http://journal.michaelvr.co.za MvR Journal Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:53:57 +0000 http://journal.michaelvr.co.za en http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/The-Future-of-the-Spiny-Forest http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/following/journal.michaelvr.co.za/The-Future-of-the-Spiny-Forest Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:53:57 +0000 MvR Journal 2121458 Forest Conservation and Community Development in SW Madagascar My very first impression of Madagascar was the smell of smouldering fires. I was more than ten miles out to sea in a 35ft catamaran, having just caught a ride across the Mozambique Channel with two fellow South Africans, when a musty aroma like wet ash permeated the fresh sea air. It was the first sign of civilisation since our departure and turned out to be an appropriate omen for what lay ahead. We docked at the port of Toliara, a dusty town on the southwest coast. After spending eleven days at sea, we were all a bit shell shocked by the sudden exposure to the thronging life of the dirty, disheveled streets. People, buses, trucks, bicycles, scooters, dogs, chickens, pigs, cattle - everything was spinning around us. It took a few days to re-adjust. Basing ourselves in Toliara, we spent the next few weeks exploring the surf spots to the north and south. We saw some interesting sights and had a few good waves but I couldn’t help feeling a bit lost and unsettled about what I was supposed to be doing on my photographic sabbatical. I needed to find a story I could sink my teeth into. I happened to meet an American by the name of Anthony Arnold, the co-founder of a small grassroots NGO called Ho Avy, which promoted forest conservation and community development. I mentioned that I was interested in volunteering opportunities and that I could assist with media related functions. He invited me to visit their project site in the rural village of Ranobe, 40km’s to the north of Toliara. It was here that I became better acquainted with the dilemma of the arid ‘spiny forest’ endemic to the southwest region of Madagascar and the Malagasy people who depend on it for their livelihoods. The smell of smouldering fires turned out to be the result of the charcoal production process, which was happening on an alarming scale in the Ranobe forest and most of the southwest region. Huge tracts of forest were being cut down and burnt to produce charcoal for use as a cooking fuel. Charcoal is the only widespread cooking fuel available in Madagascar, which becomes clearly evident as you travel through the country. Besides charcoal production, illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture are also taking their toll on the few surviving remnants of intact forest. It was agreed that producing a short promotional video outlining the environmental situation and the organization’s main activities would be the best way of putting my particular skills to use. The video would then be used to aid Ho Avy in raising public awareness and attracting potential volunteers and donors. I spent the next month shooting the contrasting splendour and devastation of the Ranobe forest and the dynamic efforts of the Ho Avy organisation to conserve and rehabilitate the forest through their collaboration with local communities. The most rewarding experience for me was being able to witness the day-to-day life of a rural Malagasy community and learn from an inspiring group of people who were doing whatever they could to help guide Madagascar towards a sustainable future. To find out more, visit www.hoavy.org. To watch this video in high definition, visit my Vimeo account. The highly endemic, arid 'spiny forest' of the southwest region of Madagascar: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1591.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1591_o.jpg" data-mid="10575256" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1613.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1613_o.jpg" data-mid="10575258" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1673.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1673_o.jpg" data-mid="10575260" border="0" align="left"/> The charcoal production process and the aftermath: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1769.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1769_o.jpg" data-mid="10575267" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1808.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1808_o.jpg" data-mid="10575270" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1835.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1835_o.jpg" data-mid="10575271" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1736.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1736_o.jpg" data-mid="10575265" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1845.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1845_o.jpg" data-mid="10575272" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2081.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2081_o.jpg" data-mid="10575292" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1327.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1327_o.jpg" data-mid="10575231" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1708.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1708_o.jpg" data-mid="10575261" border="0" align="left"/> The people of Ranobe village: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1920.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1920_o.jpg" data-mid="10575274" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1931.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1931_o.jpg" data-mid="10575276" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1958.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1958_o.jpg" data-mid="10575277" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1971.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1971_o.jpg" data-mid="10575279" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1029.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1029_o.jpg" data-mid="10575221" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1106.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1106_o.jpg" data-mid="10575226" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1194.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1194_o.jpg" data-mid="10575229" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1352.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1352_o.jpg" data-mid="10575234" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1488.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1488_o.jpg" data-mid="10575244" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2033.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2033_o.jpg" data-mid="10575291" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2257.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2257_o.jpg" data-mid="10575306" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2232.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2232_o.jpg" data-mid="10575302" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2277.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2277_o.jpg" data-mid="10575311" border="0" align="left"/> Ho Avy Headquarters & Initiatives: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1147.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1147_o.jpg" data-mid="10575227" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1982.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1982_o.jpg" data-mid="10575287" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2364.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2364_o.jpg" data-mid="10575328" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1491.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1491_o.jpg" data-mid="10575247" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1990.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-1990_o.jpg" data-mid="10575289" border="0" align="left"/> The Well Project - installing eight new wells as a reliable source of clean drinking water: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2348.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2348_o.jpg" data-mid="10575324" border="0" align="left"/> Soldiers employed to patrol the Ranobe forest for illegal activities: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2334.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/2121458/HoAvy-2334_o.jpg" data-mid="10575315" border="0" align="left"/> http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/Big-Sky-Open-Road http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/following/journal.michaelvr.co.za/Big-Sky-Open-Road Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:36:56 +0000 MvR Journal 1440134 Road Trip, Nambia <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0010.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0010_o.jpg" data-mid="9249427" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0027.