Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The Scenic View



Originally uploaded by Zishan Haider
When I was young, I always thought about how my life was going to be when I am older. I used to visualize myself as an always smiling guy that is loved by all. Other times I used to see myself as a tough army guy, who can go through any hardship with little difficulty. However those thoughts turned out to be!

I used to think about where am I going to stay. The only thought that ever came to my mind was that I’m going to stay in a valley surrounded by tall green mountains and high waterfalls. And I am extremely content that, in a way, that came true.

Grahamstown is essentially a valley, with not so tall mountains but still beautiful views and greenery. It doesn’t have waterfalls but quite a few dams that are filled with rainwater that flow through the hills. This one in the picture is one of the dams in Grahamstown and is located just when you’re entering Grahamstown on your left corner below the 1820 settler’s monument. Seeing from Google Earth it looks like a small triangle.

People come here to fish, braii and relax especially on the weekends.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Settler Family



Originally uploaded by Zishan Haider
Bronze statue of a Settler, his wife and child, outside the 1820 Settlers Monument in Grahamstown, made by Ivan Mitford-Barberton (1896 - 1976) in 1969. Its located outside Settler's Monument when approaching from N2 highway.

1820 Settlers Monument



Originally uploaded by Zishan Haider
This picture is one of my favorites. I am in love with the detail and sharpness. It kinda reminds me of Pearl Jam's Yield album cover (http://staticandfeedback.com/images/PJ2008/Albums/yield.jpg), although the cover is a lot different.

1820 is the year when British settlers came to Grahamstown and formed colonies. They were granted farms in Bathurst but inexperienced and poor, they were forced to change their trade and finally settled in Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth.

I took this picture just when you're approaching the Memorial Monument.


Originally uploaded by Zishan Haider
This picture in specific was not at all the one I was planning to upload. But when I was editing the colors I came across some unusual ways (well at least for me) of editing and it came out pretty neat.

Personally I feel that this color tone has a "spooky" touch that I was trying to get for a long time.