooding the pan with a few cm of water. This water runs off to the sides of the clay pan, creating beautiful patterns in the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495068701-V8F359XVAB0QZ1BU0HBP/_MG_2598-copy-Edit.jpg Namibia - The "Tree" 2020 marks nine years since I took this photo and it’s been fascinating to hear viewers’ interpretations of what exactly this is. The most popular is an imprint of a fallen tree or erosion around old tree roots. It is in reality tiny water erosion patterns created by the drainage of water. Once a decade or sometimes less, a thunderstorm can drop serious precipitation over Deadvlei, flooding the pan with a few cm of water. This water runs off to the sides of the clay pan, creating beautiful patterns in the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495085098-C7WEOONOB42HD3B43OH1/_MG_3855.jpg Namibia - The Namib Rand Sunset paints incredible colour in a dissipating thunderstorm over the plains and mountains of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495084339-D24X9D672ZAKQKMW659J/_MG_7846-Edit.jpg Namibia - Convective Energy An incredible cumulonimbus tower collapses over the desert in the heat of the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495104125-H1MM3HB95K6JS0FUH6CS/DEADVLEI-2.jpg Namibia - The East Wind Any mention of the easterly winter winds will draw the ire of Namibians that live near the coast. During the winter, warm berg winds carry the desert dust and sand towards the coast in a warm gale force wind that can blow for days. When this happens, the coastal regions shut down, everyone shutters their homes and prepare the brooms and vacuum cleaner for the inevitable cleanup that comes after. In the desert landscapes, these winds can make for incredible conditions as long as you are willing to brave the blasts of sand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495100699-46W78YCOD2D22XEULJ1I/DSC_0009-2.jpg Namibia - Stoic An Oryx stands frozen in the midst of a fierce east wind sandstorm in Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495105882-OFXOWRMA1FC0BISN1F59/DSC_2098.jpg Namibia - Sand Mountains of Sossusvlei I There is something in the human mind that refuses to believe that a dune can be as high as the ones at Sossusvlei. Until you’ve climbed one of the 400m monsters, it is really difficult to comprehend their size. Using a telephoto lens and side lighting with a distant subject, like this Oryx, gives one an idea of the scale of these sand mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1599814652854-N07BOK97Q6NH10WLYOOG/DSC_4990_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia - Summer Nights Purple flickers light up a caravan of Cumulonimbus cells south of Keetmanshoop as the first stars appear in the Namibian skies on a humid summer evening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495109194-1U1ZEP7WBA6R8O7173DQ/DSC_2645-Pano.jpg Namibia - Dance of the Wolves A scene that feels befitting of this famous private nature reserve’s name - Wolwedans. Somewhere in this scene, there was sure to be an Aardwolf lurking under the light of the full moon, but they are such skittish and evasive animals that they are very seldom spotted. In memory of my good friend, Bruce Molzen. He was shooting with me here and we had the exact same backpacks. During the chaos of recomposing as the moon crested the horizon, I grabbed his backpack and started running for a different composition. Upon opening it I saw Canon lenses instead of Nikon glass and had to double back - a stressful experience in the moment, but the subject of many jokes about me stealing his gear in the years that followed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342727622-K95LUS580BB1HK0GHOPM/_DSC4270FP.jpg Namibia - Flaming Spitzkoppe Incredible light reflected in a rockpool at Namibia’s famous granite inselbergs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495114509-MK98Y1BTDEGS7HW5VW0R/DSC_4930.jpg Namibia - Luck of the Storm Afternoon sun breaks through a gap to the west to illuminate the trees of Giants Playground and a beautiful storm sell to the south of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495123215-P22B4B9J9A3YV9PLGFWC/DSC_6978-Recovered-Edit.jpg Namibia - Another Planet These wind eroded granite boulders in the great nothingness of the Namib Desert feel like there were put there by aliens. The dunes always make for an incredible subject, but it can become a bit monotonous after days in the desert. When we saw these, the decision to camp here was obvious. Whilst shooting this the wind was howling, but it settled down shortly after sunset and we had incredible night under the stars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495123214-KXL3FXVL2NPP5YKG4EXS/DSC_8795.jpg Namibia - Sand Mountains of Sossusvlei II The anabatic desert winds create a dramatic scene at Sossusvlei as it slowly sculpts the ever changing dune spines of the Tsauchab Valley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342752431-SFNDLGVEJDYMJ5DUSUHY/_DSC7479-Panorama.jpg Namibia - Skeleton Coast The essence of Namibia’s desert coastline - dunes, ocean, mist and nothing else, for as far as the eye can see on a clear day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495133670-DIGYVYIGWY6IBP50EN3P/DSC_8695.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495133669-YRVG4V5NZLVL8W43YHND/DSC_7750-2016_12.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342867095-C3QX80ML3QI56N0TOR0L/DSC_9719.jpg Namibia - On the Edge Looking south over the Fish River Canyon through the branches of an ancient quiver tree as a beautiful sunrise dapples the scene in blues, pinks and purples. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342875541-VU2MFIC5EVMF9U9LTSX8/Untitled_Panorama1.jpg Namibia - Flaming Dawn An incredible sunrise sky over a lone Acacia tree in the Namib Rand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342716002-XCRU1PCGD9SL2228JAV9/_DSC0933-Pano.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342720004-2MEACU87OZ1ABTA1E41M/_DSC2264FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342725459-LUNYW58FCXYS3KFR3P0P/_DSC2660FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342797747-C6FNCHDI4MIPVGWN4MMA/DSC_3300.jpg Namibia - Light A beautiful play of light illuminates a series of doorways in an old townhouse in Kolmanskop. The far room is lit by warm sunrise light from the eastern side of the building, while the near room is light by cold light spilling in from the east. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342824960-J7CJQQWLS36P1J7MJXUA/DSC_7209-2.jpg Namibia - Desert Minerals Magnetite, Rubelite, Garnet and Mica create beautiful striations in the dunes of the Namib Desert’s Skeleton Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342798520-4RYBJ7TRJBLS3E3N5KTD/DSC_3224.jpg Namibia - Summer Light This spectacular beam of light only occurs for a few months of the year thanks to an interplay of sunlight and a notch in the dune to the east of Deadvlei. If you wait for just the right moment, you can capture a tree as the first sunlight hits it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342736739-PU73DK6YZHES5VJXICUV/_DSC4285FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342855284-2X2REJUI0BG33WUQXRFP/DSC_8631.jpg Namibia - Far South The milky way’s galactic core rises over a Quiver Tree in Namibia’s far south, near the town of Keetmanshoop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342818425-MJO123ZNUB3RNJIQIIZC/DSC_6726.jpg Namibia - Skeleton Coast The wreck of the Shawnee, lost to Namibia’s southern Skeleton Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342736629-BOTPLC6FJF54O09ZGCBP/_DSC4309FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342742758-FHRD323IT1D8F7VUJMX9/_DSC4385FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342743519-UDBZDIWCOWOEH3LX01Y8/_DSC4624-2FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342749173-SE1MB59IHT35EUS8GSMK/_DSC6595FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342753693-F91T89ZCWPXRLVR10SZO/_DSC7477.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342760227-XQ3CBIKVSYPC21AWFKKG/_DSC7929FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342764254-NNXMXOJKI02CZ7B9E447/_MG_1977FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342770537-4Z5MAC2F3J6LAMW5ZDNZ/_MG_2084FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342774173-6IV2XCVURY4U6SPZ8BZA/_MG_2108_2015.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342775641-8KAQRCVLBWFXP26VWQ50/_MG_2476FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342783848-XGZ9WJRZAWQSQNIECNA8/DSC_2464.jpg Namibia - Peeking Through The afternoon sun peaks through the slats of a collapsed roof in the abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342805208-07VBESHK0LKXH1S6OHQ4/DSC_3722.jpg Namibia - First Light An early morning eastern horizon spills beautiful soft warm light through a window into a sand filled room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342808426-34MEX8GBRU3BN8TDWG4J/DSC_3741.jpg Namibia - Slow Decay Some of the rooms in Kolmanskop are not far from becoming inaccessible. Without the necessary maintenance to preserve its current state of abandonment, it will eventually all collapse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342811625-RUPACRDPFLAK44EUWMI8/DSC_3760-Pano.jpg Namibia - Sand Mountains of Sossusvlei The incredible dunes of Sossusvlei, some over 400m from the valley floor, illuminated by bright spots of morning sunlight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342814058-N2R4XRXJ22W5OG2XZ9XM/DSC_4744.jpg Namibia - Empty Promises What looked like it might have brought much needed rain, passed with nothing but some extreme wind gusts and a few drops of rain, kicking up dust on the drought-stricken plains of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342816262-UNS4VVMC498KX4XRKV3I/DSC_6250-Pano.jpg Namibia - Drought The Spitzkoppe mountains during the heartbreaking drought of 2018. This area normally varies between having lush to moderate amounts of grass. This scene from April 2018, showing nothing but sand, rocks and a few bushes clinging to dear life shows how bad the drought was. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342820133-WAHV39YS87IEW51NAGJA/DSC_7019-Pano.jpg Namibia - Skeleton Coast Moon Landscape Beautiful wind eroded boulders in the Skeleton Coast resemble a landscape from another planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342831966-MIKYOLXIIILL3Z1UAXJV/DSC_7409.jpg Namibia - Southern Desert Looking south into the no-man’s land between Fish River Canyon and the border with South Africa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342835423-8C6ARMOITGNAQD3BE35M/DSC_7680.jpg Namibia - Dawn Glow Dawn light spills into an old ablution building full of beautifully rippled sand. Sadly, a piece of this door has been removed in the years since I captured this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342843598-8STEFHVOWX15CC87EYOH/DSC_7718.jpg Namibia - The Blue and Yellow House For photographers, houses in the Kolmanskop ghost town are usually identified by a combination of two colours. This one is for obvious reasons known as the blue and yellow house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342840394-4E7W4ECY7VS1G0V7TR3D/DSC_7909.jpg Namibia - Dusty Dawn May 2015 presented some really weird weather in Africa - there were massive veld fires in Angola and Zambia and low pressure systems in the south Atlantic pulled a lot of that smoke and dust far to the south, creating incredibly colourful sunrises and sunsets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342845601-E8EA53C1R5N84AZ7G9YL/DSC_8037-Pano.jpg Namibia - The Graveyard The trees of Deadvlei - dead for an estimated 900 years. Only their main branches remain, withered and sculpted by the desert winds into ghostly figures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342845714-DIX0UR6AZ395N1LZ1ST6/DSC_8292-Pano.jpg Namibia - Dappled Light Alto-Cumulus cloud cast spots of light and shade on the panoramic landscapes of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342854182-Z505IYA2EKAKTFMWD0YD/DSC_8642.jpg Namibia - Reclamation The sands of the Southern Namib are slowly reclaiming the colourful abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop, Namibia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342870610-DABWFIU59NTGS5MDKVGB/DSC_8734.jpg Namibia - In Awe Admiring the stark shapes and detail of Deadvlei’s incredible trees under a night sky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342879000-AKT1AGOO2U6TJUNK450U/Kolmansstarpano2-copy.jpg Namibia - Kolmanskop at Night A bright milky way decorates the skies over the abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1599814011418-BWZ90XPYSHO20ZBX9LEL/DEADVLEI-1.jpg Namibia https://www.hougaardmalan.com/namibia-from-above daily 0.75 2020-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282500863-0QLRPXA9442R9PWJK035/DSC_2199-final.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Koichab Blues Dappled light illuminates transverse dunes intersecting marble rock shelves in the southern Namib near the Koichab depression. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282500863-0QLRPXA9442R9PWJK035/DSC_2199-final.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Koichab Blues Dappled light illuminates transverse dunes intersecting marble rock shelves in the southern Namib near the Koichab depression. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282536535-829NA35TMD95QDZ1QLRU/DSC_2327-Edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Mount Tsaus II The incredible rock formations of Mount Tsaus illuminated by dappled midday sunlight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282617259-6N8U9PEM55FVJ4ZMF55B/DSC_1446.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Untouched Paradise A flock of flamingoes glide gracefully over the sand banks and channels of sandwich harbour on Namibia’s southern Skeleton Coast. Only the most experienced 4x4 drivers can access this area, in addition to an expensive concession required to visit it. Hopefully it will remain untouched for the rest of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335402465-PZQJJNRTM8SZ2LG6XFDA/DSC_2210-Edit2.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - No Man's Land Light breaks through thick fog, somewhere in the south of the Namib Desert, where no one ever sets foot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282651159-U2P3PF5S0U726RC26AJ0/DSC_4242.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Secrets of Sossusvlei Behind a high dune, out of sight of the Tsauchab Valley, this circular pan lies hidden amongst the sands of Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335441494-4NLLXU0MYTYAN9TQZBLB/DSC_8501_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Dune Web A criss-cross of dune spines are accentuated by light in an area of intersecting transverse and star dunes in the Namib dune sea near Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578490342546-QQEIDMP5RP6RIA90MA1W/image-asset.jpeg Namibia from Above Gallery - Sandwich Harbour Flamingoes calmly gliding over the expanse of Sandwich harbour on the coast of the Namib desert. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335282840-FFK5E08RN8DGEIWANKEM/_DSC7538_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Simplicity Another pan hidden amongst Sossusvlei’s sand mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335353855-QJI0YT0NWW46B6H74Q26/DSC_1508.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Desert Veins Although water is rarely present in this landscape, it’s rare occurrence leaves behind a clear mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335325027-4HNCU5QLI2T0MG6NML48/DSC_1277_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Left Alone It’s difficult to put into words how far these Himba kraals are from any form of civilization. We flew westwards from Epupa Falls, exploring a vast mountain range along the Kunene river, with peaks reaching close to 3000m. For most of our fuel range, we didn’t see a single road or jeep track, yet here and there, atop a mountain or deep in a valley, were signs of humans who choose to live a life completely removed from modern society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282690528-JGTFJNKA998PAHVMLOHP/DSC_2368-Edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Mount Tsaus This incredible formation looks like nothing more than a series of low hills when viewed from the ground. When viewed from 5000ft in the air, its snaking lines reveal one of the most incredible rock formations on our planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601284351407-57A8NAHPOS7AF7UP71H5/DSC_4233.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Deadvlei More insignificant rain during the 2015 drought - a light shower falling to the west of the famous Deadvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283390674-D6JW9VIH8CMXK14XJDE0/DSC_1941-blended_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Flood Plain Beautiful patterns created by super rare thunderstorms that can send massive flash floods rushing down this rocky plain during Namibia’s summer rainfall season. Somewhere in the vicinity of the Tiras Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335414504-O017TN233M9SHRO1LX3K/DSC_2532-flattened_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Fish River Canyon Beautiful rays of light illuminate the depths of Fish River Canyon on a hazy October morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335290599-T0BWRF80Y2ZJ7XZ3V9XJ/DSC_0613.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Westward A riverbed meanders through a beautiful valley near the border with Angola in a far northern corner of Namibia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335291122-A2IM2M87TFXO9HTI1D97/DSC_1033-blended_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Wild West A hillside dotted with beautiful bright yellow flora in a mountain range that straddles the border between Namibia’s northwest and Angola’s southwest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335305439-M425U7WZNOLBZ16OZSHD/DSC_1140converted_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Ancient Lands An ancient and barren landscape shows the scars of millennia of harsh weather. Taken somewhere in Namibia’s far northwest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335435173-IB4P4E0B9IPAGBDKOIOU/DSC_4316_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Milkshake The beautiful peach-brown sands of Sossusvlei with a presence of black magnetite resemble a chocolate milkshake from above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335306292-WK6G0ZKJXV20UI34LJQG/DSC_1186-Blended_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Glaciated Desert Striations of a grand scale create incredible lines over the this landscape near the Marianfluss in the far northwest of Namibia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335323529-721G8A8SMDIL7M3CW5R1/DSC_1242.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Forgotten Eden A spectrum of subtle colours the landscape seem to create a muted rainbow in this valley deep in the wilderness of Namibia’s mountains northwest. This area is only accessible by air or by extreme exploration on foot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335331277-UVZYKOY3X0UHDFYIRWPR/DSC_1281-cleaned.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Eduard Bohlen Namibia’s rapidly changing coastline has left this shipwreck about 400m from the beach since it ran aground over a century ago. It became stranded in thick fog at Conception Bay on a journey from Swakopmund to Cape Town in 1909. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335353599-T02WVBU0ZCZIDJQRF31H/DSC_1512.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Macro Ripples The atlantic fog pushes in over the dunes in dappled late afternoon light. During this flight it was a race against the fog to get back to the airport while we still had the necessary visibility to land. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335437343-O1FBSVUYBOL1GXMNUZ3H/DSC_4381.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Endless Desert Dramatic afternoon light cuts across the endless expanse of the Namib desert. Taken somewhere between Sossusvlei and the Atlantic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283965639-PQDZRIOBSAJ6BLX5BA1M/DSC_1615-blended-brightened_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Uranium Lands This dramatic landscape west of Swakopmund holds some of the world’s richest Uranium deposits. The Husab Uranium mine is not far from this landscape; it is the world’s second largest Uranium mine and the largest open pit mine on the continent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283426109-L36KAVN8BWO43WD56CU8/DSC_1674_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Weather Worn Incredible patterns and rock formations tell a story of an ancient landscape and aeons of enduring earth’s elements. Taken somewhere over the Kaokoveld. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335423110-E51UA76AJY5PKFKCQWI6/DSC_3625.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Tsauchab valley Warm afternoon light illuminates the dunes on the northern side of the Tsauchab valley as clouds build to the east. The trees show the meandering course of the Tsauchab River, which has not seen water since 2011. (written 2020) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283584190-5FJ6QOP3YTAHZC6VZDXN/DSC_1897-Edit2.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - The Namib Rand First light of day casts long shadows across the Namib Rand’s unique landscape of dunes, grass and Acacia trees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283661014-SIVBFPCCBVACGQR3NDF2/DSC_1992-Pano.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - The Edge The Namib Rand is a title that refers to the border area between the Namib Desert and the several mountain ranges that straddle its eastern edge. This photo shows those elements in grand perfection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335390290-85C0J5BXJGRO11K2C4PF/DSC_2077.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Desert Basin Another area somewhat similar to Sossusvlei, several catchment areas near the Tiras mountains drain into this low-lying area on the desert’s edge. It doesn’t rain here very often, but when it does, it creates an incredible green paradise in the desert. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335401170-DYB8B9BMNWB4B61HXLBU/DSC_2158_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - Barchan Dunes These incredible shifting dunes are to aerial photography what a Zebra’s stripes and a Giraffe’s patterns are to wildlife photographers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335423371-8VS9FZ16WYPHEA1IU2WD/DSC_4183.jpg Namibia from Above Gallery - False Hope Dramatic skies, but little precipitation - the story of dry years in Namibia. This beautiful scene was captured just West of Sossuvlei during the heartbreaking drought of 2015. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog daily 0.75 2021-02-17 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/lekkerwater monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1613566112359-BPLTCZCXY4YA93I5UVA0/_DSF1447.jpg Blog - Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1613556367340-R0PNYZTAR73X4Q8ME5U2/_DSF1075.jpg Blog - Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1613564759044-0Z03EI1J45N2NQ9S8XBD/_DSF1237.jpg Blog - Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1613556175250-YM3OVDC2W30VHEBBOFMI/_DSF1182.jpg Blog - Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1613564713451-NDO17TLAEOPYG1KDIIDK/_DSF1497.jpg Blog - Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1613564666645-TQ4RG4441OG7HL9BV7RX/_DSF1056.jpg Blog - Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1613566258851-50YZDE33U8XSX7EYMUF4/_DSF1280.jpg Blog - Lekkerwater https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/thirteen-years-later monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1594896943452-PHG163FDG1XVYB1560FM/Dwesa-3.jpg Blog - Thirteen Years Later December 2009. Africa still has so many places that remain virgin to the camera. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1594896369819-3BTWNRSCIQSUXJ7OASAC/_DSF4868.jpg Blog - Thirteen Years Later Feb 2020. A thunderstorm sweeping the landscape west of Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1594896019467-7XHB6CTYYZLVLI7R1A6L/_DSF2002-full.jpg Blog - Thirteen Years Later June 2020. Recent work of an overphotographed SA icon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1594896757597-XBEZCHSKIF3ADX4CBX9O/Deadvlei-7.jpg Blog - Thirteen Years Later July 2017. Deadvlei is one of the world’s most photographed landscapes and as a result, viewers have become emotionally blind to photos of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1613550783208-D9NNQ2HCJM8PZT7338B7/_DSF3560.jpg Blog - Thirteen Years Later https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/seascape monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/natural+selection monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/lekkerwater monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/c4+safaris monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/workshop monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/shem+compion monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/masterclass monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/de+hoop monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/blog/tag/hougaard+malan monthly 0.5 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/kubu-island-victoria-falls daily 0.75 2020-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1579867221813-ONTQ7RKOUU4816O4E9LG/Kubu-Island-2.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1579867221813-ONTQ7RKOUU4816O4E9LG/Kubu-Island-2.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488630565-3FXQ1TBVHLG7POHZH4H3/Vic-Falls-1.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1579867388722-A6RZP49LPQIKCUQ3SIUS/Kubu-Island-9.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488636644-I8XHUQQUJHHW8V05FZVJ/Vic-Falls-5.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488550003-8UOAGPXI5AA6982W0RNJ/_MG_0397FP.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488640402-REP2K89PEU48M1D7LF8Q/Vic-Falls-6.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488549472-4POJUXHI47LF3YFBCHFM/_MG_8228FP.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488630894-ZVZNOVVWBH1ZT4Q3RMT1/Vic-Falls-3.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488558067-GS1AXC69GIC0WI6W8094/Kubu-Island-3.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488561062-L1U2R4IWGH37ZG1M4G5B/Kubu-Island-4.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488642008-F3JH4LDAN9RWNPR3TXKA/Vic-Falls-2.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488562943-38ZQ14G234JZHPYMYWHB/Kubu-Island-8.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488635952-KSSAW44Y3GG8IXMFTGE5/Vic-Falls-4.