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0027_o.jpg" data-mid="9249442" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0070.jpg" width="670" height="450" width_o="700" height_o="471" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0070_o.jpg" data-mid="9249447" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0083.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0083_o.jpg" data-mid="9249496" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0091.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0091_o.jpg" data-mid="9249503" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0104.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0104_o.jpg" data-mid="9249507" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0105.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0105_o.jpg" data-mid="9249513" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0115.jpg" width="670" height="447" width_o="700" height_o="468" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0115_o.jpg" data-mid="9249533" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0123.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0123_o.jpg" data-mid="9249541" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0140.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0140_o.jpg" data-mid="9249545" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0486.jpg" width="670" height="451" width_o="700" height_o="472" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0486_o.jpg" data-mid="9249561" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0512.jpg" width="670" height="450" width_o="700" height_o="471" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0512_o.jpg" data-mid="9249591" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0515.jpg" width="670" height="448" width_o="700" height_o="469" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0515_o.jpg" data-mid="9249603" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0593.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0593_o.jpg" data-mid="9249610" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0624.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0624_o.jpg" data-mid="9249617" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0795.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0795_o.jpg" data-mid="9249634" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0840.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0840_o.jpg" data-mid="9249639" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0848.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-0848_o.jpg" data-mid="9249642" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-1326.jpg" width="470" height="700" width_o="470" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-1326_o.jpg" data-mid="9249648" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-1332.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-1332_o.jpg" data-mid="9249656" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-1346.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-1346_o.jpg" data-mid="9249670" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-1683.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1440134/OdeRoad-1683_o.jpg" data-mid="9249685" border="0" align="left"/> http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/Pondoland-Pondering http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/following/journal.michaelvr.co.za/Pondoland-Pondering Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:58:22 +0000 MvR Journal 1529336 Hiking the Transkei Coast of South Africa <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0473.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0473_o.jpg" data-mid="7476381" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0607.jpg" width="670" height="416" width_o="700" height_o="435" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0607_o.jpg" data-mid="7476384" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0647-2.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0647-2_o.jpg" data-mid="7477459" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0702.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0702_o.jpg" data-mid="7476387" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0717.jpg" width="670" height="449" width_o="700" height_o="470" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0717_o.jpg" data-mid="7476388" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0718.jpg" width="670" height="459" width_o="700" height_o="480" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0718_o.jpg" data-mid="7476389" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0727.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0727_o.jpg" data-mid="7476392" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0741.jpg" width="468" height="700" width_o="468" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0741_o.jpg" data-mid="7476393" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0762-2.jpg" width="670" height="454" width_o="700" height_o="475" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0762-2_o.jpg" data-mid="7477462" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0769-2.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0769-2_o.jpg" data-mid="7477467" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0802.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0802_o.jpg" data-mid="7476406" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0814.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0814_o.jpg" data-mid="7476408" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0834.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0834_o.jpg" data-mid="7476411" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0836-2.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0836-2_o.jpg" data-mid="7477471" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0852-2.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0852-2_o.jpg" data-mid="7477476" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0870-2.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0870-2_o.jpg" data-mid="7477480" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0905.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0905_o.jpg" data-mid="7476419" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0914.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0914_o.jpg" data-mid="7476424" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0920.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0920_o.jpg" data-mid="7476426" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0931.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0931_o.jpg" data-mid="7476427" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0941.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0941_o.jpg" data-mid="7476428" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0947.jpg" width="670" height="455" width_o="700" height_o="476" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1529336/Transkei-Pondoland-0947_o.jpg" data-mid="7476430" border="0" align="left"/> These photos were taken on a seven day hike from Port Edward to Port St Johns on the Transkei coast, otherwise known as Pondoland. http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/When-it-Rains-on-Mars http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/following/journal.michaelvr.co.za/When-it-Rains-on-Mars Fri, 06 May 2011 12:11:34 +0000 MvR Journal 1406934 The Magnificent Red Dunes of Sossusvlei after the Rain, Nambia. <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0640.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0640_o.jpg" data-mid="7305554" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0665.jpg" width="670" height="448" width_o="700" height_o="469" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0665_o.jpg" data-mid="7305556" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0681.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0681_o.jpg" data-mid="7305558" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0691.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0691_o.jpg" data-mid="7305560" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0693.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0693_o.jpg" data-mid="7305562" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0701.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0701_o.jpg" data-mid="7305563" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0721.jpg" width="670" height="451" width_o="700" height_o="472" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0721_o.jpg" data-mid="7305565" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0727.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0727_o.jpg" data-mid="7305566" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0735.