<< Previous Next >>

3 Years Down the Line


3 Years Down the Line
Photo Information
Copyright: Loot Eksteen (loot) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5435 W: 593 N: 3649] (10027)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-13
Categories: Savannah
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 HZ DG Macro, Digital ISO 800, UV 62mm Kenko
Exposure: f/20.0, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Kruger NP & Mpumalanga - 2008
Theme(s): A study in Geography, Kruger National Park 2, African Trees, Landscapes of Southern Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-01-23 9:38
Viewed: 1860
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
My TrekNature Drought

A warm greeting to all of you, coming all the way from here in sunny Zululand.

This landscape was captured about 1.5km east of the Orpen Gate in the Kruger National Park. It shows a typical parched scenery associated with large areas within Africa. When Africa experience one of these cyclical dry periods it can sometimes lay waste to vast expanses of open plains, savannah grasslands and bushveld areas, but Africa (or nature) has the wonderful ability to bounce back to normal once the life-giving rains comes down and nourishes the scorched earth. Actually this phenomenon is quite clearly visible when you view the Wikimapia link I've provided above. I'm not sure if the satellite image was before or after I captured this shot, but the landscape certainly is much greener than that which is seen on my posting.

Like the drought depicted on this photo, I am presently experiencing a severe drought of activity on our beloved TrekNature site. For the moment and due to work pressure and responsibilities time is not a friend of mine. At least, this is not going to keep me away from having the pleasure of sharing/celebrating my 3 birthday with you. But hey, the show is not over till the fat lady sings, and since I have not heard her voice yet I can promise you there are still many enjoyable times and encounters to share and experience together on this friendly nature site.

I am really missing you all and nothing would make me happier than to have my life return to normal so I can spend some time on the site with you. However, if you're not born as the heir to a millionaire or you're not married to the daughter of a well-to-do business mogul, then you have to labour for a life and the company calls the shots. The project that I am busy with will still continue until September, at least, but I believe and sincerely hope the urgency and excessive pressure will ease off towards the latter part of February month.

Time has wings and I cannot believe that it is already 3 years since I joined this fantastic site. So much has happened since then. Good times and not-so-good-times (the normal cycles of life) has accompanied my stay here, but it is the good times spent with wonderful friends and the amazing learnings about nature through your eyes and through the magnificent captures of your experiences that I treasure the most. I have met such wonderful, friendly, gifted, warm, openhearted, sincere, responsive, knowledgeable, down-to-earth (and some highly sophisticated), well travelled, exceptional, genuine, approachable and pleasant people here on the site. You have enriched my life and for that I thank you all.

I know it really would not be fair to mention names as there are sooooo many of you that have made a major impact in or impression on my life (since meeting you here) and who will occupy an everlasting place in my heart. However though, I would like to mention some of those friends who have become very close and dear to me and who have walked that extra mile together with me. A number of these have disappeared along the road and some still make sporadic hit-and-run appearances, but nevertheless they are not forgotten. These are: ManYee DeSandies, Gert Ellström, Aaltjie van Zevenster (thanks for the piece in the forum), Janice Dunn, Luc Dorocher, Howard Cheek, Peter Stoeckl, Ram Thakur, Scott Evers, Christian Pourre, Paul Bratescu, Rob Fry, Sky Fa (who joined 1 day before me), Eduard Baak, Niek & Rein Bouwen, Jaap & Teunie Polak, Sabine Garuda, Adrian Hutton, Alexei Alyokhin, Ivan & Ulla Kruys, Betsie Stander, Bob Cat, Bayram Göçmen, Chi Liu, Pam Russel, Annick Vandershelden, Robin Du Bois, Valerie Schnepp, Biswarup Satpati, Heinz Koloska, Vivian Droog, Dean Staples, Andrea Piazza, Şebnem Kanat, AC van Dyk, Goutham Ramesh, Smitha Komath, Jay Meeuwig, Haraprasan Nayak, Horia Bogdan, Jitty Coowanitwong, JeanPaul Bolduc, José Miguel Rodriquez, Anna Eksteen, Aires Mario da Cruz, Ozcan Yilmaz, Pankaj Bajpai, Michel Pilon, Paul van Slooten, Rehanna Fourie, Hernán Tolosa, Chris Chafer, Thorsten Buchen, Subhash Ranjan, Narayanan Ganesan, Joe Kellard, Saeed Abbasi, Ricardo A Palonsky, Peter van Zoest, Geof Worrall (miss you old man), Victor Vicma, Jorge Chemas, Jan-Hendrik van Rooyen, Anna-Lu McGormack, Karan Little, Peter Thomas, Ori Fragman Sapir, Benyamin Lakitan, Alli Hemingway, Rick Price, and many, many more….

Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop CS2.
ramthakur, Alex99, haraprasan, ellis49, peter_stoeckl, ferranjlloret, marhowie, uleko, iris, Miss_Piggy, bobcat08, CeltickRanger, Aaltjie, sranjan, smitha, thor68 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To tariq: retariq 1 02-23 20:37
To tariq: I'm no fast food snack - Thanksloot 1 02-20 13:08
To peter_stoeckl: I rest my caseloot 1 01-23 17:54
To ellis49: Exchanged the DBloot 1 01-23 17:18
To vanderschelden: Oh me gosh!!!loot 1 01-23 16:57
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Loot,
Welcome back from your project assignment. CONGRATULATIONS on your 3rd Anniversary here on TN. A nice landscape to celebrate this occasion. Lovely colors and very well composed. Thanks a lot for sharing. Hope you soon get regular in TN.

Hi Loot,
already three years, the time flies, my friend.
It have been great to know you through the years and also great to call you friend.
You have done great for this site, always written decent comments with a humorous twinkle in the eye and posting beautiful pictures with very good notes.
I hope you stay many more years.
The picture is beautiful with wonderful colours.
Well composed with a nice low horizon and fine deep.
Very well done, my friend.

Don't work to hard, take a rest sometime.
And Anna have promised me she throw the DB away.
Best Regards
Gert

Dear Loot,
master of photography and writing, after many days of absence from here you are sending us a strongly meaningful poetical image - simple and clear, perfectly balanced empty space, dense atmosphere in beautiful harmony.
Your dear presence here on TN is so very strong even during those breaks that labour is forcing you to take sometimes: Almost every day when I enter TN's front page, I have the pleasure to read some of the fabulous critiques coming from you to so many of our friends here on TN. And, whenever I want to take a refreshing pause from some my own endless sessions of hard work, I can dive into the depths of your wonderful portfolio of powerfully lively, creative images that are always accompanied by very well written, wise, warm hearted and often cheerfully funny notes. My congratulations to you!
Since three years, you have been strongly enriching this community, enriching my life. Thank you my dear friend, God bless you. Hope to see you more often again, soon.
With all my best wishes to you,
Peter

Hello Loot!
Good weekend at least if you don't have to work in the weekend.
And of course congrats on your 3 years.
To be honest...sometimes I'm bit jealous. One of my many shortcomings I suppose. I mean, you have a beautiful and caring wife, you often cover the first page at TrekNature, a friend Aaltjie who's a diehard supporter , you write so well in English and you have that wonderful garden called Kruger National Park.
No wonder I'm not listed among your friends;-).Maybe somewhere down the line...:-)
Thanks for sharing a place where I hope to back as soon as possible.
Annick

Hello Loot,
Excellent landscape with a natural colors, superb composition, Great Job.
Best regards. Ferran

Add some scrub oak, change the color of the soil and you'd be right here where I live Loot. I've never seen it this dry in the 15 years I've lived in Central Texas.
Simple & effective comp, this image radiates dryness ;}
Great color, details, and well exposed..
Happy TN b-day brother, hope the project goes quickly for you..
U R missed.
Howard

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2989 W: 162 N: 941] (2769)
  • [2009-01-23 22:12]

Hello Loot,
I'm glad you could tear yourself away from your project for a moment to be with us here to celebrate your 3 years! We miss you and all your unique contributions. This landscape looks a bit like the space you're leaving on TN - empty! No lions, no zebras, no birds - one wonders where they are hiding! But the tree is waiting there with open arms for your return in October! A plain landscape in beautiful colours.
TFS and all the best wishes, Ulla

Congrat's Loot,
I do believe after existing in this environment for as long as you have, you must survive on the thoughts of those that you speak with in the photography world. This appears to be a miserable location, dry and hot, and most disheartening, barren during the drought of summer. Th starkness of the barren tree lends one to think that life does not exist on these grounds, but, when we dig below the surface many creatures survive these conditions in a hibernation like state until the rains soak the grounds and new buds and grasses blossom upon the terra. The Earth is remarkable within its own powers to regenerate the life that it had been blessed, but today, we must also take part in its regeneration and lend our efforts to save the minutest of every being that survives today. Without these scenes of strife and drought, and famine and plague, we would not have the understanding or foresight to what gift it is that life offers us. We must be observant and vigilant, and most of all respectful to what has and is gifted to us all.
Steve `

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2009-01-24 1:43]

Hello Loot,

Accept my Hearty Congratulations on your completing three years.It has been nice to know you through your works, critiques and comments posted in detail.They are as good as notes for novices like me. It is even nicer that I got a good TN friend in Anna- thanks to you- i wonder whether she would have caught the photography flu if not for your loving presence in her life:)

The post that you have uploaded reminds me quite alot of the Vlei captures I have seen from desert parched Namibia bereft of water,just surrounded by red sand.I like the wide frame capture ...the PoV quite translates your mind very well into a beautiful throught provoking composition.The accompanying notes as ever rounds off the presentation.

