Reflections

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The Smalblaar River Western Cape Province

The bridge above Branksome Eastern Cape Highlands

Dead tree in Birkhall Dam Eastern Cape Highlands

Mark Yelland on Banana Dam near Dordrecht

Owl Dam Highland Lodge Eastern Cape

Bokspruit River Eastern Cape Highlands

Riverbed tapestries

Riverbed tapestries are something most anglers enjoy, varying as they do from river to river, some dark and sombre, others dancing with light and colour. The pictures here I have taken over the years in streams in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Highlands and they make me realise I have not photographed nearly as many riverbeds as I should have. That’s often because cameras didn’t come to mind at the time, or if they did, it was too much hassle to sling the backpack off to haul out a camera. I have made shooting more riverbed patinas my chief New Year’s resolution. (You have to be hard on yourself choosing New Year’s resolutions, you know!)

Road signs

On the road to the Lindesfarne bridge

On the road up the Sterkspruit Valley

Kraai River Pass

Between Beaufort West and Aberdeen

Guest photographer Darryl Lampert’s images

Darryl submitted these lovely images on my request. I have long been an admirer of his camera work on fly waters. In fact I think I may just have been responsible – at least in part – for stimulating his interest in fly fishing photography.

Click reels

Decision, decisions

Still life with reel and net

The Rise

Using a 100 mm macro lens on rivers

I used just one lens on the stream the other day, a Canon 100 mm macro. It sounds a strange choice, but it has merit. Firstly I was able to shoot the Choroterpes mayflies we saw and I also got a few very useable close-up pictures of trout. The 100 mm macro also makes a marvellous general purpose lens when you are little way off your subject.  Here are some of the 100 mm images from the day:

Trout at hand

Trout close up

Choroterpes Mayfly