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Walkway to excellence


Walkway to excellence
Photo Information
Copyright: Niel Muller (docdexter) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 195 W: 0 N: 110] (673)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-12
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Canon PowerShot A640
Exposure: f/4, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-08-26 7:39
Viewed: 412
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a shot I took recently on a trip through the cape Winelands. Between tasting wine and eating way to much, there wasn't much time for photos, but I managed to take a few nice ones at the beautiful Vergelegen Estate near Somerset West.

Vergelegen (Dutch: "remotely situated") is an historic wine estate settled in 1700 by an early Governor of the Cape, Willem Adriaan van der Stel. After changing hands many times in the last 300 years, the giant mining company Anglo-American bought the farm in 1987.
They decided to concentrate on the production of high-quality wines from Vergelegen. The first vintage under the company's stewardship was harvested in 1992. Within ten years the estate was recognised as producing some of South Africa's finest wines, with the cabernet sauvignon blend "Vergelegen", single-vineyard cabernet sauvignon "Vergelegen V" and semillon/sauvignon blanc blend "Vergelegen White" regularly achieving a maximum five stars in John Platter's annual Guide to South African Wines. Some of these wines also won awards at international wine shows.

Vergelegen's Cape Dutch house, gardens and winery are open to visitors. Interesting features of any visit include a trip up the mountain to the winery plant, and a walk under the five vast Camphor trees (now National Monuments) planted by Willem van der Stel in about 1705. The winery is uniquely shaped in an octagon form that is mirrored on the vineyard's labels.

It is at the very top of the winery where I took this shot. The light conditions were very difficult, with blazing sunshine overhead, but I decided to include the pic unaltered.

Let me know what you think!
dcnajarro, Hendrika, xvs1100, shelbeesmom, irishdancer, Janone, Dingo, OeilMagique, hester has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

still a good photo despite conditions. i'll try a WS if you won't mind.

dcnajarro

Totally wonderfull Niel - I think you can have dinner on that roof for special occasions and the views there are also absolutely stunning. There is a restaurant underneath and a spacious modern kitchen if I'm not mistaken...
With so much too taste I can imagine there is not much time for photography -:)
You managed quite well - no complaining from me. TFS
Els

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1528 W: 139 N: 2159] (19430)
  • [2007-08-27 5:47]

Hello Niel ! Good perspective, interresting lines ! Good note, Thanks !

Mario

Hi Niel,

I love this shot and the place where it was taken.

The colour temperature is a give-away that it was taken in the Cape.

Interesting note as well.

TFS

Dirk

Wonderful lines here Neil! I like the view here. Lines are difficult at times, you did a great job with this one!
B-)
Linda

Great note, thanks for the background information. This looks like a wonderful setting and a great photo. Well done!

Very neat shot. Good pov & comp.

  •      
  • Janone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3059 W: 97 N: 3327] (20653)
  • [2007-08-29 11:50]

Hallo Niel.
Not sure if you understand Hollands, so will do it in English.
Very good and 'sharp' picture you took here. Excellent composed photo.
Thanks for the description. Since I've been in the West Cape, and we stayed with friends in Sommerset West, I only drink wine (when the beer is finnished, haha) from the West Cape.
We have seen the farm 'Vergelegen', but haven't taste the wine from there, soon we need more wine, I will check if there is here from Vergelegen.
Trust you, when you says, its the best.
Groete, Jan

  • Great 
  • Dingo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 363 N: 2725] (11788)
  • [2007-08-29 14:56]

I really don't see a problem with the light, Niel... I like the pattern of the railing's shade on the deck. Somehow I think you could have cropped the top a bit, to get a 3:2 ratio instead of a 4:3 ratio. 3:2 Looks better in landscape shots (to me, at least) as it's a wider aspect.
But anyway, TFS and for the interesting note; we have lots of South African wines in Belgium, but Vergelegen doesn't ring a bell. Besides, from here it really is vergelegen ;o)).

Hi Niel ,
nice shot with great composition.
thanks and regards
Saeed

Hi Niel
Excellent photo, maybe conditions were not perfect but I can not tell.
Great perspective, the scene for me looks very futuristic and mysterious
at the same time with the odd cube with the windows at the far end.
Thanx for your note, because I would have not guess this was top of a winery.

Paul

The low POV is excellent and I love the symettry of the bridge against the beaurtiful backdrop. Sharp, clear, well thought out and executed. Nice shot!

Hi Niel

I like the low POV here and the exposure is spot on. Nicely framed.

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • karith Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 991 W: 47 N: 947] (6355)
  • [2008-02-20 13:56]

Ah, a "heavenly sight"! At first glance I didn't see the earthly connection, so you can imagine my reaction:) Excellent subject for a captivating image, and great use of perspective and POV for a lasting impression. Well done!

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