Hope your TN drought doesnt continue for too long.Wishing you many more years that shower good life, photography and TNing on you.

Thanks for everything
Cheers

Silpa

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2009-01-24 2:37]

Hi Loot, so it is 3 years since we started arguing over rugby - the ALL BLACKS are the best!!

And this is your landscape in drought. . . Very red, very dry, very barren. It's a nicely composed image - well one

Janice

PS You have enriched many of us with your photos and notes and the love you show us all, thanks Loot...

Hello Loot,
Congratulations for your 3 years fantastic contribution to TN ,not only for your splendid photos but also for your well detailed notes and critiques
Nice photo of this african dry landscape, but not your best one! However its translate very well your current feeling
Keep well and take care
Albert

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2009-01-24 5:51]

Hi Loot,

Already it is a pleasure to see your pictures and read your notes with it,yeah I know the feeling of being off treknature as well due the cause of duty,but always find the way back again with pleasure,hope there has beem some water from above the last few months as kruger was really dry during our stay a few months ago,hope to see and read more from SA for a long time to come..

Regards,
Paul

Dear Loot
Congratulations on this wonderful milestone you accomplished, celebrating your 3rd year on the site. A fine achievement, which proof to show how active you have been on Trek Nature and delighting us with your fine images. You are surely missed at the moment, and I know I do not speak only for myself. Thanks for enriching my life with your knowledge, not only about wildlife but about nature in total. From the smallest creature to the largest animal and everything else in-between. It is indeed a privilege to be your student in the field of photography. Although dry, this is such a stimulating scene. Looking at it makes me miss the good times we had whilst on holiday in the Kruger. This is an image I would print, frame and put it on my wall. It is really beautiful. There is just such a variety of colours and elements to appreciate in this photo. The cloudless two shaded blue sky, the different shapes and sizes of trees as well as the dried surface. One's eyes tend to follow the curves and shape of the main subject, observe and appreciate the interesting details displayed by the drought knowing that if the rains come, the leaves will once again appear. The landscape is really wonderful. Great sharpness and exposure. A lovely presentation. Thanks for sharing.
Love
Anna

Hi Loot,

My master in photography. Try to find a good balance between work and hobby, and everything and everything will come well draw Loot.
The landscapephoto is beautiful with natural wonderful colours.
The soil is very clearly shown. Brilliant. Well composed with a nice low POV. The lone (old)tree stays in perfect balance with the landscape.

Ans as always are your notes perfect. Thanks for that.

Kinds regards and TFS BOB

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2009-01-24 8:23]

Hello Loot, Hope your SAP is going fine and I am now in the middle of SAP. This is a beautiful shot and a lesson for society. I am in total agreement with you. Hope god protects us.Ganesh

A photo that wants me to grab my water bottle and find some shade!All this photo needs to make it perfect would be a skeleton of some animal in the foreground, but then, one can't have everything. But even without the skeleton, the atmosphere in this photo is great! Well done!

Hi Loot - Hierdie foto beeld so mooi die swaarkry van die natuur uit! Dis ongelooflik hoe vinnig dit kan herstel na net so bietjie reen. Hou moed - een van die dae is jy uit die droogte uit! (Dis gelukkig ALTYD groener na die droogte as voor die droogte)
groete
Betsie

hello Loot

congratulations to your 3th TN anniversary,
beautiful African Savannah Landscape photo,
shot with fine POV, DOF, and the tree is very well
placed on the image, i love the contrast betweent
the ground's warm colour tones, and the sky's cold colour tones,

TFS

Asbed

Dear Loot
What is happening here? This is a sight for sore eyes. Not because of the drought in your image, but the drought and lack of comments on your 3rd birthday anniversary posting on the site. I think it is disgusting and bad camaraderie to say the least. Where are the rest of the 120 members that made you favourite? Is this a case of out of sight, out of mind?
I am sorry I went off like that, but at the moment my brain feels as dehydrated as this dry scenery in front of me. I am really upset, and I feel lonesome like the tree in the image. Not even the beautiful blue sky can cheer me up, and I know all this feeling is for nothing, because nobody else will take note of what I have written here. To look at nature through your camera lens is such a wonderful experience, no matter where in the world you are. You never disappoint nor slack down in your ways. It does not matter what subject you present, it is always a pleasure to look at, enjoy and learn time and time again. Congratulations on your 3rd year on the site. I do not know about all the others but your photographs are a pleasure to look at. It is just a pity that time and energy is not always on my side to visit the site more regularly.
Warmest regards
Aaltjie and Hettie
Just remember there are some of us that will stick like glue to paper. Remember those. Forget the rest.