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://www.hougaardmalan.com/south-african-coastline daily 0.75 2020-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345163057-CRKGX5DN48G5W5903G4Q/_MG_0136.jpg South African Coastline - July Twilight falls in a display of deep purple hues over the rocky coastline of De Kelders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345163057-CRKGX5DN48G5W5903G4Q/_MG_0136.jpg South African Coastline - July Twilight falls in a display of deep purple hues over the rocky coastline of De Kelders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345282401-ZCHCKV57Y9D0Z50NO699/DSC_6179.jpg South African Coastline - Phenomenal A moment of incredible coincidence over one of South Africa’s most iconic landscapes; Hole in the Wall. A dark and cloudy afternoon turned into unbelievable magic when an isolated curtain of rain started falling behind the wall and a gap in the clouds opened up, allowing the sun to paint a partial rainbow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345272017-YTB2P6WX1BADJ1WK1KR5/_MG_8258FP.jpg South African Coastline - Doringbaai Fishing boats take shelter from stormy west coast seas in the picturesque little harbour of Doringbaai. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345247796-6YCQ4MKDNZY6IS8KU3CL/_MG_6770.jpg South African Coastline - Ivory and Azure A perfect pink sunrise over the azure waters and ivory cliffs of Arniston on a calm summer morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345179544-JAVOEQ9Z2PFV89R3HCXG/_MG_0243.jpg South African Coastline - Xhosa Piazza Sun sets over a rock shelf resembling an ancient tiled piazza deep in the heart of the Transkei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345253912-EZ3K1LEJTT011BR3GBMV/_MG_8147FP.jpg South African Coastline - Hole in the Wall Beautiful pre-dawn colour over Hole in the Wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345141491-YW44L0IR5VMZ5XWTATXE/_DSC7580.jpg South African Coastline - Autumn Perfection A perfect May morning in Arniston; the ocean flat as a mirror and not a breath of wind as beautiful hues of pink and orange fill the skies and reflect on the calm waters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1579868433602-KUM8XG2975PJ7JU2O1H2/_MG_0235.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345123889-K7R0CWVYICDH95PT23FQ/_DSC2793.jpg South African Coastline - 33 Years Later What remains of the Meisho Maru shipwreck after 33 years exposed to the corrosive Cape Agulhas elements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345288190-MZ5YTM83A8NOZ8AWPPXX/DSC_8323.jpg South African Coastline - Convergence Arniston’s cauldron - I stumbled upon this location in 2008 and it has become one of SA’s most popular seascape locations in the year since. Despite over a decade of shooting this incredible phenomenon of water flow, I am yet to capture an image of it that I am perfectly content with, but this one is pretty close. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345125744-FZK5FP7BOQ1Q8N31YTRB/_DSC3207.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345135216-SAN1QRO0TRDPFD8MZEZ4/_DSC3779FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345176634-NCYQ7TMSK417UDLABZ6L/_MG_0235.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345141027-S3TWUSCD6VPI4KYBRG4M/_DSC6569FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345160494-JV60OT6GTA25YZ7T3CS7/_MG_0107.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345169499-H6BLOEMBNGEGTSX24U5M/_MG_0226.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345203174-00HGD4VACIPPQD4WV9MN/_MG_4255FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345183562-U7OGR6HKZCS7M4SBW2VF/_MG_0754FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345193068-OZ3PRZ27IQJTVZ6S9MUF/_MG_1061FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345200778-AZ9PY8DEMS7MQBMJYLRJ/_MG_1945FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345227697-CXPSH30GSO5DPSND99H8/_MG_4605FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345227669-9O3B50YKXULPWNRGZ800/_MG_4662FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345241568-69NHJSGKZUL0Q3QWULGI/_MG_4791FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345240293-9HHENCZTETVQCVUWBSJR/_MG_4935FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345249174-L3GBSJUKLI3AZBCKBBC9/_MG_7326FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345252688-99OEW911XXU3KGZ927CS/_MG_7387FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345302575-KG6Q4YD52BOC4PHC9TIH/DSC_9921_blended.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345309289-85BON7C1GVVN39LDVWTS/IMG_3419.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345264983-8KPEFTML6MM2V0VZWP6V/_MG_8248FP.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345281944-TSEC8MSMOD2I4BO5GW97/_MG_9983.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345277387-M9GODJTZJGQ3AHLWBUIZ/DSC_0563.jpg South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345286928-FN8NTQNTDACYQP0VNEVK/DSC_8158-Pano.jpg South African Coastline - Wild Coast Winter Daylight approaches from the east in a beautiful display of gold and purple on a calm, windless morning at Hole in the Wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345291867-T1ISSJFPZZIC8ZX7MK16/DSC_8447.jpg South African Coastline - Hole in the Wall An iconic South African landscape in perfect conditions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345292083-PSYOHRRGDJH5DL59NHZQ/DSC_8789-Pano-2.jpg South African Coastline - At Rest The fishing boats of Struisbaai anchored in the harbour on a beautiful autumn evening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345297299-ME56F2HM7CH7POGMJJ8M/IMG_0284FP.jpg South African Coastline - West The simplicity of the West Coast is what draws so many people to it - void of mountain ranges or dense foliage, it features a harsh landscape exposed to the icy wind and fog of the Atlantic. Sometimes, however, the winds and the fog take a break and one can experience the most incredible days. This was one such day in the middle of winter, where a perfect sunny day faded into an incredible display of colours to the West as the moon and the evening star rose over the ocean. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345303528-X89NUPDTJRW2GE1HV0NV/IMG_1809.jpg South African Coastline - Final Destination One of the small rivers of the Kogelberg mountains descends the last few steps into the ocean as a distant sunset paints magical colours in a sky full of streaky high cloud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345314302-TO0OWI9PTRFIU50N6S84/IMG_7271FP.jpg South African Coastline - Victoria Bay Flaming red dawn skies over this secluded beach village outside the town of George. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345316559-H5MXY7IUBDFMVS1WZEUC/IMG_9792.jpg South African Coastline - April in the Cape Autumn around Cape Town is the season of flaming red sunsets and this one was no disappointment. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/south-africa-interior daily 0.75 2020-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598951126422-8MJRUY5N7YF88EWK19BY/DSC_0117.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Bliss Morning mist lifts over the beautiful Blyde River Canyon after a long night of soft rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598951126422-8MJRUY5N7YF88EWK19BY/DSC_0117.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Bliss Morning mist lifts over the beautiful Blyde River Canyon after a long night of soft rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328966918-I63U9A0NN2Z2BOOZZP50/Richtersveld-1.jpg South Africa Interior - The Richtersveld An image that epitomises the Richtersveld National Park - barren, dry and hot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328798252-CNS2HVGO3X77JSXAMIPW/Augrabies-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Augrabies in Flood One of Augrabies Falls’ side falls during the peak flow of the 2011 floods. Augrabies only floods an average of once every two decades as there are 4 gigantic dams in the two rivers that feed it - the Vaal, Bloemhof, Van der Kloof and Gariep. It takes several incredible years of rain to fill all 4 dams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328805535-0PPXKUA480QODT89APKQ/Blyde-River-Canyon-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Trial and Error Incredible rays of light illuminate the depths of Blyde River Canyon on a calm summer morning. I visited this location (2000km from home) on 6 occasions between 2007 and 2013 before finally getting the shot I had envisioned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328895224-HVIK81U16VGIMQSZAMYR/Magoebaskloof-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Magoebaskloof A jeep track snaking through a lush afromontane forest on the Magoebaskloof escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328975405-ZAJ3M3LEP6YO3PO4Y33D/Valley-of-Desolation-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Valley of Desolation One of the Karoo’s most iconic sights - the rocky pillars above Graaff Reinet. Taken on a sweltering 40 degree December afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328840472-8YV9ERLE61TW3UMJLVTB/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-3.jpg South Africa Interior - Barkly East Pass A perfect morning in the Barkly Pass on summer solstice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328873618-EHWZ2EHR14AWZCY4PUT5/Freestate-3.jpg South Africa Interior - Vaal River A beautiful autumn morning over the Vaal River. Taken in the Vredefort dome near Parys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328902643-222VPO8WFSSKSQV2RBN1/Magoebaskloof-2.jpg South Africa Interior - Forgotten Eden The incredible forests of Magoebaskloof https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328915913-O0HZITLLV8E90B5DTLEG/Magoebaskloof-4.jpg South Africa Interior - Magoebaskloof Stream Fresh rainwater cascading down a forest stream in Magoebaskloof after a powerful summer thunderstorm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328887994-2LBH7QFCCLKPXJQ996WH/Karoo-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Storm A powerful thunderstorm over the barren plains of the Karoo, taken long after sunset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328966906-09VP359GV224Q2IN6MEX/Richtersveld-2.jpg South Africa Interior - Momentary For a few brief minutes each afternoon around the winter solstice, the sun hits this scene at the perfect angle to illuminate the tree, while casting a shadow on the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598951127676-BO9JF5MIXXG82URWKISO/_MG_0774.jpg South Africa Interior - The Other Side Looking the the iconic Blyde River Canyon from the opposite side as dramatic rays of sunlight illuminate the depths of the canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328950419-YTAHAJFSM5C77587D9Y4/Pretoria-Jacarandas-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Icon A scene that is unmistakably South African, despite being an alien tree; A street strewn with Jacaranda leaves after a rainy October afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328820266-M9WDURQKTTDM6YWKVWWS/Blyde-River-Canyon-4.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Tranquility Stormy gray skies hang over the depths of Blyde River Canyon on a cool and calm February morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328826250-ZKKK35KO7B4XVIC71X4X/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Farmland Icon Lombardy Poplar trees - a classic icon of South Africa’s farmlands. These are used all over the country as windbreaks and were planted in earlier years as fast growing timber. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328832527-PE60L97SN2XITUFZW19V/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-2.jpg South Africa Interior - Eastern Cape Highlands Morning mist lifts off the mountains in the pass between Barkly East and Elliott - one of the most underrated areas of South Africa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328846115-K6OK0XF87FHHAGQXSA5Q/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-4.jpg South Africa Interior - Eastern Cape Highlands Last light over the hills and valleys of Eastern Cape Drakensberg. This is in farmland somewhere in the mountains above Indwe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328855187-KWB8V6DHO88YX61P8QTS/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-5.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Days A perfect afternoon in the highlands of the Eastern Cape, somewhere between Dordrecht and Queenstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328852425-1FWEZ206RG1ETXE83D0Y/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-6.jpg South Africa Interior - Pierneef Skies A vast thundercell on the escarpment below seems to bubble up from behind the horizon. Somewhere in the Eastern Cape highlands, near the small town of Dordrecht. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328863280-5OZL6MVGH8JLRJ5UA4SJ/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-7.jpg South Africa Interior - Close of Autumn Autumn colours cling on as winter approaches on the Eastern Cape highlands. This scene is between the towns of Dordrecht and Molteno, the latter consistently recording SA’s coldest temperatures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328863287-3EBMMFH6QWUXJJML7NOP/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-8.jpg South Africa Interior - Rumble A massive thunderstorm rolls in over the “tail” of the Drakensberg, near the town of Indwe in the Eastern Cape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328876402-QNUSO820LQYY0U3EYOI1/Freestate-1.jpg South Africa Interior - End of Summer Flowering of cosmos along the roads of the highveld signal the end of summer. They usually start showing up around the end of March, when the afternoon thundershowers start subsiding. They are an alien plant, mistakenly brought here in horse feed. As horses eat the plant and then drop seeds along the way, the flowers are distributed mainly along the roadways. Large stands of the flowers often indicate where travellers made camp and the horses grazed in the area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328870512-J3YL8HJBT7JK2CCPWHKP/Freestate-2.jpg South Africa Interior - Golden Gate An incredible sunset over the colourful sandstone cliffs of Golden Gate National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328915957-TJ0IPX6NMCQ0QW5WRWKB/Magoebaskloof-3.jpg South Africa Interior - Afromontane A misty winter morning on the Magoebaskloof escarpment. South Africa has very little indigenous forest left and finding scenes like this is very challenging, but well worth the effort. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328927487-WTNYDYS5CRG6Z40302BI/Magoebaskloof-5.jpg South Africa Interior - Fresh Crystal clear mountain water rushing down marble shelves in the Magoebaskloof mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328927758-DTJ4WG1PZ9JC77XEBYXB/Magoebaskloof-6.jpg South Africa Interior - Debegeni Falls One of Limpopo’s most iconic waterfalls - this shows only one of multiple cascades as the Debegeni river makes it’s way down a steep valley via series of towering cascades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328946842-2KVVMITPEQEV6CJ3JX4N/Magoebaskloof-7.jpg South Africa Interior - Afromontane Forest Morning sun lights up the undergrowth of untouched afromontane forest in the heights of the Magoebaskloof escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328933407-210CBKUP77CV36P1OB70/Pretoria-CBD-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Tshwane A passing storm puts on a beautiful show of light over South Africa’s Capitol. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328969654-NJNI50SA2ZEZ45M8RN0Z/Voortrekker-Monument-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Voortrekker Monument Lightning strikes the hills of Pretoria during an incredible display of light as an approaching storm is backlit by the sunset. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/tuscany daily 0.75 2020-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328080743-ELGYZQOZON4WWSXK05VJ/_DSC0029FP.jpg Tuscany https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328080743-ELGYZQOZON4WWSXK05VJ/_DSC0029FP.jpg Tuscany https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328084732-YKEWCK8T99WRNN5GYJL3/_DSC0546FP.jpg Tuscany 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488890960-W7032QPF3RHSDU0XPC3J/DSC_2689.jpg Iceland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488893063-IWZ2AKGYU4M4PTHIFBKC/DSC_2767.jpg Iceland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488894448-VZK761YIF0S09H1RUJ59/DSC_2971.jpg Iceland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488902635-OAA3UAL0WXL78ZC7A74M/DSC_3241.jpg Iceland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488931570-JTA739A4JL9MA45K56C7/DSC_2261.jpg Iceland https://www.hougaardmalan.com/patagonia daily 0.75 2020-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326523201-X4WE1YWHFE6T1C5HFXJY/_DSC0979.jpg Patagonia - April in Patagonia A windless moonlit night over one of the most magical places on our planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326523201-X4WE1YWHFE6T1C5HFXJY/_DSC0979.jpg Patagonia - April in Patagonia A windless moonlit night over one of the most magical places on our planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326687591-5OLPBQ25OT1ERL9JURB6/DSC_6995-desturated-foliage.jpg Patagonia - 60 Seconds of Magic Some sunsets/sunrises can put on an incredible display of light and colour for more than an hour, some last only ten minutes and some don’t even last a minute. This image remains one of my all time most popular images of Patagonia for obvious reasons - that horizontal beam of flaming red light against the swirling grey clouds is incredibly dramatic. This moment lasted at most 1-2 minutes - an incredible spot of luck during what was an otherwise rainy, windy and freezing cold morning in Los Glaciares NP. Being in the right place and ready for the light to happen is an often boring and painstaking part of landscape photography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326572700-T4RY1L5WW1L9FKGSHE08/_DSC7045.jpg Patagonia - Volcanic The black beaches of Torres del Paine tell an important tale of it’s volcanic history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326618799-J44UXI3WGCNURXZFN7L8/_DSC9407-Pano.jpg Patagonia - Perito Moreno Glacier An incredible natural moment Argentina’s most famous landscape. The front of the glacier is 80m, or roughly 25 stories high and it is also one of the world’s largest advancing glaciers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326579144-UX252GC3I3N9E3OHC9UL/_DSC7153-Pano.jpg Patagonia - Patagonian Weather When trying to think of a title, I first thought that this image looks very stormy and it probably deserves a title that fits that narrative. I then remembered that this is what most days in patagonia look like and it’s probably not deserving of the title by Patagonian standards…hence the current title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326566318-D6Z8GFQKMWY5G4OH514N/_DSC6810-Pano-Edit.jpg Patagonia - Autumn Fire When autumn foliage and a flaming red sunrise put on a show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326511628-G9L7C51OI0Y4XYGB1U3K/_DSC0199.jpg Patagonia - Rio de las Vueltas Golden sunset light reflects in the waters of the Rio de las Vueltas as the sun sets in the west. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326506625-ZYDU15PV34D2F40YRTJ5/_DSC0618.jpg Patagonia - Andean Dawn Brilliant warm light strikes the eastern face of mount Fitz Roy and the it’s southern flank, the Poincenot, under moody autumn skies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326518539-LYY4FGV6AZBVNXPWNNG9/_DSC0939.jpg Patagonia - Laguna Torre Sunset Sunset colours paint beautiful tones of pink and orange over the icy landscape of Laguna Torre on a perfect autumn evening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326529790-Y0BTVNW9V1SRQ0DWB4HR/_DSC1214.jpg Patagonia - Dawn Fire A flaming pink sunrise over Lago de los Tres, one of several glacial lakes below Mount Fitz Roy in Los Glaciares National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326536294-EKRDBITH4H5FHMX2GKWX/_DSC1450.jpg Patagonia - The Chimney Mount Fitz Roy producing it’s famous chimney as a freezing westerly wind from the southern Patagonian Ice Field pushes moist air over the Andes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326539360-JXMD6NQ7MYC6P91Y6E2Z/_DSC5958.jpg Patagonia - Peeking Through The famous cuernos (horns) of the Cordillera del Paine just visible through a layer of low cloud illuminated by dramatic sunrise light as the famous Patagonian winds stir the waters of one of Torres del Paine’s many turquoise lakes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326597275-FJSDWTCWDF41GR39ZKSY/_DSC7579.jpg Patagonia - Eastern View Peeking out to the right of Almirante Nieto (the big peak) are the three granite monoliths after which the park were named. These towers are only visible from the east. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326553994-KJZRK3XD74EFSGV2MW3J/_DSC6175-Finished.jpg Patagonia - Windproof All around Patagonia you can find dwarf Lenga trees that thrive, despite the relentless onslaught of the Patagonian gales. Once they manage to establish a small forest, the inner trees can thrive and grow to a great size, but when isolated like this one, staying as close to the ground as possible is the best strategy for survival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326601276-969QO9AIXFMPMXT8S1K8/_DSC8135FP.jpg Patagonia - Twilight A 15 minute exposure juxtaposes the dynamic against the static during an eerie overcast sunset in Torres del Paine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326551933-7C9IYHXF5U92TCZN885Y/_DSC6231-2-as-Smart-Object-1.jpg Patagonia - Lago Pehoe Lenga trees fighting for survival on the shores of Lago Pehoe’s glacial waters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326615180-PFC1F87NMJ2JIL0IGGOL/_DSC8598FP.jpg Patagonia - Torres del Paine The granite monoliths that gave the park it’s name “Towers of Blue”, ironically bathed in red sunrise light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326606227-VV4MXXNTA7WSQ5QXSY3T/_DSC8220-Recovered.jpg Patagonia - Kinetic Long exposure captures the relentless Patagonian gales that are forever swirling clouds around its peaks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326560310-5AZAN8LCTVQYWSOO4FRD/_DSC6624.jpg Patagonia - Windblown When the wind blows enough on Patagonia’s lakes, the waves can easily fool you into thinking you’re at the coast. Shooting into a spray and wind like this is a nightmare, but when the light justifies it, it is worth the struggle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326560675-AEFS8L6BT18265HLVNOX/_DSC6768-Sept-2016.jpg Patagonia - Alpenglow Although first observed and studied in the Alps, this incredible phenomenon can occur on any high mountain range. It is when strong/colourful sunrise/sunset light reflects or refracts in ideal conditions to illuminate a mountain range in incredible colour long before sunrise or after sunset. This long exposure was captured without any ND filters, long before sunrise in near darkness. There are few things more incredible than witnessing alpenglow in it’s full glory - you will see the mountains on fire in near darkness, clearly illuminated by a very distant sunrise or sunset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326574058-FSJBH0RPVWTAPEBXX3S7/_DSC7110.jpg Patagonia - Idyllic There are few hotels in the world with a better location than Torres del Paine’s hosterio Pehoe. It sits on a small island in Lago Pehoe, accessible only by this small foot bridge and enjoys an uninterrupted view of the Cordillera del Paine. It was the very first hotel concession in the park and sadly the owners have not done much in the way of upgrades in the many decades since it has been built. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326582329-A1ZYZI641ZK7IY1Z7Q95/_DSC7346-Final.jpg Patagonia - Rush Beautiful blue glacial waters rush down the gorge that connects Lago Nordenskjold to Lago Pehoe in Torres del Paine NP as sunrise paints the mountains’ cloak in a light orange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326600615-I1EDTM2Q2D7K8JUZHKQE/_DSC7888FP.jpg Patagonia - Travel Postcard The picturesque Lago Pehoe in Torres del Paine National Park on a stunning autumn day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326624565-CCX9KWK1EP640UHFKMAC/_DSC9782.jpg Patagonia - Final Colour Patagonian autumn putting on it’s final display before the leaves fall off and winter starts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326627602-2QULCTCRNW0URH3K50GP/CDSunknownpano.jpg Patagonia - Patagonian Perfection A tranquil windless morning at one of Patagonia’s most photogenic waterfalls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326642844-1G6E9P1VMUYHOX85LG1Y/DSC_5802.jpg Patagonia - Chorillo del Salto II Icy glacial water flows through the beautiful autumn foliage of Los Glaciares National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326661582-ACOB6OAAGRJQ7FJJ139S/DSC_6687.jpg Patagonia - The Lookout Patagonia’s locals - the Guanacos. Eternally on the lookout for prowling pumas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326659025-DZWZQZ3V42OHIDQ3YCNK/DSC_6729-12-2017.jpg Patagonia - Fire in the East Sunrise approaches in an incredible display of sunrise colours from the east on a perfect morning in late April. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326669701-SEIRHZUA8QG0I8TELBMN/DSC_6876.jpg Patagonia - Sliver of Silver Dramatic afternoon light reflects in a channel on the flood plains of the Rio Grey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326689885-P8UOY13PXPGXC6CPULWU/DSC_6926-Pano.jpg Patagonia - First Colour Autumn arriving one tree at a time in one of the densely forested valleys of Los Glaciares NP. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326695574-W1YSM2MW6EGJJNR74WW1/LagoDLTpano1.jpg Patagonia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326704599-RNEYXCQKK5LAK7BFJ0PW/Untitled_Panorama1.jpg Patagonia - Chorillo del Salto An incredible display of autumn colours surround El Chalten’s favourite waterfall. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/seychelles daily 0.75 2020-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325601951-SXTMSSIH2L9KVZTNWYE1/_A8R0045.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325601951-SXTMSSIH2L9KVZTNWYE1/_A8R0045.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325603488-AIUUZ0F3UEB6HLDGRV03/_A8R0561FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325609499-7RZY8PTBJ4JL3GF03QVK/_A8R1245FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325609502-8O9UJ6E80JECADPUGXHZ/_A8R1460FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325616392-GTKK7V73ACCFT4DIR14B/_A8R1592FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325618136-1VVLA7ASB96YODP1J8X7/_A8R1701FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325622653-GEHIM3RIQ6YSLPUS7A48/_A8R2168FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325627921-DZV3G7R7GPBZ9FA9EHQV/_A8R9046FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325626147-1OOWGUMAPK6QXI656HHL/_A8R9293FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325630226-QR6FYYDDF6OTFPMBMX47/_A8R9509FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325634837-JAIRTN468XIBFFF466PZ/_A8R9737FP.jpg Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325637282-JB3T3CP0A3KFKGVJNSAQ/printFP.jpg Seychelles https://www.hougaardmalan.com/new-gallery daily 0.75 2021-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633601544349-N7ER1TV911GJLQQCHVWV/image-asset.jpeg Cape Town and Surrounds - Canola Moon A bright yellow full moon climbs into the sky over an idyllic scene in the Overberg farmlands during the August full moon of 2021. While the elements like the hills, trees and chapel are permanent, scenes like this seem to appear and disappear from year to year as the farmers rotate crops, some more photogenic than others. It might easily be another decade or two before the farmer/farmers who own all the fields in this photo decide to plant so much canola again, making this scene as beautiful as it was this year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633601544349-N7ER1TV911GJLQQCHVWV/image-asset.jpeg Cape Town and Surrounds - Canola Moon A bright yellow full moon climbs into the sky over an idyllic scene in the Overberg farmlands during the August full moon of 2021. While the elements like the hills, trees and chapel are permanent, scenes like this seem to appear and disappear from year to year as the farmers rotate crops, some more photogenic than others. It might easily be another decade or two before the farmer/farmers who own all the fields in this photo decide to plant so much canola again, making this scene as beautiful as it was this year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335276984-BBEZWKCD21FZLB92068J/IMG_7488-Edit.