PHILLIP WENTWORTH

Nikon D80 Nikkor 18 – 135 mm lens

PHILLIP WRITES: I took this photo in the Namaqua National Park in August last year while on an amazing road trip with my family. We shared a rustic stone cottage on Jeanrico Farm in Kamieskroon with geckos and goggas and did day trips to the park. Ernest Schulze from Jeanrico is regarded as somewhat of an expert regarding the best places to see flowers. The Namaqua National Park can also advise where the best flowers are situated ( 027 672 1948). Despite the relatively poor show of flowers, we all agreed that it was worthwhile making the trek north. So many factors determine the outcome each year and you need to enjoy yourself no matter how many flowers you see. These windmills are as much a part of the Namaqualand landscape as the daisies. I like how their stark steel frames contrast with the soft carpet of flowers below.

SHELLEY SAYS: Few people can visit the Northern Cape and not snap a picture of a windmill. By including something like a structure or an animal in your landscape photo, you create layers and add depth. Phillip has both structure and animal! He framed the bird well (it looks like a pied crow) by making sure the branches in the foreground didn’t interfere. And the blades of the windmills against the blue sky do indeed contrast nicely with the spread of orange daises below. You’d usually shoot landscapes at sunrise or sunset, but that’s impossible during flower season because the flowers only open up during the heat of the day. In the harsh light of midday, you have to get creative with composition and that’s exactly what Phillip did. Good work!