Dear Loot,
I esteem the way you express your feelings. I also appreciate you adding me to one of your favorites list. It’s indeed an immense honor to be known by Loot from this part of subcontinent & have known you as a friend, philosopher & guide on TN & otherwise too. I know all of us go through high upheavals in life for good, when rest becomes secondary. I once again thank you for sparing sometime for all of us to keep up the TN pulsating with your knowledge, wisdom & experience.
Regards-Subhash

  •      
  • tariq Silver Star Critiquer [C: 28 W: 1 N: 2] (2)
  • [2009-02-18 8:51]
  • [+]

i dont see any thing very special in it the composition is not very good the stones in the right bottom fore ground are detracking.what about putting it in a more panoramic way and cutting off the left most bush next to that mond?I am looking forward for your reply as I am new and it is how I look at the matter

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3584 W: 143 N: 5669] (18531)
  • [2009-02-25 9:52]

Hi, dear Loot.
I happy that the destiny has presented me a meeting and friendship with you – Great Photographer and Great Person. I congratulate your with your third birthday here and express my heartfelt feels to you and your creativity. I am always amazed with your outstanding photos and I am impressed so much with your terrific notes and so brilliant comments. I wish you and your charming wife all the best, more free time for photography and posting new works.

This shot is wonderful representation of your places which I will never see in my life only with help of your shots, pictures of other travelers and TV. Superb colours, blameless composition and perfect details of the scene. Bravo for all.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • smitha Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 323 W: 75 N: 1002] (3753)
  • [2009-02-26 22:30]

Dear Loot,
A warm welcome to TN. I am happy that you could somehow find enough time to celebrate your birthday with us.
Three years, 146 pictures and a huge number of friends and fans in TN apart from a lovely and adorable Anna to share your life and passion for photography with. What more do you want loot? (Oh! forgot to special mention my friendship. Also a friend like me .;)
146 exquisite pictures and informative and educative notes that have instructed as well as amused us all. We have all learned from your critiques and workshops. Whenever I think of TN or suggest this site to some one your name tops the chart. It has been my pleasure and privilege knowing you as a person, photographer and most of all a good friend.
I can really understand the 'drought ' like situation that you feel when your work and life pressure keep you away from your friends, family and your favourite hobby. Your picture is a very good illustration of your mood. That is one thing I have admired about your pictures, Loot. They always have some story to tell. The picture along with your script makes each and every one of them cling to the viewer's mind. Keep on posting such wonders to amuse and educate us all,Loot. I hope you will soon find enough time to spend with us in TN. Your presence really enrich this site, so come back soon.
Thanks for your friendship,
yours,
Smitha.

Dear Loot,
Congratulations on completing three years on TN!
Anna was kind enough to tell me that you are awefully busy with your project work these days and hardly find time to be on TN.
The picture you have posted here represents this situation in a graphic manner.
Hope to see you back soon and with warm regards,
Ram

Hi Loot!
Interesting picture.
The colors are very beautiful.
An excellent landscape.
I am exposed to some landscapes Treak Nature, but ... You can not compare to yours!
Best,
Adrian

Hello Loot,

Three years goes so fast!!! It seems to me that I know you and read your great comments and see your splendid pictures for so many years!!!

If I have to name only one person on TN who influence me personally and technically, the name that come automatically on my mind is Loot Eksteen! You are a reference for so many people on TN!!! I know that I am not so present (as I would like) this time but each time I come back, the first thing I do is to see which pictures I missed from my friend Loot :-)

The picture you display for celebrating that 3rd year is wonderfully composed! We can feel the hot weather, even here in Quebec and realized how nature is so strong to face such ecosystem.

A pleasure for the eyes!

Bye and TFS with us all those wonderful pictures of South Africa!!!!

Michel

Hi Loot,
Just in case you read your TN postings. It has been awhile since I've been here and I noticed this particular posting and wanted to say thank you! and you too have enriched our lives as well with so many great comments and postings. I hope to see more from you as I still pop in and out once in awhile to view all the fantastic images from around the world that are captured by so many great photographers. Take care.
Paul :)

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF