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Aloes and Drakensberg


Aloes and Drakensberg
Photo Information
Copyright: Robin Du Bois (robindb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 96 W: 0 N: 274] (965)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-24
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, sigma 70-300 apo macro
Exposure: f/32, 1/40 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-07 23:25
Viewed: 580
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
These aloes were taken against a backdrop of the drakensberg mountains which is the major mountain range of south africa. i like the way the aloes point out the peaks.

Aloes. (From Wikipedia)

Most Aloes have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves. The leaves are often lance-shaped with a sharp apex and a spiny margin. Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, pink or red and are borne on densely clustered, simple or branched leafless stems.
Many species of Aloe are seemingly stemless, with the rosette growing directly at ground level; other varieties may have a branched or unbranched stem from which the fleshy leaves spring. They vary in colour from grey to bright green and are sometimes striped or mottled. Some aloes native to South Africa have large trunks and are called aloe trees

The Drakensberg (Afrikaans: "Dragon's Mountain") mountains are the highest in Southern Africa, rising up at Thabana Ntlenyana to 3,482 m (11,422 ft) in height. In Zulu, they are referred to as uKhahlamba ("barrier of spears"), and in Sesotho as Maluti (also spelled Maloti ). Due to their Geological formation they are exceptionally distinctive, and almost unique amongst mountain ranges the world over. Only the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia resemble the Drakensberg strongly.
They are located in the eastern part of South Africa, running for some 1,000 km (600 mi) generally southwest to northeast, with a northwesterly bend forming the northeastern border of Lesotho with South Africa. They are drained on the west by the Orange and Vaal rivers, and on the east and south by a number of smaller rivers, the Tugela being the largest. The range thus separates KwaZulu-Natal Province from Free State Province, looming over the nearby coast of Natal.
The highest peak is Thabana Ntlenyana at 3,482 m (11,422 ft). It is also the highest peak of Lesotho. Other notable peaks include Mafadi at 3,450 m, Makoaneng at 3,416 m, Njesuthi at 3,408 m, Champagne Castle at 3,377 m, Giant's Castle at 3,315 m, and Ben Macdhui at 3,001 m. All of these are in the area bordering on Lesotho; north of Lesotho the range gradually becomes lower and less rugged until entering Mpumalanga where the quartzite mountains of the Transvaal Drakensberg are more broken. The Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga is technically within the Northern reaches of the Drakensberg, though its geology appears exceptionally different due to the lack of a Basalt cap which the High Drakensberg has.
Mikolaj, Vinster, weeksy, Juyona, Pitoncle, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Robin! Nice flowers, wonderful mountain. Good light and colors. Very good shot. Well done!

Hi Robin

Excellent use of f/32 to keep the mountains in the DOF. Great colour and exposure. TFS

Vinny

Hi Robin, the nice soft lighting really brings out the colours in the aloe, and I like the way you have composed the photo to show the plant in its dramatic natural environment. Cheers Steve

very niuce, almost like a postcard, perhaps it is Aloe arborescens? TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2083 W: 6 N: 2089] (13479)
  • [2008-07-08 16:58]

Hola amigo,
perfecto trabajo,
interesante dof, y pov...
colores y bella composición,
saludos Robin

Bonjour Robin,
Très belle composition, très profonde et très détaillée, dans laquelle le sujet est superbement mis en valeur en s'opposant à un splendide arrière plan dans une bonne lumière qui fait resplendir les couleurs.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

A really eye-catching photo using the contrast of bright colour in the foreground and duller background.txs. Mike

Another beautiful composition :) I like flowers in the front and high mountains in the BG. Really nice idea for picture and very good final effect.
TFS and I am waiting for next pictures (and please be sure that I'll be back to your gallery soon :>)
Friendly yours,
Radomir

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