Photo Galleries Archives - Page 6 of 21

Cape Town in all its Splendor

By Dean McCleland in Landscapes 18 August 2015 0 Comment

Cape Town must easily rank as the most stunning city in South Africa. Some Vaalies condescencingly claim that if there was no mountain, Cape Town would be a fraction of itself. There is truth in this assertion but Cape Town is so much more that one mountain. Its historical heritage, its colourful people, especially the Cape Coloureds with their own enchanting vernacular add a surreal mix to the equation.

The hinterland also bears a mention. With its numerous wine farms first introduced to South Africa with the arrival of the French Hugenots in the 1700s, add another flavour to the various strains that is the Cape.

Life-like colourised photographs of WW2

By Dean McCleland in Historical, Military History 13 August 2015 3 Comments

World War Two black and white photos that are researched and colorized in detail by Doug and other artists from the ‘Colourisehistory Group.’ This is an example of their work.

Main picture:

A Finnish Brewster Buffalo 239 fighter (BW-352) of (Squadron) Lentolaivue/24 at Selänpää airfield. 24th June 1941. (Source – SA-Kuva. Colorized by Tommi Rossi from Finland)

Lions retreat before an indomitable foe

By Dean McCleland in Animals 10 August 2015 0 Comment

Sometimes even the mighty lion is intimidated by another animal. In this case it was the pesky fly. Due to the recent rains in the Serengeti, the grass was an ideal breeding area for these annoying creatures. The pride of lions was literally forced to pocket their egos together with ferocious mein and retreat to the sanctuary of the tree.

As many as 15 lions can be seen in the tree with some of these animals precariously balanced in the branches. Way above the ground based flies, the pride of lions could resume their sophorific activities while whiling away the time during the heat of the day.

Consequence of Showmanship

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Other Galleries 8 August 2015 0 Comment

Of course the real reasons for this fatal crash will probably never be known but all the evidence points to the fact that an act of showmanship was the probable cause of this gruesome accident.

The proud owner of a new car was killed with three of his neighbours’ children when his car was sliced in half when he crashed while taking them for a drive to show off his new wheels.

The 39-year-old man’s 10-year-old son was also in hospital fighting for his life after the accident on a curve near the Dros restaurant in the Mpumalanga city of Middelburg.

A Pilot’s Eye View

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 8 August 2015 1 Comment

None of these photographs are of staid boring settings such as Heathrow in London but rather of exotic locations mainly in the Pacific Oceans. It is just a pity that it is only the pilot and the co-pilot who have such spectacular views.

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Ring side seats at a lion kill

By Dean McCleland in Animals 7 August 2015 0 Comment

Thursday night was one of those nights when one despairs about South Africa. Before the 5km Randburg Harriers Time Trial, I listened to the action in the Houses of Parliament. Fortuitously it was question number six; the issue relating to Zuma and Nkandla. It was less a reasoned discourse than a puerile series of inane points of order. It was South Africa’s very own impromptu soap opera at work. If it were not so serious, it would be entertaining, but it is indicative of paralysis and lack of leadership that pervades South Africa in general and the ANC in particular.

Abject failure abounds. South Africa is trapped in a quagmire of corruption, ineptitude and kleptocracy with Zuma leading the pack. Zuma might not be well qualified, having only a standard three certificate, but he is extremely astute. The sum total of his response to the EFF as they fulminated against him having benefitted from the Nkandla upgrades, was to calmly state that the matter is in the hands of the Parliamentary Select Committee.

Highly unusual photographs

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 22 July 2015 0 Comment

Somebody emailed me these photographs last week. I have seen a few before but most are new to me. No central theme runs through this collection. Hence the term “unusual” is probably appropriate.

Scenic Wonders of South Africa

By Dean McCleland in Landscapes 20 July 2015 0 Comment

Unlike most countries South Africa has an array of climates such as the mediterreanean of the Western Cape, the subtropical of KwaZulu Natal, the deserts of the Kalahari and the bushveld of Limpopo. Each produces its own nique scenic wonders.

For this reason, South Africa can truly be described as a world in one country

Main picture: Valley of Desolation

A Retrospective Look at Cycling and the Tour de France in particular

By Dean McCleland in Historical, History 13 July 2015 0 Comment

With the 102^nd Tour de France currently underway, this epic three-week-long event is emblematic of man’s tenacity and perseverance. The unremitting odyssey encompasses tortuous mountain climbs, harrowing hairpin bends and breakneck speeds through hamlets and villages along the 3360km route from Utrecht in Holland to Paris in France.

The agonies and the ecstasies will be closely followed by hundreds of millions every day. What attracts these viewers is not merely the regurgitation of facts about each participant but more importantly the verdant fields, the Alpine vistas and the quaint forgotten hamlets through which the race traverses.

Main picture: The finish of the first Tour. At the right: the first winner, Maurice Garin. At the left: probably Leon Georget (not sure). Tour de France 1903.

The Friendly City – Port Elizabeth – My Home Town

By Dean McCleland in Landscapes, Other Personal, Port Elizabeth of Yore 9 July 2015 4 Comments

For me Port Elizabeth represents my roots, physically and emotionally. It was only the lack of work opportunities after I had completed my Articles of Clerkship, that I was forced to relocate to Joburg in 1980. Emotionally it is more that the place where I grew up, went to school and university. My roots go much deeper than that. One of the first citizens of Port Elizabeth was my great great great grandfather. With his house at Number 7 Castle Hill being a National Monument, I can truly feel a part of Port Elizabeth’s illustrious history.

Main picture: The central suburb of Port Elizabeth.

The Opinion Pieces are an eclectic bunch on current affairs & history often with a human interest aspect. The Movie/DVDs reviews are mainly on documentaries with a smattering of movie reviews.

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