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406934/Sossusvlei-Namibia-0735_o.jpg" data-mid="7305567" border="0" align="left"/> http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/Himba-Encounter http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/following/journal.michaelvr.co.za/Himba-Encounter Fri, 06 May 2011 12:09:19 +0000 MvR Journal 1406926 Ongongo, Damarland, Namibia. Meeting the Himba was not what I expected. I imagined driving for hours through desolate, desert landscapes until finally reaching a remote village perched between rocky hills with no sign of modern civilisation in sight. They would approach the khaki clad tourists with cautious curiosity and cast a suspicious eye at the shiny digital cameras. Instead what I experienced was a fairly nonchalant, casual exchange with a group of Himba women a short walk from our campsite at Ongongo in the Damaraland region of Namibia. We found the ochre painted ladies sitting in the shade of a tree next to a makeshift mud hut, looking out over a massive herd of Nguni cattle. After an introduction facilitated by our local guide and interpreter, we offered the gifts we had been advised to bring as an exchange for taking photos. They were grateful for the maize, sugar and cooking oil but said we first also had to buy some hand crafted jewelry – only then were we allowed to take photos. With the go-ahead given, it felt awkward to just start snapping away. This was something I had anticipated so I had brought a Polaroid camera along. I asked our interpreter to explain that I could give them their own photos. Suddenly everyone jumped into life and ran around putting on their best jewelry and headpieces and jostled to be next in line for a portrait. Once the film cartridge was finished, I took out my rather bulky DSLR but by then the ice had been broken and nobody seemed to mind. I started by taking one or two pics of the women with their prints in hand. I want to kick myself now for missing the opportunity to create an extended series of these portraits. To me it adds another layer to the portrait, portraying the developing self-consciousness of the Himba people as the ‘exotic other’ under the ‘gazing eye’ of modern society – but I was overwhelmed by the opportunity to shoot portraits of an ancient people and portray them accordingly. I intentionally left out the plastic buckets, the Pep Stores blanket, the guys standing around in casual clothes, and the rusting remains of a car – potentially a more revealing, complex portrayal. <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0981.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0981_o.jpg" data-mid="7315238" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0963.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0963_o.jpg" data-mid="7315235" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1190.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1190_o.jpg" data-mid="7315273" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0896.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0896_o.jpg" data-mid="7315228" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0952.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0952_o.jpg" data-mid="7315234" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0924.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0924_o.jpg" data-mid="7315230" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0901.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0901_o.jpg" data-mid="7315229" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1016.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1016_o.jpg" data-mid="7315243" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1046.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1046_o.jpg" data-mid="7315248" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1080.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1080_o.jpg" data-mid="7315254" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1043.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1043_o.jpg" data-mid="7315247" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1040.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1040_o.jpg" data-mid="7315246" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1169.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1169_o.jpg" data-mid="7315264" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1035.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1035_o.jpg" data-mid="7315245" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1156.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1156_o.jpg" data-mid="7315263" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1144.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1144_o.jpg" data-mid="7315259" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0970.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0970_o.jpg" data-mid="7315237" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1180.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1180_o.jpg" data-mid="7315272" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1147.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1147_o.jpg" data-mid="7315260" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0992.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-0992_o.jpg" data-mid="7315242" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1177.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1177_o.jpg" data-mid="7315268" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1196.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406926/Himba-Namibia-1196_o.jpg" data-mid="7315275" border="0" align="left"/> http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/Digging-for-Diamonds-in-the-Dust http://journal.michaelvr.co.za/following/journal.michaelvr.co.za/Digging-for-Diamonds-in-the-Dust Fri, 06 May 2011 12:05:29 +0000 MvR Journal 1406919 Exploring the Sperrgebiet, the restricted diamond mining area of Namibia. <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0164.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0164_o.jpg" data-mid="7289701" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0186.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0186_o.jpg" data-mid="7289705" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0187.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0187_o.jpg" data-mid="7289712" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0204.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0204_o.jpg" data-mid="7289714" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0206.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0206_o.jpg" data-mid="7289718" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0213.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0213_o.jpg" data-mid="7289724" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0253.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0253_o.jpg" data-mid="7289736" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0265.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0265_o.jpg" data-mid="7289740" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0267.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0267_o.jpg" data-mid="7289743" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0298.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0298_o.jpg" data-mid="7289745" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0310.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0310_o.jpg" data-mid="7289750" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0326.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0326_o.jpg" data-mid="7289753" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0343.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0343_o.jpg" data-mid="7289756" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0347.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0347_o.jpg" data-mid="7289757" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0369.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0369_o.jpg" data-mid="7289761" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0374.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0374_o.jpg" data-mid="7289770" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0378.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0378_o.jpg" data-mid="7289773" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0382.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0382_o.jpg" data-mid="7289780" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0397.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0397_o.jpg" data-mid="7289787" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0416.jpg" width="467" height="700" width_o="467" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0416_o.jpg" data-mid="7289796" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0422.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0422_o.jpg" data-mid="7289801" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0457.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="700" height_o="467" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/3/109681/1406919/Sperrgebiet-Namibia-0457_o.jpg" data-mid="7289806" border="0" align="left"/> The Sperrgebiet (German, meaning "Prohibited Area") is a diamond mining area in south-western Namibia, in the Namib Desert. It spans the Atlantic Ocean from Oranjemund on the border with South Africa, to around 72 km north of Lüderitz.