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Once in a Lifetime This photo shows what photographers are raving about when they talk of “the light”. Sometimes, the clouds and sunset work together to produce conditions that seem to be good to be true. I remember this like it was yesterday, but this year (2020) marks 11 years since I captured it. It was an oddly warm day in May, with high humidity and absolutely no wind. I ventured to Blouberg a few hours before sunset as the skies looked promising, but nothing could prepare me for what I was going to see. In the few hours before sunset, it seemed just generally cloudy over Table Bay, but as sunset approached and the clouds started changing, it became obvious that there was a massive thundercell building over Table Bay. Without the convective energy of a proper summer day, there was never any lightning and instead of it raining, these Virga formed below the clouds at the perfect time to catch the pink sunset light coming from the side. By blocking the light from the cloud’s belly, it created deep, dark shadows in between. An incredibly rare colour and texture contrast. Due to haze in the air and the limitations of 2009 camera technology, these images lack the sharpness to print much larger than 60cm while maintaining perfect detail. I have been obsessively returning to Blouberg for a decade now, hoping to get similar conditions, but I’m starting to accept that some conditions just never ever repeat themselves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601543308335-VNJNEV27AE88EB4H7Z9F/image-asset.jpeg Cape Town and Surrounds - Serenity Sun burns through the mist, illuminating a historic church in the Overberg farmlands on a perfect winter’s morning between fronts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057255807-NIBJAW2NNCKWZ23OO464/_DSF2978.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Electric Kogelbay A massive bolt of lightning strikes the sea just off Rooi Els, illuminating the night for a fraction of a second during what was a 2-minute exposure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335047265-LNAP033MQQMD6E3X2H5Z/_DSF1199.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Cape Point Rays of sunrise light slice through the southern tip of Cape Point on a calm autumn morning. The mountains in the back are Kleinmond, Rotary Drive Hill (Hermanus) and Maanschynkop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335076381-MD57BXTYN99E85KXBYPX/_MG_0377FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Hidden Secrets Diaz Beach, Cape Point - on perfect summer days, it’s one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets. Cape Point NP’s high entry fee as well as a 1km walk, including about 250 steps mean that you can have this beach to yourself even on the best of days. Don’t let this view deceive you…when the weather isn’t perfect, this is one of the most dangerous beaches on the peninsula. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335118193-Y1OFW2TDOYN4D1EPXCCM/_MG_4331FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Muizenberg A Cape Town icon on a perfect day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057241767-JZD0TGWRWVJJPTN9TRFQ/_DSF0860.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057255747-ZEK8X2T1X4Q9A16NY1W1/_DSF30532.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Winter Blues A clearing front puts a final few drops on Table Mountain on an icy July evening https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335040531-5WI0HGCMYL14153S4TD7/_DSF0929.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - The Blanket In summer, Table mountain wears its iconic cloth, created by the wind. In autumn, the mother city wears a blanket, created by calm April mornings and moist ocean air. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335028228-2O5A1LR7WV5M4IUBVMZY/_DSC7216FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Peeking Through Beautiful soft backlight created by the sun slowly burning through thick mist over a field of canola near Swellendam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335010157-W32VFZNWA68ZAJZXU2E1/_DSC6377FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Maanskyn Baai Another one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets - this perfect beach on the far side of Hangklip is known only to locals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335036524-M0AZN3QVLP9Y7MJKSM2E/_DSC8040FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Overberg Spring Young lambs enjoy a beautiful sunny day in the farmlands after a winter front capped the mountains with snow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335009640-5RAJXBUWZIKV3I0LOK2U/_DSC6454FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Bettys Bay Penguin Colony The Penguins of Bettys Bay enjoying a calm summer evening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335213503-WLEHKVD1IIMPLYORWRR5/DSC_0114-Pano.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Road to Riviersonderend Warm sunlight bathes the farmlands outside Riviersonderend on an icy August day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1618998123690-H2V8CZ10O47VZGHKZ0VE/_MG_0024FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Cape Town Summer Mist I One of Cape Town’s most magical elements - mist rolling in over the Atlantic always signals the end of a high pressure system/heatwave. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335058700-Z9MOMGWDEJJLZA8TNC91/_MG_0065FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Summer Perfection Tourists and locals enjoying a perfect sunset atop Table Mountain, sandwiched between the clouds. In peak summer months, the last cable car only goes down well after sunset, allowing romantic sunset picnics atop the mountain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335060302-NOKQYW7VZOUL8DQ04NPY/_MG_0080FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - The Other Side The opposite of the iconic Cape Town view - looking down on the city from atop the mountain that is usually the backdrop behind it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335097580-V9F3S4UPSK4TT5XICKKJ/_MG_1025FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Meadow Gangsters 99.9% of the time, sheep run away the moment you stop and get out of your car. This group of sheep calmly holding their ground and staring at me felt like a group of gangsters nonchalantly defending their territory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335143675-02DEM16BCT24APXDLTHF/_MG_5142FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Incoming Massive swell, a cloud cap and streaky high cloud - all signs of a massive incoming front approaching from the southwest and an iconic Cape Town sight during June, July and August. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335066050-QGQU5Q7486ES3JKHXOHY/_MG_0204.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Kleinmond Dawn A postcard sunrise looking over rental canoes stacked along the edge of the Kleinmond lagoon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335157632-H6N6Z3I5C4K15RCIE3NJ/_MG_5220FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335077526-SBAOJO6ZQHZDWDGUNOT2/_MG_0479FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335088203-GPDIPJCTEDP8I36B35GF/_MG_0527.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335094456-B0OJXF0H93GH374BGZ25/_MG_0997FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335102550-SUWTEZF25CZLOXE4S1KP/_MG_1947-2FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335109936-J1JKGR5GM2WNFK852WDG/_MG_2910FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335104923-GKBOMEAZRRZDYKXEAY2O/_MG_3000FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335121044-IQ3CBRZUZOKNZGGU3XJV/_MG_4227FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335121643-ZS5HOO0VVZV0PWQSFU5I/_MG_4339FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335134974-OAG2ROL218UGML82I0T1/_MG_4385FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335201269-TCFPJ9RENOBYAY3MWX4O/_MG_9391FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335127953-XNDBYU7AG8NXWQ8C072V/_MG_4852FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335140495-X65H7DJZHGKFMR3BNO0R/_MG_5109FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335196704-SVQ53W2B9A9NNFZ2E76T/_MG_9072.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335153103-FKTGOKWU7QCW9WT4UM5U/_MG_5183FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335154396-QIUF9FP9AC2PL4V474S2/_MG_5216FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335164662-SBP48POUHQ7UO86KFXGF/_MG_5796FP-2.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335177338-HIQ4SBWGTRL6494OH9KW/_MG_5845FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335173104-A1U510Q2CEW1Y6UG42GW/_MG_6718.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335181401-GAZDLEJE1WWHLBAZ5FDY/_MG_7125FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335187936-678KYWFOF4PMR41OHBI4/_MG_8311FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335188386-TEGVIN129WEI54ZIC4HO/_MG_8441FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335199580-NCBQ2RRAVPCWSQ6LZ9VV/_MG_9376-2FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335204793-122NTKO2740XSQ1U9LXD/_MG_9401FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335212265-J1KCRVQ6JN1QPW8M0PAP/_MG_9909FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335222648-KH68D79G0GXDZTGT1K9G/DSC_0401.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335222080-SAFWO3TKA3OX2JD2FP2C/DSC_0455.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1618998236555-N93CWPL8XA8XVJXXJPEG/DSC_0546.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds - Swellendam An incredible winter afternoon in the hills of Swellendam as warm sunset light illuminates what remains of a very old farm cottage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335230105-T0LSOP0OTP8Y1X3VYPZI/DSC_0813-Pano-3.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335242587-WECSD65193CYIEHE9QD3/DSC_2699.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335248917-C81LAC9IXZMFPQHF7EL9/DSC_2895.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335248142-7MBIMM9BLFX8K1HHJP1L/DSC_9194.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335258599-37YS82E10IPJI0RSMQDS/DSC_9275.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335262503-4A5I402W0AZS82U4ZNOI/DSC_9427.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335269931-1SKU4WBJ6WZ4TG8J0PZY/IMG_0144.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335269934-697G3SCF7Z1G4GRKEIEA/IMG_2644.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335281809-HISS5STKT1ZL6O6HC2CL/IMG_4100FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds https://www.hougaardmalan.com/namibia-in-flood daily 0.75 2021-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334555837-T9QSQQ2IUI1ETKOF20UW/_MG_3855.jpg Namibia in Flood - Desert Dusk Sunset light paints the incredible cloud formations over the simplistic landscape of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334555837-T9QSQQ2IUI1ETKOF20UW/_MG_3855.jpg Namibia in Flood - Desert Dusk Sunset light paints the incredible cloud formations over the simplistic landscape of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334639609-38NK1I56737PLNQE69M5/DSC_7138.jpg Namibia in Flood - Morning Calm 1/8 - Sold 2/8 - Sold 3/8 - R 12 000 | $790 | €650 A herd of Zebra grazing on a fresh carpet of grass on a cool April morning. During 2018 the Namib Rand got plenty of rain in select, concentrated areas. The result was giant congregations of wildlife in a few valleys. This was the lesser green of the two valleys either side of the Kameelhof mountains. The other valley presented scenes that looked like the Serengeti, but the animals were so wild that I couldn’t get within practical shooting range of the herds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595058855293-Y7E3JMOUD8GMJTKHS5TP/_MG_3313.jpg Namibia in Flood https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334468273-EX67TL7B54DP2S5N38UF/_DSC4593-2.jpg Namibia in Flood - Tension I didn't make it to Spitzkoppe in 2011, but the area was blessed with a lot of rain in 2014 and I was extremely fortunate to experience two major thunderstorms at Spitzkoppe that year. This was the first, on the 19th of March. I spent most of the afternoon lounging around at the arch, shooting timelapse and waiting for the storm to build. At around 14:30, the build-up towards Usakos started to gain momentum and I was treated to an incredible show of mushrooming cumulonimbus clouds - the build-up seemed to hang around on the eastern side of Spitzkoppe for about three hours, until the wind finally turned and it pushed over Spitzkoppe in a dramatic show of lightning, thunder and rain. One of my fondest memories of Namibia was the scene afterwards - the lush grass swaying in the wind under an incredible sunset sky as the storm rumbled off towards Brandberg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595588787655-1CWJ0429LELTPFWFHD2I/_MG_3313.jpg Namibia in Flood - Momentary Before the waters of the Tsauchab reach Sossusvlei, they spread out into a wide delta, flooding the entire valley to the Northern side of the road. This was during the peak of the 2011 floods, as the water was slowly pushing towards the end of the valley. It had been cloudy most of the day and I was just waiting things out next to these beautiful cracked pans. I saw a gap forming in the clouds, ran to this spot and as the light broke through I managed to get a few frames. It disappeared within 2 minutes and that was the end of it. It started raining shortly after and it didn’t stop until the early morning hours. The following day, the water made it all the way into Deadvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598879627407-WL6MRPB77COV4P3O08XD/_DSF4925.jpg Namibia in Flood - Torrential Sunlight breaks through a curtain of hard rain on a blistering summer afternoon over Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334487094-SM0DIXWV7E5J1HENHSK0/_MG_2095-Oct-2016.jpg Namibia in Flood - In Bloom This pan is an incredible last hold-out of a wetland lily that is surviving in a semi-desert area. Every few years, this 700-hectare clay pan near Maltahohe gets enough rain to cause the germination of these beautiful Crinum Palidosum lilies - they grow, flower and die in about a two week period, with the peak flower phase lasting only 3-4 days. In 2011 I had planned a trip through Southern Africa, first visiting the Kgalagadi and then the Richtersveld, then Namibia. When I heard the lilies were in flower, I turned everything upside down and drove straight to the lilies, stopping only at Augrabies for a night. The weather was gray, rainy and there was a supercell thunderstorm approaching from the east. It was so dark and gray that I thought the sun had already set, when an incredible explosion of colour started from the West. For a few short minutes, the entire world was lit in bright orange light, while a soft rain drizzled down. The light soon faded and an ominous rumble started from the east. An eerie green gunmetal curtain of rain approached, with a milky white shelf cloud in front, which was followed by 2 hours of relentless lightning and torrential downpour. That was the scariest thunderstorm I had ever experienced, until the following year when I experienced a similar storm in the Drakensberg, but with only a tent for shelter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334486176-W4VBIL1M1PDS33DADGFG/_MG_2844FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Sossus Oasis The shimmer of a flowing Tsauchab river reveals the incredibly rare phenomenon of Sossusvlei in flood as darkness falls over the Namib Desert. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334524241-CXHIKO27QUPA78VNKLDM/_MG_3526.jpg Namibia in Flood - Namib Rand One of the most beautiful contrasts of a wet year in Namibia - green grass and red/orange dunes. This image shows the scenery along the D707, which is one of Namibia’s most scenic roads. If you’re ever driving between Luderitz and Sossusvlei, make sure you have the time to take a relaxed drive along this route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334459095-WZEIB21EG1IJBIGFKJ9N/_DSC4748FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Prolific Times of abundance in Etosha - a Springbok enjoying the endless grazing as a rainbow signals the fall of more rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334477885-RR1LE70QOQUE0M7SY54M/_MG_1862.jpg Namibia in Flood - Things to Come En-route to the lilies in 2011, this was the scene that greeted me shortly after crossing from SA into Namibia. Shots like these are usually captured using a lightning trigger, but by sheer luck I managed to capture this strike using a very short shutterspeed. Looking back now - pretty much every single star in the universe aligned for that fortunate two weeks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595852567467-L3ATECEHNRJEIC1X4YYW/DSC_7180_2.jpg Namibia in Flood - Will to Live A tree stands resilient against the gushing waters of Ruacana Falls as late afternoon light paints the scene in dramatic contrast. 2016 International Landscape Photo of the Year https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334492461-44FDOOQ1DX1IEI8A7F48/_MG_3236crop.jpg Namibia in Flood - Lush Desert Idyllic scenes from the incredible year that was 2011 - desert valleys full of lush green grass and dissipating thunderstorms painted in sunset colours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334497821-XCIFY9FI39GG1E21HI6M/_MG_3301.jpg Namibia in Flood - Rain Palette There are few patterns in nature as incredible as the iron-rich dunes of Sossusvlei after rain - it takes on a million different hues of red, black and orange in an infinite combination of streaks, lines and curves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334503763-Q9ZFWG02VDNCXGDAXKYE/_MG_3364.jpg Namibia in Flood - Unlikely If there’s one image that sums up 2011, it’s probably this one; The flat Tsauchab valley turned into a shallow lake and a bright double rainbow towering above the dunes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334515845-PW6SKWBFK6DUAUUWUUUO/_MG_3430FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - RED Hours of rain in the Tsauchab valley slowly creating tiny streams all over the undulating valley floor, while a gap to the west allows an inferno of sunset light onto the scene. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334516237-DKXMNT7ADU0SYR9G6YKH/_MG_3525FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - RGB One of the most beautiful contrasts of a wet year in Namibia - green grass and red/orange dunes. This image shows the scenery along the D707, which is one of Namibia’s most scenic roads. If you’re ever driving between Luderitz and Sossusvlei, make sure you have the time to take a relaxed drive along this route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334519781-VAK4H4WB1F9BMTVVX6DJ/_MG_3573FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Jackpot To most, a thunderstorm of this scale would be a scary prospect, but to anyone trying to make a living in the desert, whether human, flora or fauna, a storm like this is biggest blessing imaginable. Years go by in which the total annual rainfall doesn’t even add up to the amount of precipitation this storm put down on this desert landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334532139-QVXVCQ4Z18LJJCMDMHJY/_MG_3574FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Winding A jeep-track snakes through one of the sandy valleys amongst the mountains of the Namib Rand as a curtain of rain drenches the landscape to the West. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334534711-TBRD1V452AIJN95HLCGF/_MG_3625-Edit.jpg Namibia in Flood - Divine Light A sliver of extremely bright sunlight illuminates the landscape below a dark thunderstorm in one of the Namib Rand’s beautiful valleys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598879628230-ISTT899QZD0JOGKG9FBV/_DSF4868.jpg Namibia in Flood - Sweeping A heavy curtain of precipitation sweeping the landscape west of Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334543913-NOULBFT609VGBYMY9WGE/_MG_3637FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Golden Mountain A beautiful soft spot of light illuminates a desert valley transformed into a lush paradise as a soft, lasting rain nourishes the landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334620433-A9F2TX7VNCFH30D1IQ4A/DSC_6437.jpg Namibia in Flood - The Kunene The green grass of a lush year in the northwest complements soft hues of a purple and pink sunset over the Kunene River. The land beyond the river is Angola. There are many nomadic Himba tribes that live in this area, moving further or closer from the river as the natural grazing allows them to. They move between Namibia and Angola as they see fit - this is one of the most remote corners of the planet and the concept of a national border or citizenship of either country is non-existent to them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334599401-1O9OGKXLR70MJH3YM67Y/_MG_8391.jpg Namibia in Flood - Alternate Universe Since 2011, I have made about 50 outings into Sossusvlei. Driving past this area for 9 years and seeing nothing but sand and rocks, almost always under a cloudless blue sky, has made this scene so unbelievable that it’s starting to feel like it was a dream. At about 2pm, the lodge’s thermometer read 47 degrees in the shade. Humidity was high, most of the lodge guests were in the pool and there wasn’t a cloud in sight west of Sesriem. After a few cold beers and wishing the time away, a distant rumble revealed a monstrous cumulonimbus cell approaching from the North-east. I ran around the lodge like a madman, trying to get my tour participants to the cars. We got away just in time to get a head-start on the storm. The whole afternoon was spent driving down the valley to a lovely scene, jumping out, shooting back at the storm until the lightning came too close, jumping back in the cars and trying to get ahead of it again. Fortunately the cell cut diagonally across the valley and we were able to calmly shoot an the incredible sunset along the cracked pans of the Tsauchab Valley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334546099-704XFQE8TZS8CBMF0ZLI/_MG_3688FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - The Promise A red rainbow signals the end of another day of plentiful rain in the Namib Rand during 2011’s incredible floods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334575598-YDQ6WSSRTE6UFVY8DV26/_MG_8089-Pano.jpg Namibia in Flood - African Epitome An ancient Acacia tree casts a long shadow in a lush field of grass as the sun sets beyond the dunes of the Namib. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334646398-GKWPHQX5GVML9KXLQ8EF/DSC_7508.jpg Namibia in Flood - Epupa Falls The Kunene river seems to have a thing for waterfalls with idyllic trees growing amongst them. This outcrop in Epupa Falls is dotted with massive old Boababs, which lean out over the water. Most of the time there’s barely any water flowing around them, but in the summer of good rain years the scene transforms into something that looks like it is straight out of The Lion King. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334556106-H8T3WUH98EJZRPJZTVLY/_MG_3836FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - West Wind Along the desert edge, there’s one universal rule and element that commands the hearts and hopes of everyone who has spent a lot of time there; in the rainy season, when the east wind blows, there’s a good chance of rain. The moment the wind turns and pushes from the west, no matter how promising the skies look, the rain clouds will be blown away inland. This scene looks right south and the grasses reveal the wind direction - this is a typical day where there was promising build up of clouds, only to be pushed back eastwards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334609951-1PWXM52IJ9IV35QCIPVS/_MG_8519.jpg Namibia in Flood - Grand Finale A suited end to one of the most incredible natural events I’ve ever witnessed - chasing a supercell thunderstorm through the most photogenic desert valley in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334564997-TD7HBBJSXZEXX3WT7STC/_MG_7520FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Aloe Dychotoma Quiver trees stand resilient on the plains of Southern Namibia as a caravan of storm cells march along in the distance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334596233-EFHSTKCH21LM14318V5F/_MG_8460.jpg Namibia in Flood - Collapse The belly of a thundercloud collapses, releasing a bomb of water on the dunes of Sossusvlei and kicking up a dust storm below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334565306-PQDMVQ1UV1F67G5IGATM/_MG_7868-EditFP.jpg Namibia in Flood - After the Rains Once the rainy season is over, the abundant grass turns a shimmering ivory. Under a crystal clear blue sky, these endless fields in the southern Namib Rand were a profound sight to behold - swaying in the cool morning breeze, it felt like I was in a Disney movie, looking at a scene too beautiful and clean to be of this reality. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334578216-2IA8UBTSBXVPEZUQXHZ9/_MG_7970FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Simplicity An ancient Acacia tree stands on a soft rolling hill amongst an endless sea of ivory grass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334587752-O8HGCQS6F4JXVM4XMH1S/_MG_8309.jpg Namibia in Flood - Autumn Morning A picture-perfect morning over the Namib Rand as dappled light falls over a lush green valley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334614001-BQKQ0GUMGRF7O8F0WDWQ/DSC_6083-Pano-2.jpg Namibia in Flood - Winter Home A Himba village temporarily abandoned due to good rains, which allow the nomadic farmers to move further away from the Kunene river, leaving the grazing near the river for the winter months. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334626646-BZEBQNKT1QQ68UUCZA37/DSC_6476.jpg Namibia in Flood - No Man's Land Looking into South-west Angola from the Northern tip of Namibia. A good rain year makes this area look deceivingly arable, but 9/10 years this area is nothing but rock and sand. While a few traditional Himba people eke out a living in this mountainous desert, it is without a doubt one of the most untouched corners of our planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334626252-T9TR725535ZOSDCYDVN0/DSC_6797-3.jpg Namibia in Flood - In Flood Ruacana Falls in full flood under a colourful sunset. A spectacular sight to behold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334641081-TYKL9KV4M018P2PH2SBD/DSC_7264-2.jpg Namibia in Flood - Epupa Falls Looking up one of the channels of Epupa Falls during peak flow in 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598877880057-HRNEVAE0KEFOF9CCAG1I/_MG_3998.jpg Namibia in Flood - Anomaly Lush fields of golden grass bathed in golden sunset light on a perfect autumn afternoon in the Namib Rand. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/personal-favourites daily 0.75 2020-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595059526449-OZZJL1259VAGBXV4SGFG/_MG_2598-copy-Edit.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595059526449-OZZJL1259VAGBXV4SGFG/_MG_2598-copy-Edit.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598951126422-8MJRUY5N7YF88EWK19BY/DSC_0117.jpg Personal Favourites - Summer Bliss (Copy) Morning mist lifts over the beautiful Blyde River Canyon after a long night of soft rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595852567467-L3ATECEHNRJEIC1X4YYW/DSC_7180_2.jpg Personal Favourites - Will to Live (Copy) A tree stands resilient against the gushing waters of Ruacana Falls as late afternoon light paints the scene in dramatic contrast. 2016 International Landscape Photo of the Year https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488883455-SVK4EH2GY9TB3BMPXLB8/DSC_1973.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345309289-85BON7C1GVVN39LDVWTS/IMG_3419.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345176634-NCYQ7TMSK417UDLABZ6L/_MG_0235.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345163057-CRKGX5DN48G5W5903G4Q/_MG_0136.jpg Personal Favourites - July (Copy) Twilight falls in a display of deep purple hues over the rocky coastline of De Kelders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342867095-C3QX80ML3QI56N0TOR0L/DSC_9719.jpg Personal Favourites - On the Edge (Copy) Looking south over the Fish River Canyon through the branches of an ancient quiver tree as a beautiful sunrise dapples the scene in blues, pinks and purples. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342558209-2D2WDHW2C3MO2JSLS525/_MG_2598-copy-Edit.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282651159-U2P3PF5S0U726RC26AJ0/DSC_4242.jpg Personal Favourites - Secrets of Sossusvlei (Copy) Behind a high dune, out of sight of the Tsauchab Valley, this circular pan lies hidden amongst the sands of Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282617259-6N8U9PEM55FVJ4ZMF55B/DSC_1446.jpg Personal Favourites - Untouched Paradise (Copy) A flock of flamingoes glide gracefully over the sand banks and channels of sandwich harbour on Namibia’s southern Skeleton Coast. Only the most experienced 4x4 drivers can access this area, in addition to an expensive concession required to visit it. Hopefully it will remain untouched for the rest of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282500863-0QLRPXA9442R9PWJK035/DSC_2199-final.jpg Personal Favourites - Koichab Blues (Copy) Dappled light illuminates transverse dunes intersecting marble rock shelves in the southern Namib near the Koichab depression. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335276984-BBEZWKCD21FZLB92068J/IMG_7488-Edit.jpg Personal Favourites - Once in a Lifetime (Copy) This photo shows what photographers are raving about when they talk of “the light”. Sometimes, the clouds and sunset work together to produce conditions that seem to be good to be true. I remember this like it was yesterday, but this year (2020) marks 11 years since I captured it. It was an oddly warm day in May, with high humidity and absolutely no wind. I ventured to Blouberg a few hours before sunset as the skies looked promising, but nothing could prepare me for what I was going to see. In the few hours before sunset, it seemed just generally cloudy over Table Bay, but as sunset approached and the clouds started changing, it became obvious that there was a massive thundercell building over Table Bay. Without the convective energy of a proper summer day, there was never any lightning and instead of it raining, these Virga formed below the clouds at the perfect time to catch the pink sunset light coming from the side. By blocking the light from the cloud’s belly, it created deep, dark shadows in between. An incredibly rare colour and texture contrast. Due to haze in the air and the limitations of 2009 camera technology, these images lack the sharpness to print much larger than 60cm while maintaining perfect detail. I have been obsessively returning to Blouberg for a decade now, hoping to get similar conditions, but I’m starting to accept that some conditions just never ever repeat themselves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334868877-RI9EIXT9ULIVQYGGZJWR/DSC_5633.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334796293-JQPHRPLTVOMZSO11OFYJ/_JLB9837-cropped-Edit.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334639609-38NK1I56737PLNQE69M5/DSC_7138.jpg Personal Favourites - Morning Calm (Copy) A herd of Zebra grazing on a fresh carpet of grass on a cool April morning. During 2018 the Namib Rand got plenty of rain in select, concentrated areas. The result was giant congregations of wildlife in a few valleys. This was the lesser green of the two valleys either side of the Kameelhof mountains. The other valley presented scenes that looked like the Serengeti, but the animals were so wild that I couldn’t get within practical shooting range of the herds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334555837-T9QSQQ2IUI1ETKOF20UW/_MG_3855.jpg Personal Favourites - Desert Dusk (Copy) Sunset light paints the incredible cloud formations over the simplistic landscape of the Namib Rand. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/lekkerwater daily 0.75 2020-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002422389-GCBR2VKQ9E5CTTHZ40ED/_DSF1056.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002422389-GCBR2VKQ9E5CTTHZ40ED/_DSF1056.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002422341-F6MXLSZSIWYNOK39LAHG/_DSF1075.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002436332-O7CYR7AFN1YYXILM8NBT/_DSF1145.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002440590-3L3KCN4GU5ZKC4BEDWII/_DSF1182.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002442643-X4OS1JXIMZE30C9OE6ZU/_DSF1237.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002442914-PGOVOX9YSUZFB4OASI7O/_DSF1295.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002451259-OF80AMAC64RUDOHMS2U7/_DSF1431.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002451762-DCWWFFFOYV0SV4MQERCH/_DSF1447.jpg Lekkerwater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1607002457841-LIRN4QDLZY5HS0HMGNXL/_DSF1502.jpg Lekkerwater https://www.hougaardmalan.com/namib-in-flood-2021 daily 0.75 2021-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004041356-EXVHS909KG4NMDPOZJUF/_DSF5768.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Gold Eight weeks after the rain, the grass has seeded and turned gold, both in hue and in metaphorical value to the wildlife of the Namib, who will have a prolific winter thanks to the abundant grazing. Take a close look at the next image - Restored; you will see that this scene is a longer image taken within that scene. Restored was taken in the 1st week of February 2021 and this image was taken in the 1st week of March - just 4 weeks later. Current Edition - 2/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004041356-EXVHS909KG4NMDPOZJUF/_DSF5768.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Gold Eight weeks after the rain, the grass has seeded and turned gold, both in hue and in metaphorical value to the wildlife of the Namib, who will have a prolific winter thanks to the abundant grazing. Take a close look at the next image - Restored; you will see that this scene is a longer image taken within that scene. Restored was taken in the 1st week of February 2021 and this image was taken in the 1st week of March - just 4 weeks later. Current Edition - 2/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004036399-ICWBV0JQUMOS3A601K1G/_DSF3952.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Restored Brilliant morning light illuminates the Keerweder valley in the Namib Rand. This private nature reserve is one of the greatest success stories of landscape rewilding. Formerly used for Karakoel sheep farming for decades, more than 200 000 hectares have been rewilded and defenced by various parties who chose to join the private conservancy. There is also as much land who's owners partake in the greater conservation effort, but aren't part officially part of the conservancy. Bordering on the eastern edge of the Namib Naukluft wilderness, this area forms a critical haven for the wildlife of the Namib and a buffer between the park and the farmland. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619002821159-1X2W3SE5PPZA41ROLVNO/_DSF1881.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Sands of the Namib I We tend to think of sand as a fairly simple material made up of one or two elements, but add water and each element acts in a different way, splitting into a beautiful concoction of liquids, each with a different colour, weight and viscosity. When the rain is over and the sun evaporates the water, it all dries differently, creating this beautiful variety of colours and textures. This image shows just how complex sand can be. Current Edition - 2/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004027272-0078NKYUAWMZW8HGAWC0/_DSF2391.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Tiras Berge I A light thundershower sweeps across the beautiful landscape of the Southern Tiras mountains. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004044158-E4Z4O1ENBX5I8U8KOEQI/2021-03-12-09-15-05-%28B%2CRadius8%2CSmoothing4%29.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Natural Design Sometimes you stumble upon scenes that look like they were created by a landscape photographer or graphic designer. This scene was formed by an ultra-rare side branch of the Tsauchab that only flows once every few decades. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004023755-U3WOAQL5WVJGORUQ07OM/_DSF2933.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Kanaan I Slivers of light illuminate the valleys of Kanaan, one of the most beautiful areas of the Namib Rand. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004028441-PMQL5IV5RTV20BO57O9E/_DSF2962.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Rain Motif The most special part of rain at Sossusvlei is the incredible patterns it leaves on the dunes. There are so many variables that determine these patterns - velocity, direction and size of rain drops, velocity and direction of wind, geological make-up of each dune (differs east to west) that every storm leaves a unique signature on the dunes. It only takes a few hours of sunlight for the patterns to disappear, making these incredibly unique, fleeting works of natural art. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004031779-AJ1YMK1M5P5GL8PIAG2O/_DSF3291-Edit.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Light Motif A long-dead tree stands resilient against beautiful curving sliver of light in one of Sossusvlei's dune valleys. Like the motifs that the storms impresses upon the dunes, these light projections are ever-changing with solar alignment and shifting dune spines. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004032622-Y6WJTRW19VNZUPUR63I1/_DSF3001.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Ghost River The main flow of the Tsuachab river is on the northern side of the valley (below the dunes in the distance), but every few decades, there is enough water to push into a side branch that runs along the southern dunes. This event is so rare, that even most the Sossusvlei veterans don't know about it. Walking to the base of dune 42 (east of 45), I was shocked to find a river flowing 10m wide and about half a meter deep. Unfortuntely, it seems to have been just a few years to late to be the salvation of this tree. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004034741-VG3Y3QVJWFD3BD3OUT70/_DSF3661.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Sentinels of the Namib A family of the Namib's most regal animals stroll calmly towards the south. One can only imagine what years like these must be like for them with food in extreme abundance. Current Edition - 2/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004041198-0AAIQP3WF771AZF22UD1/2021-03-11-11-18-46-%28B%2CRadius8%2CSmoothing4%29.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 - Geometric As the floodwaters evaporate from the silt mud, beautiful cracks form in the pans of Sossusvlei, leaving behind a mesmerising playground for photography. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://www.hougaardmalan.com/moments-of-silence daily 0.75 2021-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633600785229-31PBZJ2OU4FRXGRSN0YB/_DSC3090-Enhanced-Edit.jpg Moments of Silence - Afromontane Soft morning light bleeds through the mist under the canopy of some of South Africa's most pristine ancient forest. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633600785229-31PBZJ2OU4FRXGRSN0YB/_DSC3090-Enhanced-Edit.jpg Moments of Silence - Afromontane Soft morning light bleeds through the mist under the canopy of some of South Africa's most pristine ancient forest. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326523201-X4WE1YWHFE6T1C5HFXJY/_DSC0979.jpg Moments of Silence - Autumn Night If visiting Patagonia, a night camping at Lago Torre is an absolute must. After a long hike through the incredible glacial valley, I arrived at a windswept lake to shoot a challenging sunset with extreme wind gusts. I made a quick dinner and retreated to my tent, pitched in a beautiful forest below the moraine. I set my alarm for about 2am in order to check the potential for some night photography with some soft moonlight. Getting my tired body out of bed wasn't easy, but cresting the moraine and seeing this scene before me was one of the highlights of all of my travels. The lake surface was perfectly flat and between the icebergs lay the reflection of the Cerro Torre needles, surrounded by glittering stars and a cap of clouds dancing around the peaks. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595852567467-L3ATECEHNRJEIC1X4YYW/DSC_7180_2.jpg Moments of Silence - Will to Live A lone tree stands resilient against a torrent of water raging down a precipitous waterfall gorge. Ruacana Falls, Namibia, 2016 Winner - International Landscape Photograph of the Year 2016 Winner - Waterfall Special Category Award, International Landscape Photograph of the Year 2016 Winner - Carolyn Mitchum Special Category for image that represents integrity in nature photography, Epson Pano Awards 2016 For print pricing of Will to Live, please visit the PRINTS INFORMATION PAGE and scroll to the bottom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633601544349-N7ER1TV911GJLQQCHVWV/_DSF7700-Pano-Edit.jpg Moments of Silence - Canola Moon A bright yellow full moon climbs into the sky over an idyllic scene in the Overberg farmlands during the August full moon of 2021. While the elements like the hills, trees and chapel are permanent, scenes like this seem to appear and disappear from year to year as the farmers rotate crops, some more photogenic than others. It might easily be another decade or two before the farmer/farmers who own all the fields in this photo decide to plant so much canola again, making this scene as beautiful as it was this year. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335269931-1SKU4WBJ6WZ4TG8J0PZY/IMG_0144.jpg Moments of Silence - Gold A summer thunderstorm fills the skies north of Cape Town as beautiful golden light paints this scene of the Atlantis dunes with warm colour. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1618998236555-N93CWPL8XA8XVJXXJPEG/DSC_0546-upres.jpg Moments of Silence - Forgotten Sunset light paints cuts below the clouds to light up this beautiful farmland scene in the foothills near Swellendam. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633601770292-2LMHMIWT0CFAGHGZ7VNP/DSC_2645-Pano.jpg Moments of Silence - Wolwedans In a scene fitting to the name of this property, the full moon rises over the Nubib mountains in Southern Namibia. While not on this specific night, I have been lucky enough to see Namibia's "wolf", the Brown Hyena, on a moonlit morning in the Namib Rand. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326687591-5OLPBQ25OT1ERL9JURB6/DSC_6995-desturated-foliage.jpg Moments of Silence - Break in the Storm Some sunsets/sunrises can put on an incredible display of light and colour for more than an hour, some last only ten minutes and some don’t even last a minute. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004036399-ICWBV0JQUMOS3A601K1G/_DSF3952.jpg Moments of Silence - Restored Brilliant morning light illuminates the Keerweder valley in the Namib Rand. This private nature reserve is one of the greatest success stories of landscape rewilding. Formerly used for Karakoel sheep farming for decades, more than 200 000 hectares have been rewilded and defenced by various parties who chose to join the private conservancy. There is also as much land who's owners partake in the greater conservation effort, but aren't part officially part of the conservancy. Bordering on the eastern edge of the Namib Naukluft wilderness, this area forms a critical haven for the wildlife of the Namib and a buffer between the park and the farmland. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004044158-E4Z4O1ENBX5I8U8KOEQI/2021-03-12-09-15-05-%28B%2CRadius8%2CSmoothing4%29.jpg Moments of Silence - Natural Design Sometimes you stumble upon scenes that look like they were created by a landscape photographer or graphic designer. This scene was formed by an ultra-rare side branch of the Tsauchab that only flows once every few decades. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334820406-8NZF734JOHXA88YR2H2Q/DSC_3495-Pano.jpg Moments of Silence - Tugela Falls This incredible waterfall at the northern tip of the great Drakensberg escarpment is the world’s second highest. It plunges 980m in five major cascades. Compared to Venezuela’s Angel Falls, it has an extremely small catchment area and much lower average annual rainfall, so seeing it in spate is not simple or easy. One either has to wait it out in high summer, hoping for a thunderstorm cloudburst over the catchment, or go up when a freak system like a cut-off low pressure or an anti-cyclone is forecast for the berg. People have been up there right after such conditions and there are a few cellphone snaps of the waterfall with ten times the amount of water you see here, but is yet to be captured by a professional photographer or videographer. This is the most flow I’ve ever seen going over the falls. It happened after a powerful front put down nearly half a meter of snow on the berg in November and as the front rapidly cleared, the summer sun melted all that snow in a few short hours. I am yet to see Tugela in spate, but it is something I am extremely obsessed with and will hopefully witness before my time on earth is over. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://www.hougaardmalan.com/usa daily 0.75 2024-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636685297-NULGOR0QH21HJITYO30L/_DSF4689-Edit.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636685297-NULGOR0QH21HJITYO30L/_DSF4689-Edit.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636674149-G2W6QSTRJ6S2AG6GO7EB/_DSF4673-Edit.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636674467-JWECWNNUJ4AP06SORB0M/_DSF4698-Edit.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636687020-OTZJYZ32399JMBMK6Z8I/_DSF4702-Edit.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636690390-9VUOZSR3FCW56P2BW812/_DSF4716-Pano-Edit.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1704863902164-TBOCLB4PAGSIR0M6TA9R/DJI_0702-Enhanced-NR.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1704863893741-UZZMUQB372JK9I64E7JI/DJI_0672-Enhanced-NR.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1704863902155-CC58D30MHRKGJIALR7XS/DJI_0689-Enhanced-NR.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671287548-M2IMSPU9XAAG44Z55RKP/DJI_0532-Edit.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671287389-DZMZ3CPIZJSFO87IMLO6/DJI_0541.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671294201-QPSN3V022HDMCHWCWQWX/DJI_0545.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671296347-QGZNSKGD8AWX9I8DQ5CF/DJI_0574.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671298448-LF1ZWRSXR5RIMBP77S3Y/DJI_0588.jpg USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671300108-3UTDZKWEUVJGZAAYC1IO/DJI_0591.jpg USA https://www.hougaardmalan.com/namibia-from-above-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282500863-0QLRPXA9442R9PWJK035/DSC_2199-final.jpg Namibia from Above - Koichab Blues Dappled light illuminates transverse dunes intersecting marble rock shelves in the southern Namib near the Koichab depression. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282536535-829NA35TMD95QDZ1QLRU/DSC_2327-Edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Mount Tsaus II The incredible rock formations of Mount Tsaus illuminated by dappled midday sunlight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282617259-6N8U9PEM55FVJ4ZMF55B/DSC_1446.jpg Namibia from Above - Untouched Paradise A flock of flamingoes glide gracefully over the sand banks and channels of sandwich harbour on Namibia’s southern Skeleton Coast. Only the most experienced 4x4 drivers can access this area, in addition to an expensive concession required to visit it. Hopefully it will remain untouched for the rest of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335402465-PZQJJNRTM8SZ2LG6XFDA/DSC_2210-Edit2.jpg Namibia from Above - No Man's Land Light breaks through thick fog, somewhere in the south of the Namib Desert, where no one ever sets foot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282651159-U2P3PF5S0U726RC26AJ0/DSC_4242.jpg Namibia from Above - Secrets of Sossusvlei Behind a high dune, out of sight of the Tsauchab Valley, this circular pan lies hidden amongst the sands of Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335441494-4NLLXU0MYTYAN9TQZBLB/DSC_8501_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Dune Web A criss-cross of dune spines are accentuated by light in an area of intersecting transverse and star dunes in the Namib dune sea near Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335282840-FFK5E08RN8DGEIWANKEM/_DSC7538_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Simplicity Another pan hidden amongst Sossusvlei’s sand mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335353855-QJI0YT0NWW46B6H74Q26/DSC_1508.jpg Namibia from Above - Desert Veins Although water is rarely present in this landscape, it’s rare occurrence leaves behind a clear mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335325027-4HNCU5QLI2T0MG6NML48/DSC_1277_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Left Alone It’s difficult to put into words how far these Himba kraals are from any form of civilization. We flew westwards from Epupa Falls, exploring a vast mountain range along the Kunene river, with peaks reaching close to 3000m. For most of our fuel range, we didn’t see a single road or jeep track, yet here and there, atop a mountain or deep in a valley, were signs of humans who choose to live a life completely removed from modern society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282690528-JGTFJNKA998PAHVMLOHP/DSC_2368-Edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Mount Tsaus This incredible formation looks like nothing more than a series of low hills when viewed from the ground. When viewed from 5000ft in the air, its snaking lines reveal one of the most incredible rock formations on our planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601284351407-57A8NAHPOS7AF7UP71H5/DSC_4233.jpg Namibia from Above - Deadvlei More insignificant rain during the 2015 drought - a light shower falling to the west of the famous Deadvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283390674-D6JW9VIH8CMXK14XJDE0/DSC_1941-blended_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Flood Plain Beautiful patterns created by super rare thunderstorms that can send massive flash floods rushing down this rocky plain during Namibia’s summer rainfall season. Somewhere in the vicinity of the Tiras Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335414504-O017TN233M9SHRO1LX3K/DSC_2532-flattened_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Fish River Canyon Beautiful rays of light illuminate the depths of Fish River Canyon on a hazy October morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335290599-T0BWRF80Y2ZJ7XZ3V9XJ/DSC_0613.jpg Namibia from Above - Westward A riverbed meanders through a beautiful valley near the border with Angola in a far northern corner of Namibia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335291122-A2IM2M87TFXO9HTI1D97/DSC_1033-blended_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Wild West A hillside dotted with beautiful bright yellow flora in a mountain range that straddles the border between Namibia’s northwest and Angola’s southwest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335305439-M425U7WZNOLBZ16OZSHD/DSC_1140converted_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Ancient Lands An ancient and barren landscape shows the scars of millennia of harsh weather. Taken somewhere in Namibia’s far northwest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335435173-IB4P4E0B9IPAGBDKOIOU/DSC_4316_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Milkshake The beautiful peach-brown sands of Sossusvlei with a presence of black magnetite resemble a chocolate milkshake from above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335306292-WK6G0ZKJXV20UI34LJQG/DSC_1186-Blended_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Glaciated Desert Striations of a grand scale create incredible lines over the this landscape near the Marianfluss in the far northwest of Namibia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335323529-721G8A8SMDIL7M3CW5R1/DSC_1242.jpg Namibia from Above - Forgotten Eden A spectrum of subtle colours the landscape seem to create a muted rainbow in this valley deep in the wilderness of Namibia’s mountains northwest. This area is only accessible by air or by extreme exploration on foot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335331277-UVZYKOY3X0UHDFYIRWPR/DSC_1281-cleaned.jpg Namibia from Above - Eduard Bohlen Namibia’s rapidly changing coastline has left this shipwreck about 400m from the beach since it ran aground over a century ago. It became stranded in thick fog at Conception Bay on a journey from Swakopmund to Cape Town in 1909. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335353599-T02WVBU0ZCZIDJQRF31H/DSC_1512.jpg Namibia from Above - Macro Ripples The atlantic fog pushes in over the dunes in dappled late afternoon light. During this flight it was a race against the fog to get back to the airport while we still had the necessary visibility to land. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335437343-O1FBSVUYBOL1GXMNUZ3H/DSC_4381.jpg Namibia from Above - Endless Desert Dramatic afternoon light cuts across the endless expanse of the Namib desert. Taken somewhere between Sossusvlei and the Atlantic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283965639-PQDZRIOBSAJ6BLX5BA1M/DSC_1615-blended-brightened_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Uranium Lands This dramatic landscape west of Swakopmund holds some of the world’s richest Uranium deposits. The Husab Uranium mine is not far from this landscape; it is the world’s second largest Uranium mine and the largest open pit mine on the continent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283426109-L36KAVN8BWO43WD56CU8/DSC_1674_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Weather Worn Incredible patterns and rock formations tell a story of an ancient landscape and aeons of enduring earth’s elements. Taken somewhere over the Kaokoveld. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335423110-E51UA76AJY5PKFKCQWI6/DSC_3625.jpg Namibia from Above - Tsauchab valley Warm afternoon light illuminates the dunes on the northern side of the Tsauchab valley as clouds build to the east. The trees show the meandering course of the Tsauchab River, which has not seen water since 2011. (written 2020) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283584190-5FJ6QOP3YTAHZC6VZDXN/DSC_1897-Edit2.jpg Namibia from Above - The Namib Rand First light of day casts long shadows across the Namib Rand’s unique landscape of dunes, grass and Acacia trees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283661014-SIVBFPCCBVACGQR3NDF2/DSC_1992-Pano.jpg Namibia from Above - The Edge The Namib Rand is a title that refers to the border area between the Namib Desert and the several mountain ranges that straddle its eastern edge. This photo shows those elements in grand perfection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335390290-85C0J5BXJGRO11K2C4PF/DSC_2077.jpg Namibia from Above - Desert Basin Another area somewhat similar to Sossusvlei, several catchment areas near the Tiras mountains drain into this low-lying area on the desert’s edge. It doesn’t rain here very often, but when it does, it creates an incredible green paradise in the desert. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335401170-DYB8B9BMNWB4B61HXLBU/DSC_2158_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia from Above - Barchan Dunes These incredible shifting dunes are to aerial photography what a Zebra’s stripes and a Giraffe’s patterns are to wildlife photographers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335423371-8VS9FZ16WYPHEA1IU2WD/DSC_4183.jpg Namibia from Above - False Hope Dramatic skies, but little precipitation - the story of dry years in Namibia. This beautiful scene was captured just West of Sossuvlei during the heartbreaking drought of 2015. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/latest-work-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601543308335-VNJNEV27AE88EB4H7Z9F/image-asset.jpeg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Serenity (Copy) Sun burns through the mist, illuminating a historic church in the Overberg farmlands on a perfect winter’s morning between fronts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598879627407-WL6MRPB77COV4P3O08XD/_DSF4925.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Torrential (Copy) Sunlight breaks through a curtain of hard rain on a blistering summer afternoon over Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598879628230-ISTT899QZD0JOGKG9FBV/_DSF4868.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Sweeping (Copy) A heavy curtain of precipitation sweeping the landscape west of Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488890960-W7032QPF3RHSDU0XPC3J/DSC_2689.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345302575-KG6Q4YD52BOC4PHC9TIH/DSC_9921_blended.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345282401-ZCHCKV57Y9D0Z50NO699/DSC_6179.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Phenomenal (Copy) A moment of incredible coincidence over one of South Africa’s most iconic landscapes; Hole in the Wall. A dark and cloudy afternoon turned into unbelievable magic when an isolated curtain of rain started falling behind the wall and a gap in the clouds opened up, allowing the sun to paint a partial rainbow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342824960-J7CJQQWLS36P1J7MJXUA/DSC_7209-2.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Desert Minerals (Copy) Magnetite, Rubelite, Garnet and Mica create beautiful striations in the dunes of the Namib Desert’s Skeleton Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342818425-MJO123ZNUB3RNJIQIIZC/DSC_6726.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Skeleton Coast (Copy) The wreck of the Shawnee, lost to Namibia’s southern Skeleton Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342814058-N2R4XRXJ22W5OG2XZ9XM/DSC_4744.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Empty Promises (Copy) What looked like it might have brought much needed rain, passed with nothing but some extreme wind gusts and a few drops of rain, kicking up dust on the drought-stricken plains of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282651159-U2P3PF5S0U726RC26AJ0/DSC_4242.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Secrets of Sossusvlei (Copy) Behind a high dune, out of sight of the Tsauchab Valley, this circular pan lies hidden amongst the sands of Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335402465-PZQJJNRTM8SZ2LG6XFDA/DSC_2210-Edit2.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - No Man's Land (Copy) Light breaks through thick fog, somewhere in the south of the Namib Desert, where no one ever sets foot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282500863-0QLRPXA9442R9PWJK035/DSC_2199-final.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Koichab Blues (Copy) Dappled light illuminates transverse dunes intersecting marble rock shelves in the southern Namib near the Koichab depression. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335353855-QJI0YT0NWW46B6H74Q26/DSC_1508.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Desert Veins (Copy) Although water is rarely present in this landscape, it’s rare occurrence leaves behind a clear mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335325027-4HNCU5QLI2T0MG6NML48/DSC_1277_Luminar3-edit.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Left Alone (Copy) It’s difficult to put into words how far these Himba kraals are from any form of civilization. We flew westwards from Epupa Falls, exploring a vast mountain range along the Kunene river, with peaks reaching close to 3000m. For most of our fuel range, we didn’t see a single road or jeep track, yet here and there, atop a mountain or deep in a valley, were signs of humans who choose to live a life completely removed from modern society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601283390674-D6JW9VIH8CMXK14XJDE0/DSC_1941-blended_Luminar3-edit.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Flood Plain (Copy) Beautiful patterns created by super rare thunderstorms that can send massive flash floods rushing down this rocky plain during Namibia’s summer rainfall season. Somewhere in the vicinity of the Tiras Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335047265-LNAP033MQQMD6E3X2H5Z/_DSF1199.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Cape Point (Copy) Rays of sunrise light slice through the southern tip of Cape Point on a calm autumn morning. The mountains in the back are Kleinmond, Rotary Drive Hill (Hermanus) and Maanschynkop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335040531-5WI0HGCMYL14153S4TD7/_DSF0929.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - The Blanket (Copy) In summer, Table mountain wears its iconic cloth, created by the wind. In autumn, the mother city wears a blanket, created by calm April mornings and moist ocean air. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334639609-38NK1I56737PLNQE69M5/DSC_7138.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Morning Calm (Copy) A herd of Zebra grazing on a fresh carpet of grass on a cool April morning. During 2018 the Namib Rand got plenty of rain in select, concentrated areas. The result was giant congregations of wildlife in a few valleys. This was the lesser green of the two valleys either side of the Kameelhof mountains. The other valley presented scenes that looked like the Serengeti, but the animals were so wild that I couldn’t get within practical shooting range of the herds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595059869869-ZCE9N88XYUG1RTJ8V51R/DSC_0009.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Personal Favourites (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057255747-ZEK8X2T1X4Q9A16NY1W1/_DSF30532.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Winter Blues (Copy) A clearing front puts a final few drops on Table Mountain on an icy July evening https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057255807-NIBJAW2NNCKWZ23OO464/_DSF2978.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan - Electric Kogelbay (Copy) A massive bolt of lightning strikes the sea just off Rooi Els, illuminating the night for a fraction of a second during what was a 2-minute exposure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495123215-P22B4B9J9A3YV9PLGFWC/DSC_6978-Recovered-Edit.jpg Latest Work | Hougaard Malan https://www.hougaardmalan.com/namibia-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342997851-FMYQ7G04CXJA8JEA18SU/DSC_7019-Pano.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495068701-V8F359XVAB0QZ1BU0HBP/_MG_2598-copy-Edit.jpg Namibia - The "Tree" 2020 marks nine years since I took this photo and it’s been fascinating to hear viewers’ interpretations of what exactly this is. The most popular is an imprint of a fallen tree or erosion around old tree roots. It is in reality tiny water erosion patterns created by the drainage of water. Once a decade or sometimes less, a thunderstorm can drop serious precipitation over Deadvlei, flooding the pan with a few cm of water. This water runs off to the sides of the clay pan, creating beautiful patterns in the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495085098-C7WEOONOB42HD3B43OH1/_MG_3855.jpg Namibia - The Namib Rand Sunset paints incredible colour in a dissipating thunderstorm over the plains and mountains of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495084339-D24X9D672ZAKQKMW659J/_MG_7846-Edit.jpg Namibia - Convective Energy An incredible cumulonimbus tower collapses over the desert in the heat of the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495104125-H1MM3HB95K6JS0FUH6CS/DEADVLEI-2.jpg Namibia - The East Wind Any mention of the easterly winter winds will draw the ire of Namibians that live near the coast. During the winter, warm berg winds carry the desert dust and sand towards the coast in a warm gale force wind that can blow for days. When this happens, the coastal regions shut down, everyone shutters their homes and prepare the brooms and vacuum cleaner for the inevitable cleanup that comes after. In the desert landscapes, these winds can make for incredible conditions as long as you are willing to brave the blasts of sand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495100699-46W78YCOD2D22XEULJ1I/DSC_0009-2.jpg Namibia - Stoic An Oryx stands frozen in the midst of a fierce east wind sandstorm in Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495105882-OFXOWRMA1FC0BISN1F59/DSC_2098.jpg Namibia - Sand Mountains of Sossusvlei I There is something in the human mind that refuses to believe that a dune can be as high as the ones at Sossusvlei. Until you’ve climbed one of the 400m monsters, it is really difficult to comprehend their size. Using a telephoto lens and side lighting with a distant subject, like this Oryx, gives one an idea of the scale of these sand mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1599814652854-N07BOK97Q6NH10WLYOOG/DSC_4990_Luminar3-edit.jpg Namibia - Summer Nights Purple flickers light up a caravan of Cumulonimbus cells south of Keetmanshoop as the first stars appear in the Namibian skies on a humid summer evening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495109194-1U1ZEP7WBA6R8O7173DQ/DSC_2645-Pano.jpg Namibia - Dance of the Wolves A scene that feels befitting of this famous private nature reserve’s name - Wolwedans. Somewhere in this scene, there was sure to be an Aardwolf lurking under the light of the full moon, but they are such skittish and evasive animals that they are very seldom spotted. In memory of my good friend, Bruce Molzen. He was shooting with me here and we had the exact same backpacks. During the chaos of recomposing as the moon crested the horizon, I grabbed his backpack and started running for a different composition. Upon opening it I saw Canon lenses instead of Nikon glass and had to double back - a stressful experience in the moment, but the subject of many jokes about me stealing his gear in the years that followed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342727622-K95LUS580BB1HK0GHOPM/_DSC4270FP.jpg Namibia - Flaming Spitzkoppe Incredible light reflected in a rockpool at Namibia’s famous granite inselbergs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495114509-MK98Y1BTDEGS7HW5VW0R/DSC_4930.jpg Namibia - Luck of the Storm Afternoon sun breaks through a gap to the west to illuminate the trees of Giants Playground and a beautiful storm sell to the south of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495123215-P22B4B9J9A3YV9PLGFWC/DSC_6978-Recovered-Edit.jpg Namibia - Another Planet These wind eroded granite boulders in the great nothingness of the Namib Desert feel like there were put there by aliens. The dunes always make for an incredible subject, but it can become a bit monotonous after days in the desert. When we saw these, the decision to camp here was obvious. Whilst shooting this the wind was howling, but it settled down shortly after sunset and we had incredible night under the stars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495123214-KXL3FXVL2NPP5YKG4EXS/DSC_8795.jpg Namibia - Sand Mountains of Sossusvlei II The anabatic desert winds create a dramatic scene at Sossusvlei as it slowly sculpts the ever changing dune spines of the Tsauchab Valley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342752431-SFNDLGVEJDYMJ5DUSUHY/_DSC7479-Panorama.jpg Namibia - Skeleton Coast The essence of Namibia’s desert coastline - dunes, ocean, mist and nothing else, for as far as the eye can see on a clear day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495133670-DIGYVYIGWY6IBP50EN3P/DSC_8695.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578495133669-YRVG4V5NZLVL8W43YHND/DSC_7750-2016_12.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342867095-C3QX80ML3QI56N0TOR0L/DSC_9719.jpg Namibia - On the Edge Looking south over the Fish River Canyon through the branches of an ancient quiver tree as a beautiful sunrise dapples the scene in blues, pinks and purples. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342875541-VU2MFIC5EVMF9U9LTSX8/Untitled_Panorama1.jpg Namibia - Flaming Dawn An incredible sunrise sky over a lone Acacia tree in the Namib Rand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342716002-XCRU1PCGD9SL2228JAV9/_DSC0933-Pano.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342720004-2MEACU87OZ1ABTA1E41M/_DSC2264FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342725459-LUNYW58FCXYS3KFR3P0P/_DSC2660FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342797747-C6FNCHDI4MIPVGWN4MMA/DSC_3300.jpg Namibia - Light A beautiful play of light illuminates a series of doorways in an old townhouse in Kolmanskop. The far room is lit by warm sunrise light from the eastern side of the building, while the near room is light by cold light spilling in from the east. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342824960-J7CJQQWLS36P1J7MJXUA/DSC_7209-2.jpg Namibia - Desert Minerals Magnetite, Rubelite, Garnet and Mica create beautiful striations in the dunes of the Namib Desert’s Skeleton Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342798520-4RYBJ7TRJBLS3E3N5KTD/DSC_3224.jpg Namibia - Summer Light This spectacular beam of light only occurs for a few months of the year thanks to an interplay of sunlight and a notch in the dune to the east of Deadvlei. If you wait for just the right moment, you can capture a tree as the first sunlight hits it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342736739-PU73DK6YZHES5VJXICUV/_DSC4285FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342855284-2X2REJUI0BG33WUQXRFP/DSC_8631.jpg Namibia - Far South The milky way’s galactic core rises over a Quiver Tree in Namibia’s far south, near the town of Keetmanshoop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342818425-MJO123ZNUB3RNJIQIIZC/DSC_6726.jpg Namibia - Skeleton Coast The wreck of the Shawnee, lost to Namibia’s southern Skeleton Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342736629-BOTPLC6FJF54O09ZGCBP/_DSC4309FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342742758-FHRD323IT1D8F7VUJMX9/_DSC4385FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342743519-UDBZDIWCOWOEH3LX01Y8/_DSC4624-2FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342749173-SE1MB59IHT35EUS8GSMK/_DSC6595FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342753693-F91T89ZCWPXRLVR10SZO/_DSC7477.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342760227-XQ3CBIKVSYPC21AWFKKG/_DSC7929FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342764254-NNXMXOJKI02CZ7B9E447/_MG_1977FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342770537-4Z5MAC2F3J6LAMW5ZDNZ/_MG_2084FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342774173-6IV2XCVURY4U6SPZ8BZA/_MG_2108_2015.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342775641-8KAQRCVLBWFXP26VWQ50/_MG_2476FP.jpg Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342783848-XGZ9WJRZAWQSQNIECNA8/DSC_2464.jpg Namibia - Peeking Through The afternoon sun peaks through the slats of a collapsed roof in the abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342805208-07VBESHK0LKXH1S6OHQ4/DSC_3722.jpg Namibia - First Light An early morning eastern horizon spills beautiful soft warm light through a window into a sand filled room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342808426-34MEX8GBRU3BN8TDWG4J/DSC_3741.jpg Namibia - Slow Decay Some of the rooms in Kolmanskop are not far from becoming inaccessible. Without the necessary maintenance to preserve its current state of abandonment, it will eventually all collapse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342811625-RUPACRDPFLAK44EUWMI8/DSC_3760-Pano.jpg Namibia - Sand Mountains of Sossusvlei The incredible dunes of Sossusvlei, some over 400m from the valley floor, illuminated by bright spots of morning sunlight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342814058-N2R4XRXJ22W5OG2XZ9XM/DSC_4744.jpg Namibia - Empty Promises What looked like it might have brought much needed rain, passed with nothing but some extreme wind gusts and a few drops of rain, kicking up dust on the drought-stricken plains of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342816262-UNS4VVMC498KX4XRKV3I/DSC_6250-Pano.jpg Namibia - Drought The Spitzkoppe mountains during the heartbreaking drought of 2018. This area normally varies between having lush to moderate amounts of grass. This scene from April 2018, showing nothing but sand, rocks and a few bushes clinging to dear life shows how bad the drought was. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342820133-WAHV39YS87IEW51NAGJA/DSC_7019-Pano.jpg Namibia - Skeleton Coast Moon Landscape Beautiful wind eroded boulders in the Skeleton Coast resemble a landscape from another planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342831966-MIKYOLXIIILL3Z1UAXJV/DSC_7409.jpg Namibia - Southern Desert Looking south into the no-man’s land between Fish River Canyon and the border with South Africa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342835423-8C6ARMOITGNAQD3BE35M/DSC_7680.jpg Namibia - Dawn Glow Dawn light spills into an old ablution building full of beautifully rippled sand. Sadly, a piece of this door has been removed in the years since I captured this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342843598-8STEFHVOWX15CC87EYOH/DSC_7718.jpg Namibia - The Blue and Yellow House For photographers, houses in the Kolmanskop ghost town are usually identified by a combination of two colours. This one is for obvious reasons known as the blue and yellow house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342840394-4E7W4ECY7VS1G0V7TR3D/DSC_7909.jpg Namibia - Dusty Dawn May 2015 presented some really weird weather in Africa - there were massive veld fires in Angola and Zambia and low pressure systems in the south Atlantic pulled a lot of that smoke and dust far to the south, creating incredibly colourful sunrises and sunsets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342845601-E8EA53C1R5N84AZ7G9YL/DSC_8037-Pano.jpg Namibia - The Graveyard The trees of Deadvlei - dead for an estimated 900 years. Only their main branches remain, withered and sculpted by the desert winds into ghostly figures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342845714-DIX0UR6AZ395N1LZ1ST6/DSC_8292-Pano.jpg Namibia - Dappled Light Alto-Cumulus cloud cast spots of light and shade on the panoramic landscapes of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342854182-Z505IYA2EKAKTFMWD0YD/DSC_8642.jpg Namibia - Reclamation The sands of the Southern Namib are slowly reclaiming the colourful abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop, Namibia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342870610-DABWFIU59NTGS5MDKVGB/DSC_8734.jpg Namibia - In Awe Admiring the stark shapes and detail of Deadvlei’s incredible trees under a night sky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342879000-AKT1AGOO2U6TJUNK450U/Kolmansstarpano2-copy.jpg Namibia - Kolmanskop at Night A bright milky way decorates the skies over the abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1599814011418-BWZ90XPYSHO20ZBX9LEL/DEADVLEI-1.jpg Namibia https://www.hougaardmalan.com/home daily 1.0 2023-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671287548-M2IMSPU9XAAG44Z55RKP/DJI_0532-Edit.jpg Hougaard Malan Landscape Photography https://www.hougaardmalan.com/the-drakensberg-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334868877-RI9EIXT9ULIVQYGGZJWR/DSC_5633.jpg The Drakensberg - Fangs Pass An incredible sunrise illuminates the depths of the Mnweni cutback, a deep “notch” in the otherwise straight escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334796293-JQPHRPLTVOMZSO11OFYJ/_JLB9837-cropped-Edit.jpg The Drakensberg - Edge of Earth There are few things in life better than a day atop the Drakensberg escarpment when there’s a cloud inversion. It truly feels like you are walking at the edge of our planet, staring into an infinity that is free of all of humanity’s self inflicted problems. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334801101-3HSTK4LTJJOYBBYHU3BQ/DSC_1652.jpg The Drakensberg - Freedom The experience of a sunrise above the clouds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334784485-5YYPZH9HXH9ONGGF5YJ4/_DSC4789.jpg The Drakensberg - Mnweni Dawn Rays of morning sun crest the Mnweni Needles and illuminate the depths of the Mnweni cutback, one of the most incredible places on earth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334837598-70EOJAKVS87PHGGH38M8/DSC_4797.jpg The Drakensberg - Summer Bliss For some reason the vast majority of people hike the Drakensberg in winter, when most nights are below freezing, the wind howls most days and there’s extreme smog from all the seasonal grazing fires in the areas below. In the shoulder season of summer, everything is green, water is plentiful, temps are pleasant and most afternoons there is the excitement of minor thunderstorms. If you ever plant to hike the “Berg”, trust me, go in March/April. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334852128-UN1UM8YDNF41ST91D84K/DSC_5004.jpg The Drakensberg - The Mnweni Pinnacles The morning sun crests one of the Mnweni pinnacles - two gigantic basalt spires deep in the cutback. The two peaks in the distant background are the Mnweni needles, but most people will agree that it should be the other way around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334832166-JA9Q914AOA0D1IO2FID0/DSC_4728-Pano.jpg The Drakensberg - Wrath of the Dragon Capturing a dramatic storm like this is an exciting, but dangerous game. 99% of the time, the lightning either strikes the edge of the escarpment or the higher hills behind the escarpment, which is why one always camps in the valleys between the two. However, If you want to capture a scene like this, you have to stay at the escarpment edge as the storm approaches, hoping to capture the best of the dramatic scenery before the lightning strikes too close for comfort. This particular storm put on an incredible show and I stayed perhaps a little too long. When the time came to retreat to the tent, I was too late to get away from the hail and I got a proper lashing. This time may have been worth it, but many times the light just isn’t good enough to justify the effort that goes into capturing it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334811681-8VXIIDIOGWSIOK7HSEWT/DSC_2979.jpg The Drakensberg - Luck Sometimes one can plan an attempt to capture certain conditions and pursue it for years, but as nature relentlessly reminds us, we are forever at its mercy. In 2017, I had a hike up the amphitheater, which was planned about 18 months in advance as a shoot-along opportunity for my workshop customers. We managed to get up the chain ladders just before it starting raining and shortly after setting up our tents the rain changed to sleet and the sleet soon changed to snow. Between that night and the next, the northern berg got nearly half a meter of snow. On the second day, the front rapidly cleared, the clouds lifted and we were treated to an incredible winter wonderland. Most of the snow melted within a few short hours, turning a trickling Tugela Falls into a smoking white veil, nearly a kilometer long (next image). On day 3, we hiked back down just as the last ice melted from the pathway. Sometimes the photographic gods smile upon you and deliver conditions so incredible that it still leaves you in amazement years later. Other times, you spend two weeks in a location and get two solid weeks of bad and mediocre light or you can return to a location for years without getting something special. When you eventually get the once-in-a-lifetime light, it just makes it so much more worth it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334820406-8NZF734JOHXA88YR2H2Q/DSC_3495-Pano.jpg The Drakensberg - Tugela Falls This incredible waterfall at the northern tip of the great Drakensberg escarpment is the world’s second highest. It plunges 980m in five major cascades. Compared to Venezuela’s Angel Falls, it has an extremely small catchment area and much lower average annual rainfall, so seeing it in spate is not simple or easy. One either has to wait it out in high summer, hoping for a thunderstorm cloudburst over the catchment, or go up when a freak system like a cut-off low pressure or an anti-cyclone is forecast for the berg. People have been up there right after such conditions and there are a few cellphone snaps of the waterfall with ten times the amount of water you see here, but is yet to be captured by a professional photographer or videographer. This is the most flow I’ve ever seen going over the falls. It happened after a powerful front put down nearly half a meter of snow on the berg in November and as the front rapidly cleared, the summer sun melted all that snow in a few short hours. I am yet to see Tugela in spate, but it is something I am extremely obsessed with and will hopefully witness before my time on earth is over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334784847-VQN5K3CQIUAC3GEBQZUK/_DSC4470.jpg The Drakensberg - The Dragon's Tail The Mnweni Needles and the Cathedral Peak ridge protrude above the clouds on a perfect summer morning in the Drakensberg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334790744-VNLSSWH0RBZRS8AJO3YE/_DSC5190-Pano.jpg The Drakensberg - Origin of the Senqu Looking into the far corner of the Mnweni Cutback with soft dappled afternoon light falling on the scene. The slopes in the bottom right part of this image are where the first veins of South Africa’s mighty Senqu/Orange river begin their journey to Atlantic coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334796033-BLF7UVWIAE5IT6A0D80N/_DSC8340FP.jpg The Drakensberg - Below Looking a thousand meters down to the lush foothills of the Drakensberg as the sun crests the horizon in the east. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334801967-B9TK8I2DGIS1GC2W6AOE/DSC_2681.jpg The Drakensberg - Grandeur *Notice the person bottom right. We as humans are quick to think that we are in control of of our lives. Especially in the cities, where we pour endless resources into infrastructure and systems to try and mitigate the variables of our environment. That perception of control can be extremely numbing and it can make daily life seem boring and meaningless. For me, there is no better “reboot” of that numbness than to spend a week in the mountains. Even with the comforts of a modern tent, sleeping gear and dehydrated meals, the mountains will quickly humble you. Whether it’s the simple challenge of ascending two kilometres to reach the top, braving a powerful storm in your tent or the euphoria of spending a day above the clouds in pristine wilderness. Mountains have an incredible effect on the human psyche and it satisfies so much of our evolutionary programming. If you’ve never done a week long hike in the a major mountain range, you have no idea what you’re missing. If you’re South African and you’ve never been atop the Drakensberg, you need to make a plan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334838715-A6GHDV690OR4FT5LVA7Y/DSC_4853.jpg The Drakensberg - End of Summer Looking north along the escarpment from within the Mnweni cutback. As summer draws to a close, cooler days means less convective energy to build powerful thunderstorms along the escarpment. This cloud made a few rumbles and gave the escarpment a light “watering” before dissipating as the sun set over Lesotho. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334823459-O7VPJ7P0YKYGQEO802XC/DSC_4650.jpg The Drakensberg - Ancient Eden The meandering valleys of the Mnweni cutback, one of the most incredible places on earth. Up close, the entire valley looks as if it was designed by a master gardener, but it is completely wild and untouched. Decorated with sandstone boulders, Protea trees, Tree Ferns and a plethora of South Africa’s most beautiful indigenous flora. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334828575-CGMLBHTFG698XVKAJNOJ/DSC_4730.jpg The Drakensberg - Cumulonimbus Collapse A powerful thunderstorm unleashes a heavy downpour over the Mnweni needles on a hot and humid summer afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334809346-TSK1E5CNBWF9F07R0ARP/DSC_2761-blue-removed.jpg The Drakensberg - Settling for the Night A perfect evening in the Drakensberg - no wind, an inversion below and a colourful sunset. Moments like these justify all the effort of exploring the berg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334852311-NHJRT2E6JHARBZGM3C7H/DSC_5097-Pano.jpg The Drakensberg - Rockeries Pass Clouds swirl around the flanks of Rockeries pass, which is one of the easier passes to the top of the escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334860422-AEFK01E2UDXMXP8VNIIU/DSC_5174.jpg The Drakensberg - Jurassic Landscape Afternoon light filters through the edge of an appraoching thunderstorm as thunder rumbles through the valleys of the berg. There are few things more exciting for a landscape photographer than the potential for incredible light that comes with isolated thunderstorms over a beautiful landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334860997-NPJK2IJ09HLWT977M4H8/DSC_5248-2.jpg The Drakensberg - Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo Believe it or not, that is the name of these rock pillars in the Mnweni cutback. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334865979-3B3YF3KU59TL6BLV1PKI/DSC_5342.jpg The Drakensberg - Rockeries Tower One of the highest freestanding towers of the Drakensberg and home to hundreds of vultures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334868843-DGYHKN8AX6QKVGQ7K6X3/DSC_5712-HDR-Pano-lightened-cleaned.jpg The Drakensberg - Dawn Glory An incredible sunrise over my favourite place in the world. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/gallery daily 0.75 2023-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671454897-FMOF2CP25JBVFUP2FTL6/DJI_0591.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - USA November 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633602087892-2BZ9QZ4ZK2K1E7650RPN/_DSC3090-Enhanced-Edit.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Moments of Silence https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004464829-AEU58Z751V3YXVWW6I8H/_DSF1881.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Namibia in Flood 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1599818547511-WXB65Z25GB4RBQD0E2II/DSC_2327-Edit.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Latest Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595059869869-ZCE9N88XYUG1RTJ8V51R/DSC_0009.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578494651706-2JKP98J1TSXODN8RRN9H/DSC_2979-orton-highlights.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - The Drakensberg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1578494714295-GB4IEAZDTH8AOF6FJ33H/DSC_4242.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Namibia from Above https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595058977842-M7913DIM7X89N28G2ZP2/Sandhof-Lilies.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Namibia in Flood https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595063138314-P9QBI4EEQ42GYG4NWROT/DSC_8695.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Namibia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581329036882-TTND8EUSFHFV4S4ZIOD2/Richtersveld-1.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - South Africa Interior https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057048588-O1MZPLVCH6I3T5YBBFXA/_DSF30532.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Cape Town and Surrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1579869865661-DAAAOP7CYI6PXIXXLII6/De-Kelders-1.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - South African Coastline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1579868033474-N8DDGB10FQ6KP94VHVE7/Kubu-Island-2.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Kubu Island & Victoria Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581327506276-O5D3MFXB8OWANLJ49H3O/DSC_6995-desturated-foliage.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Patagonia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326356537-UMTN8XAOHWBUKYVV4ZFL/DSC_1983.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Iceland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581325859819-052A4GJXT89LI0AJWR84/_A8R0045.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - The Seychelles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328560011-47XRLLPNIAG0D2IGGMNK/_DSC9918FP.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan - Tuscany https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595491431234-BOT09H31YF2R6Q1TCMBH/DSC_7180_2.jpg Gallery | Hougaard Malan https://www.hougaardmalan.com/learn-old daily 0.75 2023-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1594974393736-SZI8R3MFU92C4S8I1J7H/Logo.png Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - Namib in flood 15-24 February 2023 | R57 500.00 PPS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1594893571346-BKFWZPKKTMM1H58605Y6/Asset-3%403x.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - Photo tours in namibia Iconic Namibia & Skeleton Coast https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1594892772947-5DTFSRA62N4QKIE7KGKT/DSC_2221-Edit.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - Namibia by Helicopter The Ultimate Photographic Experience https://www.hougaardmalan.com/contact daily 0.75 2020-01-13 https://www.hougaardmalan.com/prints daily 0.75 2025-09-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595489770884-OCKSQ2B5IFWHCVKHAOVJ/Ruacana-Falls-2.jpg Prints | Hougaard Malan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595417673405-0H1BF4YGIZ6JVRYC3CMC/Waterfall+interior+smaller.jpg Prints | Hougaard Malan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595417672842-HYN8I7490CYIGAPJLEP7/Oryx+interior+small.jpg Prints | Hougaard Malan https://www.hougaardmalan.com/kubu-island-victoria-falls-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1579867221813-ONTQ7RKOUU4816O4E9LG/Kubu-Island-2.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488630565-3FXQ1TBVHLG7POHZH4H3/Vic-Falls-1.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1579867388722-A6RZP49LPQIKCUQ3SIUS/Kubu-Island-9.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488636644-I8XHUQQUJHHW8V05FZVJ/Vic-Falls-5.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488550003-8UOAGPXI5AA6982W0RNJ/_MG_0397FP.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488640402-REP2K89PEU48M1D7LF8Q/Vic-Falls-6.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488549472-4POJUXHI47LF3YFBCHFM/_MG_8228FP.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488630894-ZVZNOVVWBH1ZT4Q3RMT1/Vic-Falls-3.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488558067-GS1AXC69GIC0WI6W8094/Kubu-Island-3.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488561062-L1U2R4IWGH37ZG1M4G5B/Kubu-Island-4.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488642008-F3JH4LDAN9RWNPR3TXKA/Vic-Falls-2.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488562943-38ZQ14G234JZHPYMYWHB/Kubu-Island-8.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488635952-KSSAW44Y3GG8IXMFTGE5/Vic-Falls-4.jpg Kubu Island & Victoria Falls Thumb Page https://www.hougaardmalan.com/south-african-coastline-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345163057-CRKGX5DN48G5W5903G4Q/_MG_0136.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - July Twilight falls in a display of deep purple hues over the rocky coastline of De Kelders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345282401-ZCHCKV57Y9D0Z50NO699/DSC_6179.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Phenomenal A moment of incredible coincidence over one of South Africa’s most iconic landscapes; Hole in the Wall. A dark and cloudy afternoon turned into unbelievable magic when an isolated curtain of rain started falling behind the wall and a gap in the clouds opened up, allowing the sun to paint a partial rainbow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345272017-YTB2P6WX1BADJ1WK1KR5/_MG_8258FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Doringbaai Fishing boats take shelter from stormy west coast seas in the picturesque little harbour of Doringbaai. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345247796-6YCQ4MKDNZY6IS8KU3CL/_MG_6770.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Ivory and Azure A perfect pink sunrise over the azure waters and ivory cliffs of Arniston on a calm summer morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345179544-JAVOEQ9Z2PFV89R3HCXG/_MG_0243.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Xhosa Piazza Sun sets over a rock shelf resembling an ancient tiled piazza deep in the heart of the Transkei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345253912-EZ3K1LEJTT011BR3GBMV/_MG_8147FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Hole in the Wall Beautiful pre-dawn colour over Hole in the Wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345141491-YW44L0IR5VMZ5XWTATXE/_DSC7580.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Autumn Perfection A perfect May morning in Arniston; the ocean flat as a mirror and not a breath of wind as beautiful hues of pink and orange fill the skies and reflect on the calm waters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345123889-K7R0CWVYICDH95PT23FQ/_DSC2793.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - 33 Years Later What remains of the Meisho Maru shipwreck after 33 years exposed to the corrosive Cape Agulhas elements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345288190-MZ5YTM83A8NOZ8AWPPXX/DSC_8323.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Convergence Arniston’s cauldron - I stumbled upon this location in 2008 and it has become one of SA’s most popular seascape locations in the year since. Despite over a decade of shooting this incredible phenomenon of water flow, I am yet to capture an image of it that I am perfectly content with, but this one is pretty close. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345125744-FZK5FP7BOQ1Q8N31YTRB/_DSC3207.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345135216-SAN1QRO0TRDPFD8MZEZ4/_DSC3779FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345176634-NCYQ7TMSK417UDLABZ6L/_MG_0235.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345141027-S3TWUSCD6VPI4KYBRG4M/_DSC6569FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345160494-JV60OT6GTA25YZ7T3CS7/_MG_0107.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345169499-H6BLOEMBNGEGTSX24U5M/_MG_0226.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345203174-00HGD4VACIPPQD4WV9MN/_MG_4255FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345183562-U7OGR6HKZCS7M4SBW2VF/_MG_0754FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345193068-OZ3PRZ27IQJTVZ6S9MUF/_MG_1061FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345200778-AZ9PY8DEMS7MQBMJYLRJ/_MG_1945FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345227697-CXPSH30GSO5DPSND99H8/_MG_4605FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345227669-9O3B50YKXULPWNRGZ800/_MG_4662FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345241568-69NHJSGKZUL0Q3QWULGI/_MG_4791FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345240293-9HHENCZTETVQCVUWBSJR/_MG_4935FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345249174-L3GBSJUKLI3AZBCKBBC9/_MG_7326FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345252688-99OEW911XXU3KGZ927CS/_MG_7387FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345302575-KG6Q4YD52BOC4PHC9TIH/DSC_9921_blended.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345309289-85BON7C1GVVN39LDVWTS/IMG_3419.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345264983-8KPEFTML6MM2V0VZWP6V/_MG_8248FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345281944-TSEC8MSMOD2I4BO5GW97/_MG_9983.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345277387-M9GODJTZJGQ3AHLWBUIZ/DSC_0563.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345286928-FN8NTQNTDACYQP0VNEVK/DSC_8158-Pano.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Wild Coast Winter Daylight approaches from the east in a beautiful display of gold and purple on a calm, windless morning at Hole in the Wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345291867-T1ISSJFPZZIC8ZX7MK16/DSC_8447.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Hole in the Wall An iconic South African landscape in perfect conditions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345292083-PSYOHRRGDJH5DL59NHZQ/DSC_8789-Pano-2.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - At Rest The fishing boats of Struisbaai anchored in the harbour on a beautiful autumn evening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345297299-ME56F2HM7CH7POGMJJ8M/IMG_0284FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - West The simplicity of the West Coast is what draws so many people to it - void of mountain ranges or dense foliage, it features a harsh landscape exposed to the icy wind and fog of the Atlantic. Sometimes, however, the winds and the fog take a break and one can experience the most incredible days. This was one such day in the middle of winter, where a perfect sunny day faded into an incredible display of colours to the West as the moon and the evening star rose over the ocean. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345303528-X89NUPDTJRW2GE1HV0NV/IMG_1809.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Final Destination One of the small rivers of the Kogelberg mountains descends the last few steps into the ocean as a distant sunset paints magical colours in a sky full of streaky high cloud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345314302-TO0OWI9PTRFIU50N6S84/IMG_7271FP.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - Victoria Bay Flaming red dawn skies over this secluded beach village outside the town of George. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345316559-H5MXY7IUBDFMVS1WZEUC/IMG_9792.jpg South African Coastline Thumb Page - April in the Cape Autumn around Cape Town is the season of flaming red sunsets and this one was no disappointment. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/iceland-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488883455-SVK4EH2GY9TB3BMPXLB8/DSC_1973.jpg Iceland Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488932886-K3H37HJSWZYL6E1XEFQL/DSC_0292_HIRES.jpg Iceland Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488883962-7RRO7UNWSAHXHKXTP5H2/DSC_2122.jpg Iceland Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488897019-AHEBQ6U0VQEV33SK042K/DSC_3237.jpg Iceland Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488863855-XRPJXKNJYIH1DLTORC2T/DSC_0560.jpg Iceland Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488903582-3GK78DF6Q48S63VDC5DY/DSC_3704.jpg Iceland Thumb Page 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598951126422-8MJRUY5N7YF88EWK19BY/DSC_0117.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Bliss Morning mist lifts over the beautiful Blyde River Canyon after a long night of soft rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328966918-I63U9A0NN2Z2BOOZZP50/Richtersveld-1.jpg South Africa Interior - The Richtersveld An image that epitomises the Richtersveld National Park - barren, dry and hot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328798252-CNS2HVGO3X77JSXAMIPW/Augrabies-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Augrabies in Flood One of Augrabies Falls’ side falls during the peak flow of the 2011 floods. Augrabies only floods an average of once every two decades as there are 4 gigantic dams in the two rivers that feed it - the Vaal, Bloemhof, Van der Kloof and Gariep. It takes several incredible years of rain to fill all 4 dams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328805535-0PPXKUA480QODT89APKQ/Blyde-River-Canyon-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Trial and Error Incredible rays of light illuminate the depths of Blyde River Canyon on a calm summer morning. I visited this location (2000km from home) on 6 occasions between 2007 and 2013 before finally getting the shot I had envisioned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328895224-HVIK81U16VGIMQSZAMYR/Magoebaskloof-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Magoebaskloof A jeep track snaking through a lush afromontane forest on the Magoebaskloof escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328975405-ZAJ3M3LEP6YO3PO4Y33D/Valley-of-Desolation-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Valley of Desolation One of the Karoo’s most iconic sights - the rocky pillars above Graaff Reinet. Taken on a sweltering 40 degree December afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328840472-8YV9ERLE61TW3UMJLVTB/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-3.jpg South Africa Interior - Barkly East Pass A perfect morning in the Barkly Pass on summer solstice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328873618-EHWZ2EHR14AWZCY4PUT5/Freestate-3.jpg South Africa Interior - Vaal River A beautiful autumn morning over the Vaal River. Taken in the Vredefort dome near Parys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328902643-222VPO8WFSSKSQV2RBN1/Magoebaskloof-2.jpg South Africa Interior - Forgotten Eden The incredible forests of Magoebaskloof https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328915913-O0HZITLLV8E90B5DTLEG/Magoebaskloof-4.jpg South Africa Interior - Magoebaskloof Stream Fresh rainwater cascading down a forest stream in Magoebaskloof after a powerful summer thunderstorm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328887994-2LBH7QFCCLKPXJQ996WH/Karoo-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Storm A powerful thunderstorm over the barren plains of the Karoo, taken long after sunset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328966906-09VP359GV224Q2IN6MEX/Richtersveld-2.jpg South Africa Interior - Momentary For a few brief minutes each afternoon around the winter solstice, the sun hits this scene at the perfect angle to illuminate the tree, while casting a shadow on the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598951127676-BO9JF5MIXXG82URWKISO/_MG_0774.jpg South Africa Interior - The Other Side Looking the the iconic Blyde River Canyon from the opposite side as dramatic rays of sunlight illuminate the depths of the canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328950419-YTAHAJFSM5C77587D9Y4/Pretoria-Jacarandas-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Icon A scene that is unmistakably South African, despite being an alien tree; A street strewn with Jacaranda leaves after a rainy October afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328820266-M9WDURQKTTDM6YWKVWWS/Blyde-River-Canyon-4.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Tranquility Stormy gray skies hang over the depths of Blyde River Canyon on a cool and calm February morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328826250-ZKKK35KO7B4XVIC71X4X/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Farmland Icon Lombardy Poplar trees - a classic icon of South Africa’s farmlands. These are used all over the country as windbreaks and were planted in earlier years as fast growing timber. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328832527-PE60L97SN2XITUFZW19V/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-2.jpg South Africa Interior - Eastern Cape Highlands Morning mist lifts off the mountains in the pass between Barkly East and Elliott - one of the most underrated areas of South Africa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328846115-K6OK0XF87FHHAGQXSA5Q/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-4.jpg South Africa Interior - Eastern Cape Highlands Last light over the hills and valleys of Eastern Cape Drakensberg. This is in farmland somewhere in the mountains above Indwe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328855187-KWB8V6DHO88YX61P8QTS/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-5.jpg South Africa Interior - Summer Days A perfect afternoon in the highlands of the Eastern Cape, somewhere between Dordrecht and Queenstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328852425-1FWEZ206RG1ETXE83D0Y/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-6.jpg South Africa Interior - Pierneef Skies A vast thundercell on the escarpment below seems to bubble up from behind the horizon. Somewhere in the Eastern Cape highlands, near the small town of Dordrecht. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328863280-5OZL6MVGH8JLRJ5UA4SJ/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-7.jpg South Africa Interior - Close of Autumn Autumn colours cling on as winter approaches on the Eastern Cape highlands. This scene is between the towns of Dordrecht and Molteno, the latter consistently recording SA’s coldest temperatures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328863287-3EBMMFH6QWUXJJML7NOP/Eastern-Cape-Highlands-8.jpg South Africa Interior - Rumble A massive thunderstorm rolls in over the “tail” of the Drakensberg, near the town of Indwe in the Eastern Cape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328876402-QNUSO820LQYY0U3EYOI1/Freestate-1.jpg South Africa Interior - End of Summer Flowering of cosmos along the roads of the highveld signal the end of summer. They usually start showing up around the end of March, when the afternoon thundershowers start subsiding. They are an alien plant, mistakenly brought here in horse feed. As horses eat the plant and then drop seeds along the way, the flowers are distributed mainly along the roadways. Large stands of the flowers often indicate where travellers made camp and the horses grazed in the area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328870512-J3YL8HJBT7JK2CCPWHKP/Freestate-2.jpg South Africa Interior - Golden Gate An incredible sunset over the colourful sandstone cliffs of Golden Gate National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328915957-TJ0IPX6NMCQ0QW5WRWKB/Magoebaskloof-3.jpg South Africa Interior - Afromontane A misty winter morning on the Magoebaskloof escarpment. South Africa has very little indigenous forest left and finding scenes like this is very challenging, but well worth the effort. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328927487-WTNYDYS5CRG6Z40302BI/Magoebaskloof-5.jpg South Africa Interior - Fresh Crystal clear mountain water rushing down marble shelves in the Magoebaskloof mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328927758-DTJ4WG1PZ9JC77XEBYXB/Magoebaskloof-6.jpg South Africa Interior - Debegeni Falls One of Limpopo’s most iconic waterfalls - this shows only one of multiple cascades as the Debegeni river makes it’s way down a steep valley via series of towering cascades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328946842-2KVVMITPEQEV6CJ3JX4N/Magoebaskloof-7.jpg South Africa Interior - Afromontane Forest Morning sun lights up the undergrowth of untouched afromontane forest in the heights of the Magoebaskloof escarpment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328933407-210CBKUP77CV36P1OB70/Pretoria-CBD-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Tshwane A passing storm puts on a beautiful show of light over South Africa’s Capitol. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581328969654-NJNI50SA2ZEZ45M8RN0Z/Voortrekker-Monument-1.jpg South Africa Interior - Voortrekker Monument Lightning strikes the hills of Pretoria during an incredible display of light as an approaching storm is backlit by the sunset. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/patagonia-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326523201-X4WE1YWHFE6T1C5HFXJY/_DSC0979.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - April in Patagonia A windless moonlit night over one of the most magical places on our planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326687591-5OLPBQ25OT1ERL9JURB6/DSC_6995-desturated-foliage.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - 60 Seconds of Magic Some sunsets/sunrises can put on an incredible display of light and colour for more than an hour, some last only ten minutes and some don’t even last a minute. This image remains one of my all time most popular images of Patagonia for obvious reasons - that horizontal beam of flaming red light against the swirling grey clouds is incredibly dramatic. This moment lasted at most 1-2 minutes - an incredible spot of luck during what was an otherwise rainy, windy and freezing cold morning in Los Glaciares NP. Being in the right place and ready for the light to happen is an often boring and painstaking part of landscape photography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326572700-T4RY1L5WW1L9FKGSHE08/_DSC7045.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Volcanic The black beaches of Torres del Paine tell an important tale of it’s volcanic history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326618799-J44UXI3WGCNURXZFN7L8/_DSC9407-Pano.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Perito Moreno Glacier An incredible natural moment Argentina’s most famous landscape. The front of the glacier is 80m, or roughly 25 stories high and it is also one of the world’s largest advancing glaciers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326579144-UX252GC3I3N9E3OHC9UL/_DSC7153-Pano.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Patagonian Weather When trying to think of a title, I first thought that this image looks very stormy and it probably deserves a title that fits that narrative. I then remembered that this is what most days in patagonia look like and it’s probably not deserving of the title by Patagonian standards…hence the current title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326566318-D6Z8GFQKMWY5G4OH514N/_DSC6810-Pano-Edit.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Autumn Fire When autumn foliage and a flaming red sunrise put on a show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326511628-G9L7C51OI0Y4XYGB1U3K/_DSC0199.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Rio de las Vueltas Golden sunset light reflects in the waters of the Rio de las Vueltas as the sun sets in the west. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326506625-ZYDU15PV34D2F40YRTJ5/_DSC0618.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Andean Dawn Brilliant warm light strikes the eastern face of mount Fitz Roy and the it’s southern flank, the Poincenot, under moody autumn skies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326518539-LYY4FGV6AZBVNXPWNNG9/_DSC0939.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Laguna Torre Sunset Sunset colours paint beautiful tones of pink and orange over the icy landscape of Laguna Torre on a perfect autumn evening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326529790-Y0BTVNW9V1SRQ0DWB4HR/_DSC1214.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Dawn Fire A flaming pink sunrise over Lago de los Tres, one of several glacial lakes below Mount Fitz Roy in Los Glaciares National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326536294-EKRDBITH4H5FHMX2GKWX/_DSC1450.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - The Chimney Mount Fitz Roy producing it’s famous chimney as a freezing westerly wind from the southern Patagonian Ice Field pushes moist air over the Andes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326539360-JXMD6NQ7MYC6P91Y6E2Z/_DSC5958.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Peeking Through The famous cuernos (horns) of the Cordillera del Paine just visible through a layer of low cloud illuminated by dramatic sunrise light as the famous Patagonian winds stir the waters of one of Torres del Paine’s many turquoise lakes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326597275-FJSDWTCWDF41GR39ZKSY/_DSC7579.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Eastern View Peeking out to the right of Almirante Nieto (the big peak) are the three granite monoliths after which the park were named. These towers are only visible from the east. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326553994-KJZRK3XD74EFSGV2MW3J/_DSC6175-Finished.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Windproof All around Patagonia you can find dwarf Lenga trees that thrive, despite the relentless onslaught of the Patagonian gales. Once they manage to establish a small forest, the inner trees can thrive and grow to a great size, but when isolated like this one, staying as close to the ground as possible is the best strategy for survival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326601276-969QO9AIXFMPMXT8S1K8/_DSC8135FP.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Twilight A 15 minute exposure juxtaposes the dynamic against the static during an eerie overcast sunset in Torres del Paine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326551933-7C9IYHXF5U92TCZN885Y/_DSC6231-2-as-Smart-Object-1.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Lago Pehoe Lenga trees fighting for survival on the shores of Lago Pehoe’s glacial waters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326615180-PFC1F87NMJ2JIL0IGGOL/_DSC8598FP.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Torres del Paine The granite monoliths that gave the park it’s name “Towers of Blue”, ironically bathed in red sunrise light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326606227-VV4MXXNTA7WSQ5QXSY3T/_DSC8220-Recovered.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Kinetic Long exposure captures the relentless Patagonian gales that are forever swirling clouds around its peaks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326560310-5AZAN8LCTVQYWSOO4FRD/_DSC6624.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Windblown When the wind blows enough on Patagonia’s lakes, the waves can easily fool you into thinking you’re at the coast. Shooting into a spray and wind like this is a nightmare, but when the light justifies it, it is worth the struggle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326560675-AEFS8L6BT18265HLVNOX/_DSC6768-Sept-2016.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Alpenglow Although first observed and studied in the Alps, this incredible phenomenon can occur on any high mountain range. It is when strong/colourful sunrise/sunset light reflects or refracts in ideal conditions to illuminate a mountain range in incredible colour long before sunrise or after sunset. This long exposure was captured without any ND filters, long before sunrise in near darkness. There are few things more incredible than witnessing alpenglow in it’s full glory - you will see the mountains on fire in near darkness, clearly illuminated by a very distant sunrise or sunset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326574058-FSJBH0RPVWTAPEBXX3S7/_DSC7110.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Idyllic There are few hotels in the world with a better location than Torres del Paine’s hosterio Pehoe. It sits on a small island in Lago Pehoe, accessible only by this small foot bridge and enjoys an uninterrupted view of the Cordillera del Paine. It was the very first hotel concession in the park and sadly the owners have not done much in the way of upgrades in the many decades since it has been built. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326582329-A1ZYZI641ZK7IY1Z7Q95/_DSC7346-Final.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Rush Beautiful blue glacial waters rush down the gorge that connects Lago Nordenskjold to Lago Pehoe in Torres del Paine NP as sunrise paints the mountains’ cloak in a light orange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326600615-I1EDTM2Q2D7K8JUZHKQE/_DSC7888FP.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Travel Postcard The picturesque Lago Pehoe in Torres del Paine National Park on a stunning autumn day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326624565-CCX9KWK1EP640UHFKMAC/_DSC9782.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Final Colour Patagonian autumn putting on it’s final display before the leaves fall off and winter starts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326627602-2QULCTCRNW0URH3K50GP/CDSunknownpano.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Patagonian Perfection A tranquil windless morning at one of Patagonia’s most photogenic waterfalls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326642844-1G6E9P1VMUYHOX85LG1Y/DSC_5802.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Chorillo del Salto II Icy glacial water flows through the beautiful autumn foliage of Los Glaciares National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326661582-ACOB6OAAGRJQ7FJJ139S/DSC_6687.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - The Lookout Patagonia’s locals - the Guanacos. Eternally on the lookout for prowling pumas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326659025-DZWZQZ3V42OHIDQ3YCNK/DSC_6729-12-2017.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Fire in the East Sunrise approaches in an incredible display of sunrise colours from the east on a perfect morning in late April. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326669701-SEIRHZUA8QG0I8TELBMN/DSC_6876.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Sliver of Silver Dramatic afternoon light reflects in a channel on the flood plains of the Rio Grey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326689885-P8UOY13PXPGXC6CPULWU/DSC_6926-Pano.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - First Colour Autumn arriving one tree at a time in one of the densely forested valleys of Los Glaciares NP. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326704599-RNEYXCQKK5LAK7BFJ0PW/Untitled_Panorama1.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page - Chorillo del Salto An incredible display of autumn colours surround El Chalten’s favourite waterfall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326695574-W1YSM2MW6EGJJNR74WW1/LagoDLTpano1.jpg Patagonia Thumb Page https://www.hougaardmalan.com/about daily 0.75 2020-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598612912285-U4HG8O4NK3YMU08Q5CNR/Hougaard-Malan.jpg About | Hougaard Malan - RSG Onderhoud (Afrikaans) In geselskap met Johan Rademan https://www.hougaardmalan.com/cape-town-and-surrounds-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633601544349-N7ER1TV911GJLQQCHVWV/image-asset.jpeg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Canola Moon A bright yellow full moon climbs into the sky over an idyllic scene in the Overberg farmlands during the August full moon of 2021. While the elements like the hills, trees and chapel are permanent, scenes like this seem to appear and disappear from year to year as the farmers rotate crops, some more photogenic than others. It might easily be another decade or two before the farmer/farmers who own all the fields in this photo decide to plant so much canola again, making this scene as beautiful as it was this year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335276984-BBEZWKCD21FZLB92068J/IMG_7488-Edit.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Once in a Lifetime This photo shows what photographers are raving about when they talk of “the light”. Sometimes, the clouds and sunset work together to produce conditions that seem to be good to be true. I remember this like it was yesterday, but this year (2020) marks 11 years since I captured it. It was an oddly warm day in May, with high humidity and absolutely no wind. I ventured to Blouberg a few hours before sunset as the skies looked promising, but nothing could prepare me for what I was going to see. In the few hours before sunset, it seemed just generally cloudy over Table Bay, but as sunset approached and the clouds started changing, it became obvious that there was a massive thundercell building over Table Bay. Without the convective energy of a proper summer day, there was never any lightning and instead of it raining, these Virga formed below the clouds at the perfect time to catch the pink sunset light coming from the side. By blocking the light from the cloud’s belly, it created deep, dark shadows in between. An incredibly rare colour and texture contrast. Due to haze in the air and the limitations of 2009 camera technology, these images lack the sharpness to print much larger than 60cm while maintaining perfect detail. I have been obsessively returning to Blouberg for a decade now, hoping to get similar conditions, but I’m starting to accept that some conditions just never ever repeat themselves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601543308335-VNJNEV27AE88EB4H7Z9F/image-asset.jpeg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Serenity Sun burns through the mist, illuminating a historic church in the Overberg farmlands on a perfect winter’s morning between fronts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057255807-NIBJAW2NNCKWZ23OO464/_DSF2978.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Electric Kogelbay A massive bolt of lightning strikes the sea just off Rooi Els, illuminating the night for a fraction of a second during what was a 2-minute exposure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335047265-LNAP033MQQMD6E3X2H5Z/_DSF1199.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Cape Point Rays of sunrise light slice through the southern tip of Cape Point on a calm autumn morning. The mountains in the back are Kleinmond, Rotary Drive Hill (Hermanus) and Maanschynkop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335076381-MD57BXTYN99E85KXBYPX/_MG_0377FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Hidden Secrets Diaz Beach, Cape Point - on perfect summer days, it’s one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets. Cape Point NP’s high entry fee as well as a 1km walk, including about 250 steps mean that you can have this beach to yourself even on the best of days. Don’t let this view deceive you…when the weather isn’t perfect, this is one of the most dangerous beaches on the peninsula. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335118193-Y1OFW2TDOYN4D1EPXCCM/_MG_4331FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Muizenberg A Cape Town icon on a perfect day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595057255747-ZEK8X2T1X4Q9A16NY1W1/_DSF30532.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Winter Blues A clearing front puts a final few drops on Table Mountain on an icy July evening https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335040531-5WI0HGCMYL14153S4TD7/_DSF0929.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - The Blanket In summer, Table mountain wears its iconic cloth, created by the wind. In autumn, the mother city wears a blanket, created by calm April mornings and moist ocean air. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335028228-2O5A1LR7WV5M4IUBVMZY/_DSC7216FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Peeking Through Beautiful soft backlight created by the sun slowly burning through thick mist over a field of canola near Swellendam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335010157-W32VFZNWA68ZAJZXU2E1/_DSC6377FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Maanskyn Baai Another one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets - this perfect beach on the far side of Hangklip is known only to locals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335036524-M0AZN3QVLP9Y7MJKSM2E/_DSC8040FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Overberg Spring Young lambs enjoy a beautiful sunny day in the farmlands after a winter front capped the mountains with snow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335009640-5RAJXBUWZIKV3I0LOK2U/_DSC6454FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Bettys Bay Penguin Colony The Penguins of Bettys Bay enjoying a calm summer evening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335213503-WLEHKVD1IIMPLYORWRR5/DSC_0114-Pano.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Road to Riviersonderend Warm sunlight bathes the farmlands outside Riviersonderend on an icy August day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1618998123690-H2V8CZ10O47VZGHKZ0VE/_MG_0024FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Cape Town Summer Mist I One of Cape Town’s most magical elements - mist rolling in over the Atlantic always signals the end of a high pressure system/heatwave. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335058700-Z9MOMGWDEJJLZA8TNC91/_MG_0065FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Summer Perfection Tourists and locals enjoying a perfect sunset atop Table Mountain, sandwiched between the clouds. In peak summer months, the last cable car only goes down well after sunset, allowing romantic sunset picnics atop the mountain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335060302-NOKQYW7VZOUL8DQ04NPY/_MG_0080FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - The Other Side The opposite of the iconic Cape Town view - looking down on the city from atop the mountain that is usually the backdrop behind it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335097580-V9F3S4UPSK4TT5XICKKJ/_MG_1025FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Meadow Gangsters 99.9% of the time, sheep run away the moment you stop and get out of your car. This group of sheep calmly holding their ground and staring at me felt like a group of gangsters nonchalantly defending their territory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335143675-02DEM16BCT24APXDLTHF/_MG_5142FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Incoming Massive swell, a cloud cap and streaky high cloud - all signs of a massive incoming front approaching from the southwest and an iconic Cape Town sight during June, July and August. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335066050-QGQU5Q7486ES3JKHXOHY/_MG_0204.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Kleinmond Dawn A postcard sunrise looking over rental canoes stacked along the edge of the Kleinmond lagoon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335157632-H6N6Z3I5C4K15RCIE3NJ/_MG_5220FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335222648-KH68D79G0GXDZTGT1K9G/DSC_0401.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335222080-SAFWO3TKA3OX2JD2FP2C/DSC_0455.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1618998236555-N93CWPL8XA8XVJXXJPEG/DSC_0546.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page - Swellendam An incredible winter afternoon in the hills of Swellendam as warm sunset light illuminates what remains of a very old farm cottage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335230105-T0LSOP0OTP8Y1X3VYPZI/DSC_0813-Pano-3.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335242587-WECSD65193CYIEHE9QD3/DSC_2699.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335281809-HISS5STKT1ZL6O6HC2CL/IMG_4100FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342796615-OGWH7Q944MSSK7HECD03/_MG_4339FP.jpg Cape Town and Surrounds Thumb Page https://www.hougaardmalan.com/namibia-in-flood-2 daily 0.75 2020-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334555837-T9QSQQ2IUI1ETKOF20UW/_MG_3855.jpg Namibia in Flood - Desert Dusk Sunset light paints the incredible cloud formations over the simplistic landscape of the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334639609-38NK1I56737PLNQE69M5/DSC_7138.jpg Namibia in Flood - Morning Calm 1/8 - Sold 2/8 - Sold 3/8 - R 12 000 | $790 | €650 A herd of Zebra grazing on a fresh carpet of grass on a cool April morning. During 2018 the Namib Rand got plenty of rain in select, concentrated areas. The result was giant congregations of wildlife in a few valleys. This was the lesser green of the two valleys either side of the Kameelhof mountains. The other valley presented scenes that looked like the Serengeti, but the animals were so wild that I couldn’t get within practical shooting range of the herds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334468273-EX67TL7B54DP2S5N38UF/_DSC4593-2.jpg Namibia in Flood - Tension I didn't make it to Spitzkoppe in 2011, but the area was blessed with a lot of rain in 2014 and I was extremely fortunate to experience two major thunderstorms at Spitzkoppe that year. This was the first, on the 19th of March. I spent most of the afternoon lounging around at the arch, shooting timelapse and waiting for the storm to build. At around 14:30, the build-up towards Usakos started to gain momentum and I was treated to an incredible show of mushrooming cumulonimbus clouds - the build-up seemed to hang around on the eastern side of Spitzkoppe for about three hours, until the wind finally turned and it pushed over Spitzkoppe in a dramatic show of lightning, thunder and rain. One of my fondest memories of Namibia was the scene afterwards - the lush grass swaying in the wind under an incredible sunset sky as the storm rumbled off towards Brandberg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595588787655-1CWJ0429LELTPFWFHD2I/_MG_3313.jpg Namibia in Flood - Momentary Before the waters of the Tsauchab reach Sossusvlei, they spread out into a wide delta, flooding the entire valley to the Northern side of the road. This was during the peak of the 2011 floods, as the water was slowly pushing towards the end of the valley. It had been cloudy most of the day and I was just waiting things out next to these beautiful cracked pans. I saw a gap forming in the clouds, ran to this spot and as the light broke through I managed to get a few frames. It disappeared within 2 minutes and that was the end of it. It started raining shortly after and it didn’t stop until the early morning hours. The following day, the water made it all the way into Deadvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598879627407-WL6MRPB77COV4P3O08XD/_DSF4925.jpg Namibia in Flood - Torrential Sunlight breaks through a curtain of hard rain on a blistering summer afternoon over Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334487094-SM0DIXWV7E5J1HENHSK0/_MG_2095-Oct-2016.jpg Namibia in Flood - In Bloom This pan is an incredible last hold-out of a wetland lily that is surviving in a semi-desert area. Every few years, this 700-hectare clay pan near Maltahohe gets enough rain to cause the germination of these beautiful Crinum Palidosum lilies - they grow, flower and die in about a two week period, with the peak flower phase lasting only 3-4 days. In 2011 I had planned a trip through Southern Africa, first visiting the Kgalagadi and then the Richtersveld, then Namibia. When I heard the lilies were in flower, I turned everything upside down and drove straight to the lilies, stopping only at Augrabies for a night. The weather was gray, rainy and there was a supercell thunderstorm approaching from the east. It was so dark and gray that I thought the sun had already set, when an incredible explosion of colour started from the West. For a few short minutes, the entire world was lit in bright orange light, while a soft rain drizzled down. The light soon faded and an ominous rumble started from the east. An eerie green gunmetal curtain of rain approached, with a milky white shelf cloud in front, which was followed by 2 hours of relentless lightning and torrential downpour. That was the scariest thunderstorm I had ever experienced, until the following year when I experienced a similar storm in the Drakensberg, but with only a tent for shelter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334486176-W4VBIL1M1PDS33DADGFG/_MG_2844FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Sossus Oasis The shimmer of a flowing Tsauchab river reveals the incredibly rare phenomenon of Sossusvlei in flood as darkness falls over the Namib Desert. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334524241-CXHIKO27QUPA78VNKLDM/_MG_3526.jpg Namibia in Flood - Namib Rand One of the most beautiful contrasts of a wet year in Namibia - green grass and red/orange dunes. This image shows the scenery along the D707, which is one of Namibia’s most scenic roads. If you’re ever driving between Luderitz and Sossusvlei, make sure you have the time to take a relaxed drive along this route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334459095-WZEIB21EG1IJBIGFKJ9N/_DSC4748FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Prolific Times of abundance in Etosha - a Springbok enjoying the endless grazing as a rainbow signals the fall of more rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334477885-RR1LE70QOQUE0M7SY54M/_MG_1862.jpg Namibia in Flood - Things to Come En-route to the lilies in 2011, this was the scene that greeted me shortly after crossing from SA into Namibia. Shots like these are usually captured using a lightning trigger, but by sheer luck I managed to capture this strike using a very short shutterspeed. Looking back now - pretty much every single star in the universe aligned for that fortunate two weeks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595852567467-L3ATECEHNRJEIC1X4YYW/DSC_7180_2.jpg Namibia in Flood - Will to Live A tree stands resilient against the gushing waters of Ruacana Falls as late afternoon light paints the scene in dramatic contrast. 2016 International Landscape Photo of the Year https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334492461-44FDOOQ1DX1IEI8A7F48/_MG_3236crop.jpg Namibia in Flood - Lush Desert Idyllic scenes from the incredible year that was 2011 - desert valleys full of lush green grass and dissipating thunderstorms painted in sunset colours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334497821-XCIFY9FI39GG1E21HI6M/_MG_3301.jpg Namibia in Flood - Rain Palette There are few patterns in nature as incredible as the iron-rich dunes of Sossusvlei after rain - it takes on a million different hues of red, black and orange in an infinite combination of streaks, lines and curves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334503763-Q9ZFWG02VDNCXGDAXKYE/_MG_3364.jpg Namibia in Flood - Unlikely If there’s one image that sums up 2011, it’s probably this one; The flat Tsauchab valley turned into a shallow lake and a bright double rainbow towering above the dunes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334515845-PW6SKWBFK6DUAUUWUUUO/_MG_3430FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - RED Hours of rain in the Tsauchab valley slowly creating tiny streams all over the undulating valley floor, while a gap to the west allows an inferno of sunset light onto the scene. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334516237-DKXMNT7ADU0SYR9G6YKH/_MG_3525FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - RGB One of the most beautiful contrasts of a wet year in Namibia - green grass and red/orange dunes. This image shows the scenery along the D707, which is one of Namibia’s most scenic roads. If you’re ever driving between Luderitz and Sossusvlei, make sure you have the time to take a relaxed drive along this route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334519781-VAK4H4WB1F9BMTVVX6DJ/_MG_3573FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Jackpot To most, a thunderstorm of this scale would be a scary prospect, but to anyone trying to make a living in the desert, whether human, flora or fauna, a storm like this is biggest blessing imaginable. Years go by in which the total annual rainfall doesn’t even add up to the amount of precipitation this storm put down on this desert landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334532139-QVXVCQ4Z18LJJCMDMHJY/_MG_3574FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Winding A jeep-track snakes through one of the sandy valleys amongst the mountains of the Namib Rand as a curtain of rain drenches the landscape to the West. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334534711-TBRD1V452AIJN95HLCGF/_MG_3625-Edit.jpg Namibia in Flood - Divine Light A sliver of extremely bright sunlight illuminates the landscape below a dark thunderstorm in one of the Namib Rand’s beautiful valleys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598879628230-ISTT899QZD0JOGKG9FBV/_DSF4868.jpg Namibia in Flood - Sweeping A heavy curtain of precipitation sweeping the landscape west of Fish River Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334543913-NOULBFT609VGBYMY9WGE/_MG_3637FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Golden Mountain A beautiful soft spot of light illuminates a desert valley transformed into a lush paradise as a soft, lasting rain nourishes the landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334620433-A9F2TX7VNCFH30D1IQ4A/DSC_6437.jpg Namibia in Flood - The Kunene The green grass of a lush year in the northwest complements soft hues of a purple and pink sunset over the Kunene River. The land beyond the river is Angola. There are many nomadic Himba tribes that live in this area, moving further or closer from the river as the natural grazing allows them to. They move between Namibia and Angola as they see fit - this is one of the most remote corners of the planet and the concept of a national border or citizenship of either country is non-existent to them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334599401-1O9OGKXLR70MJH3YM67Y/_MG_8391.jpg Namibia in Flood - Alternate Universe Since 2011, I have made about 50 outings into Sossusvlei. Driving past this area for 9 years and seeing nothing but sand and rocks, almost always under a cloudless blue sky, has made this scene so unbelievable that it’s starting to feel like it was a dream. At about 2pm, the lodge’s thermometer read 47 degrees in the shade. Humidity was high, most of the lodge guests were in the pool and there wasn’t a cloud in sight west of Sesriem. After a few cold beers and wishing the time away, a distant rumble revealed a monstrous cumulonimbus cell approaching from the North-east. I ran around the lodge like a madman, trying to get my tour participants to the cars. We got away just in time to get a head-start on the storm. The whole afternoon was spent driving down the valley to a lovely scene, jumping out, shooting back at the storm until the lightning came too close, jumping back in the cars and trying to get ahead of it again. Fortunately the cell cut diagonally across the valley and we were able to calmly shoot an the incredible sunset along the cracked pans of the Tsauchab Valley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334546099-704XFQE8TZS8CBMF0ZLI/_MG_3688FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - The Promise A red rainbow signals the end of another day of plentiful rain in the Namib Rand during 2011’s incredible floods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334575598-YDQ6WSSRTE6UFVY8DV26/_MG_8089-Pano.jpg Namibia in Flood - African Epitome An ancient Acacia tree casts a long shadow in a lush field of grass as the sun sets beyond the dunes of the Namib. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334646398-GKWPHQX5GVML9KXLQ8EF/DSC_7508.jpg Namibia in Flood - Epupa Falls The Kunene river seems to have a thing for waterfalls with idyllic trees growing amongst them. This outcrop in Epupa Falls is dotted with massive old Boababs, which lean out over the water. Most of the time there’s barely any water flowing around them, but in the summer of good rain years the scene transforms into something that looks like it is straight out of The Lion King. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334556106-H8T3WUH98EJZRPJZTVLY/_MG_3836FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - West Wind Along the desert edge, there’s one universal rule and element that commands the hearts and hopes of everyone who has spent a lot of time there; in the rainy season, when the east wind blows, there’s a good chance of rain. The moment the wind turns and pushes from the west, no matter how promising the skies look, the rain clouds will be blown away inland. This scene looks right south and the grasses reveal the wind direction - this is a typical day where there was promising build up of clouds, only to be pushed back eastwards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334609951-1PWXM52IJ9IV35QCIPVS/_MG_8519.jpg Namibia in Flood - Grand Finale A suited end to one of the most incredible natural events I’ve ever witnessed - chasing a supercell thunderstorm through the most photogenic desert valley in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334564997-TD7HBBJSXZEXX3WT7STC/_MG_7520FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Aloe Dychotoma Quiver trees stand resilient on the plains of Southern Namibia as a caravan of storm cells march along in the distance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334596233-EFHSTKCH21LM14318V5F/_MG_8460.jpg Namibia in Flood - Collapse The belly of a thundercloud collapses, releasing a bomb of water on the dunes of Sossusvlei and kicking up a dust storm below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334565306-PQDMVQ1UV1F67G5IGATM/_MG_7868-EditFP.jpg Namibia in Flood - After the Rains Once the rainy season is over, the abundant grass turns a shimmering ivory. Under a crystal clear blue sky, these endless fields in the southern Namib Rand were a profound sight to behold - swaying in the cool morning breeze, it felt like I was in a Disney movie, looking at a scene too beautiful and clean to be of this reality. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334578216-2IA8UBTSBXVPEZUQXHZ9/_MG_7970FP.jpg Namibia in Flood - Simplicity An ancient Acacia tree stands on a soft rolling hill amongst an endless sea of ivory grass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334587752-O8HGCQS6F4JXVM4XMH1S/_MG_8309.jpg Namibia in Flood - Autumn Morning A picture-perfect morning over the Namib Rand as dappled light falls over a lush green valley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334614001-BQKQ0GUMGRF7O8F0WDWQ/DSC_6083-Pano-2.jpg Namibia in Flood - Winter Home A Himba village temporarily abandoned due to good rains, which allow the nomadic farmers to move further away from the Kunene river, leaving the grazing near the river for the winter months. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334626646-BZEBQNKT1QQ68UUCZA37/DSC_6476.jpg Namibia in Flood - No Man's Land Looking into South-west Angola from the Northern tip of Namibia. A good rain year makes this area look deceivingly arable, but 9/10 years this area is nothing but rock and sand. While a few traditional Himba people eke out a living in this mountainous desert, it is without a doubt one of the most untouched corners of our planet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334626252-T9TR725535ZOSDCYDVN0/DSC_6797-3.jpg Namibia in Flood - In Flood Ruacana Falls in full flood under a colourful sunset. A spectacular sight to behold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334641081-TYKL9KV4M018P2PH2SBD/DSC_7264-2.jpg Namibia in Flood - Epupa Falls Looking up one of the channels of Epupa Falls during peak flow in 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598877880057-HRNEVAE0KEFOF9CCAG1I/_MG_3998.jpg Namibia in Flood - Anomaly Lush fields of golden grass bathed in golden sunset light on a perfect autumn afternoon in the Namib Rand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595487288215-CQP7HTXPLZ1IPXO4Z33K/_MG_3573FP.jpg Namibia in Flood A cloudburst from a supercell thunderstorm over the Namib Rand. February 2011. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/personal-favourites-thumb-page daily 0.75 2020-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1598951126422-8MJRUY5N7YF88EWK19BY/DSC_0117.jpg Personal Favourites - Summer Bliss (Copy) Morning mist lifts over the beautiful Blyde River Canyon after a long night of soft rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595852567467-L3ATECEHNRJEIC1X4YYW/DSC_7180_2.jpg Personal Favourites - Will to Live (Copy) A tree stands resilient against the gushing waters of Ruacana Falls as late afternoon light paints the scene in dramatic contrast. 2016 International Landscape Photo of the Year https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595488883455-SVK4EH2GY9TB3BMPXLB8/DSC_1973.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345309289-85BON7C1GVVN39LDVWTS/IMG_3419.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345176634-NCYQ7TMSK417UDLABZ6L/_MG_0235.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595345163057-CRKGX5DN48G5W5903G4Q/_MG_0136.jpg Personal Favourites - July (Copy) Twilight falls in a display of deep purple hues over the rocky coastline of De Kelders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342867095-C3QX80ML3QI56N0TOR0L/DSC_9719.jpg Personal Favourites - On the Edge (Copy) Looking south over the Fish River Canyon through the branches of an ancient quiver tree as a beautiful sunrise dapples the scene in blues, pinks and purples. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342558209-2D2WDHW2C3MO2JSLS525/_MG_2598-copy-Edit.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282651159-U2P3PF5S0U726RC26AJ0/DSC_4242.jpg Personal Favourites - Secrets of Sossusvlei (Copy) Behind a high dune, out of sight of the Tsauchab Valley, this circular pan lies hidden amongst the sands of Sossusvlei. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282617259-6N8U9PEM55FVJ4ZMF55B/DSC_1446.jpg Personal Favourites - Untouched Paradise (Copy) A flock of flamingoes glide gracefully over the sand banks and channels of sandwich harbour on Namibia’s southern Skeleton Coast. Only the most experienced 4x4 drivers can access this area, in addition to an expensive concession required to visit it. Hopefully it will remain untouched for the rest of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1601282500863-0QLRPXA9442R9PWJK035/DSC_2199-final.jpg Personal Favourites - Koichab Blues (Copy) Dappled light illuminates transverse dunes intersecting marble rock shelves in the southern Namib near the Koichab depression. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335276984-BBEZWKCD21FZLB92068J/IMG_7488-Edit.jpg Personal Favourites - Once in a Lifetime (Copy) This photo shows what photographers are raving about when they talk of “the light”. Sometimes, the clouds and sunset work together to produce conditions that seem to be good to be true. I remember this like it was yesterday, but this year (2020) marks 11 years since I captured it. It was an oddly warm day in May, with high humidity and absolutely no wind. I ventured to Blouberg a few hours before sunset as the skies looked promising, but nothing could prepare me for what I was going to see. In the few hours before sunset, it seemed just generally cloudy over Table Bay, but as sunset approached and the clouds started changing, it became obvious that there was a massive thundercell building over Table Bay. Without the convective energy of a proper summer day, there was never any lightning and instead of it raining, these Virga formed below the clouds at the perfect time to catch the pink sunset light coming from the side. By blocking the light from the cloud’s belly, it created deep, dark shadows in between. An incredibly rare colour and texture contrast. Due to haze in the air and the limitations of 2009 camera technology, these images lack the sharpness to print much larger than 60cm while maintaining perfect detail. I have been obsessively returning to Blouberg for a decade now, hoping to get similar conditions, but I’m starting to accept that some conditions just never ever repeat themselves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334868877-RI9EIXT9ULIVQYGGZJWR/DSC_5633.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334796293-JQPHRPLTVOMZSO11OFYJ/_JLB9837-cropped-Edit.jpg Personal Favourites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334639609-38NK1I56737PLNQE69M5/DSC_7138.jpg Personal Favourites - Morning Calm (Copy) A herd of Zebra grazing on a fresh carpet of grass on a cool April morning. During 2018 the Namib Rand got plenty of rain in select, concentrated areas. The result was giant congregations of wildlife in a few valleys. This was the lesser green of the two valleys either side of the Kameelhof mountains. The other valley presented scenes that looked like the Serengeti, but the animals were so wild that I couldn’t get within practical shooting range of the herds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334555837-T9QSQQ2IUI1ETKOF20UW/_MG_3855.jpg Personal Favourites - Desert Dusk (Copy) Sunset light paints the incredible cloud formations over the simplistic landscape of the Namib Rand. https://www.hougaardmalan.com/namib-in-flood-2021-thumb-page daily 0.75 2021-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004041356-EXVHS909KG4NMDPOZJUF/_DSF5768.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Gold Eight weeks after the rain, the grass has seeded and turned gold, both in hue and in metaphorical value to the wildlife of the Namib, who will have a prolific winter thanks to the abundant grazing. Take a close look at the next image - Restored; you will see that this scene is a longer image taken within that scene. Restored was taken in the 1st week of February 2021 and this image was taken in the 1st week of March - just 4 weeks later. Current Edition - 2/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004036399-ICWBV0JQUMOS3A601K1G/_DSF3952.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Restored Brilliant morning light illuminates the Keerweder valley in the Namib Rand. This private nature reserve is one of the greatest success stories of landscape rewilding. Formerly used for Karakoel sheep farming for decades, more than 200 000 hectares have been rewilded and defenced by various parties who chose to join the private conservancy. There is also as much land who's owners partake in the greater conservation effort, but aren't part officially part of the conservancy. Bordering on the eastern edge of the Namib Naukluft wilderness, this area forms a critical haven for the wildlife of the Namib and a buffer between the park and the farmland. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619002821159-1X2W3SE5PPZA41ROLVNO/_DSF1881.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Sands of the Namib I We tend to think of sand as a fairly simple material made up of one or two elements, but add water and each element acts in a different way, splitting into a beautiful concoction of liquids, each with a different colour, weight and viscosity. When the rain is over and the sun evaporates the water, it all dries differently, creating this beautiful variety of colours and textures. This image shows just how complex sand can be. Current Edition - 2/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004027272-0078NKYUAWMZW8HGAWC0/_DSF2391.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Tiras Berge I A light thundershower sweeps across the beautiful landscape of the Southern Tiras mountains. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004044158-E4Z4O1ENBX5I8U8KOEQI/2021-03-12-09-15-05-%28B%2CRadius8%2CSmoothing4%29.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Natural Design Sometimes you stumble upon scenes that look like they were created by a landscape photographer or graphic designer. This scene was formed by an ultra-rare side branch of the Tsauchab that only flows once every few decades. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004023755-U3WOAQL5WVJGORUQ07OM/_DSF2933.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Kanaan I Slivers of light illuminate the valleys of Kanaan, one of the most beautiful areas of the Namib Rand. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004028441-PMQL5IV5RTV20BO57O9E/_DSF2962.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Rain Motif The most special part of rain at Sossusvlei is the incredible patterns it leaves on the dunes. There are so many variables that determine these patterns - velocity, direction and size of rain drops, velocity and direction of wind, geological make-up of each dune (differs east to west) that every storm leaves a unique signature on the dunes. It only takes a few hours of sunlight for the patterns to disappear, making these incredibly unique, fleeting works of natural art. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004031779-AJ1YMK1M5P5GL8PIAG2O/_DSF3291-Edit.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Light Motif A long-dead tree stands resilient against beautiful curving sliver of light in one of Sossusvlei's dune valleys. Like the motifs that the storms impresses upon the dunes, these light projections are ever-changing with solar alignment and shifting dune spines. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004032622-Y6WJTRW19VNZUPUR63I1/_DSF3001.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Ghost River The main flow of the Tsuachab river is on the northern side of the valley (below the dunes in the distance), but every few decades, there is enough water to push into a side branch that runs along the southern dunes. This event is so rare, that even most the Sossusvlei veterans don't know about it. Walking to the base of dune 42 (east of 45), I was shocked to find a river flowing 10m wide and about half a meter deep. Unfortuntely, it seems to have been just a few years to late to be the salvation of this tree. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004034741-VG3Y3QVJWFD3BD3OUT70/_DSF3661.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Sentinels of the Namib A family of the Namib's most regal animals stroll calmly towards the south. One can only imagine what years like these must be like for them with food in extreme abundance. Current Edition - 2/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004041198-0AAIQP3WF771AZF22UD1/2021-03-11-11-18-46-%28B%2CRadius8%2CSmoothing4%29.jpg Namib in Flood 2021 Thumb Page - Geometric As the floodwaters evaporate from the silt mud, beautiful cracks form in the pans of Sossusvlei, leaving behind a mesmerising playground for photography. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO VISIT PRINT SHOP https://www.hougaardmalan.com/moments-of-silence-thumb-page daily 0.75 2021-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633600785229-31PBZJ2OU4FRXGRSN0YB/_DSC3090-Enhanced-Edit.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Afromontane Soft morning light bleeds through the mist under the canopy of some of South Africa's most pristine ancient forest. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326523201-X4WE1YWHFE6T1C5HFXJY/_DSC0979.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Autumn Night If visiting Patagonia, a night camping at Lago Torre is an absolute must. After a long hike through the incredible glacial valley, I arrived at a windswept lake to shoot a challenging sunset with extreme wind gusts. I made a quick dinner and retreated to my tent, pitched in a beautiful forest below the moraine. I set my alarm for about 2am in order to check the potential for some night photography with some soft moonlight. Getting my tired body out of bed wasn't easy, but cresting the moraine and seeing this scene before me was one of the highlights of all of my travels. The lake surface was perfectly flat and between the icebergs lay the reflection of the Cerro Torre needles, surrounded by glittering stars and a cap of clouds dancing around the peaks. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595852567467-L3ATECEHNRJEIC1X4YYW/DSC_7180_2.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Will to Live A lone tree stands resilient against a torrent of water raging down a precipitous waterfall gorge. Ruacana Falls, Namibia, 2016 Winner - International Landscape Photograph of the Year 2016 Winner - Waterfall Special Category Award, International Landscape Photograph of the Year 2016 Winner - Carolyn Mitchum Special Category for image that represents integrity in nature photography, Epson Pano Awards 2016 For print pricing of Will to Live, please visit the PRINTS INFORMATION PAGE and scroll to the bottom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633601544349-N7ER1TV911GJLQQCHVWV/_DSF7700-Pano-Edit.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Canola Moon A bright yellow full moon climbs into the sky over an idyllic scene in the Overberg farmlands during the August full moon of 2021. While the elements like the hills, trees and chapel are permanent, scenes like this seem to appear and disappear from year to year as the farmers rotate crops, some more photogenic than others. It might easily be another decade or two before the farmer/farmers who own all the fields in this photo decide to plant so much canola again, making this scene as beautiful as it was this year. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595335269931-1SKU4WBJ6WZ4TG8J0PZY/IMG_0144.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Gold A summer thunderstorm fills the skies north of Cape Town as beautiful golden light paints this scene of the Atlantis dunes with warm colour. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1618998236555-N93CWPL8XA8XVJXXJPEG/DSC_0546-upres.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Forgotten Sunset light paints cuts below the clouds to light up this beautiful farmland scene in the foothills near Swellendam. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1633601770292-2LMHMIWT0CFAGHGZ7VNP/DSC_2645-Pano.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Wolwedans In a scene fitting to the name of this property, the full moon rises over the Nubib mountains in Southern Namibia. While not on this specific night, I have been lucky enough to see Namibia's "wolf", the Brown Hyena, on a moonlit morning in the Namib Rand. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1581326687591-5OLPBQ25OT1ERL9JURB6/DSC_6995-desturated-foliage.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Break in the Storm Some sunsets/sunrises can put on an incredible display of light and colour for more than an hour, some last only ten minutes and some don’t even last a minute. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004036399-ICWBV0JQUMOS3A601K1G/_DSF3952.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Restored Brilliant morning light illuminates the Keerweder valley in the Namib Rand. This private nature reserve is one of the greatest success stories of landscape rewilding. Formerly used for Karakoel sheep farming for decades, more than 200 000 hectares have been rewilded and defenced by various parties who chose to join the private conservancy. There is also as much land who's owners partake in the greater conservation effort, but aren't part officially part of the conservancy. Bordering on the eastern edge of the Namib Naukluft wilderness, this area forms a critical haven for the wildlife of the Namib and a buffer between the park and the farmland. Current Edition - 1/8 CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1619004044158-E4Z4O1ENBX5I8U8KOEQI/2021-03-12-09-15-05-%28B%2CRadius8%2CSmoothing4%29.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Natural Design Sometimes you stumble upon scenes that look like they were created by a landscape photographer or graphic designer. This scene was formed by an ultra-rare side branch of the Tsauchab that only flows once every few decades. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595334820406-8NZF734JOHXA88YR2H2Q/DSC_3495-Pano.jpg Moments of Silence Thumb Page - Tugela Falls This incredible waterfall at the northern tip of the great Drakensberg escarpment is the world’s second highest. It plunges 980m in five major cascades. Compared to Venezuela’s Angel Falls, it has an extremely small catchment area and much lower average annual rainfall, so seeing it in spate is not simple or easy. One either has to wait it out in high summer, hoping for a thunderstorm cloudburst over the catchment, or go up when a freak system like a cut-off low pressure or an anti-cyclone is forecast for the berg. People have been up there right after such conditions and there are a few cellphone snaps of the waterfall with ten times the amount of water you see here, but is yet to be captured by a professional photographer or videographer. This is the most flow I’ve ever seen going over the falls. It happened after a powerful front put down nearly half a meter of snow on the berg in November and as the front rapidly cleared, the summer sun melted all that snow in a few short hours. I am yet to see Tugela in spate, but it is something I am extremely obsessed with and will hopefully witness before my time on earth is over. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINT https://www.hougaardmalan.com/phototours daily 0.75 2023-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/7a058f76-165e-4f19-9591-fdbfb8d89b7f/DSC_5065.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - PATAGONIA 2025 2 - 16 April 2025 | All Inclusive | $ 14 490.00 pp SOLD OUT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/62f94bcc-244e-42ae-81e8-293f7cdcc507/DJI_0574.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - UTAH OCT 2025 WITH ANDY MUMFORD | COMING SOON https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/503a33ae-e598-447b-84ad-bb6a8332b476/0720.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - ULTIMATE NAMIBIA 2025 ASDAS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1618572811341-JI4BV14QFPVGO9LK1F1R/0U7A8876.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - Namibia 2024 I 26 May - 9 June 2024 | All Inclusive | $10 450.00 pp SOLD OUT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/6f2b7771-4da6-42d3-b67a-0faa1ac6ceba/DSC_6729-12-2017.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - Patagonia 2024 7-20 April 2024 | All Inclusive | $12 450.00 pp SOLD OUT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/63b65c02-82c4-4520-a42d-6f540d01dfec/Fanal%2B2.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - MADEIRA NOV 2025 WITH ANDY MUMFORD | COMING SOON Can be joined with Azores https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/3cee99b9-c58d-45cb-aba3-64cc68ff8394/_DSF2987.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - SKELETON COAST & SOSSUSVLEI 2025 22 May - 3 June | All Inclusive | $ 10 000.00 pp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/5739ae3f-c671-4059-a266-6beb15d1a714/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - AZORES NOV 2025 WITH ANDY MUMFORD | COMING SOON Can be joined with Madeira https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1595342783848-XGZ9WJRZAWQSQNIECNA8/DSC_2464.jpg Workshops & Tours | Hougaard Malan - Namibia 2024 II 23 June - 7 July 2024 | All Inclusive | $10 450.00 pp SOLD OUT https://www.hougaardmalan.com/utah-thumb-page daily 0.75 2023-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636685297-NULGOR0QH21HJITYO30L/_DSF4689-Edit.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636674149-G2W6QSTRJ6S2AG6GO7EB/_DSF4673-Edit.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636674467-JWECWNNUJ4AP06SORB0M/_DSF4698-Edit.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636687020-OTZJYZ32399JMBMK6Z8I/_DSF4702-Edit.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1709636690390-9VUOZSR3FCW56P2BW812/_DSF4716-Pano-Edit.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1704863902164-TBOCLB4PAGSIR0M6TA9R/DJI_0702-Enhanced-NR.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1704863893741-UZZMUQB372JK9I64E7JI/DJI_0672-Enhanced-NR.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1704863902155-CC58D30MHRKGJIALR7XS/DJI_0689-Enhanced-NR.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671287548-M2IMSPU9XAAG44Z55RKP/DJI_0532-Edit.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671287389-DZMZ3CPIZJSFO87IMLO6/DJI_0541.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671294201-QPSN3V022HDMCHWCWQWX/DJI_0545.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671296347-QGZNSKGD8AWX9I8DQ5CF/DJI_0574.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671298448-LF1ZWRSXR5RIMBP77S3Y/DJI_0588.jpg Utah Thumb Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e15cb8edd5cc505569a88a3/1703671300108-3UTDZKWEUVJGZAAYC1IO/DJI_0591.jpg Utah Thumb Page