“What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?” – E.M. Forster

Cedarpeak Guest Farm is nestled deep in the Cederberg wilderness area in the Western Cape. It lies west of Piketberg, between Tulbagh and Citrusdal in the foothills of the Groot Winterhoek mountains. With incredible views and vast landscapes, it’s a sensory delight to visit this special place. Ideal for hiking, and naturally for photography, it was a no-brainer to visit this farm at the end of 2023, which came highly recommended by friends. We looked forward to basking in the sun and swimming in the rock pools since we were visiting in December, one of the hottest months of the year.

Pictured above: A strip of fynbos along the valley, captured on an early morning hike – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Rock formation – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Fynbos – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Sunset on the first evening (left) and pincushion Proteas (Leucospermum grandiflorum) (right) – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Fynbos (Calluna or Erica species) – shot on Kodak Portra 800

The fynbos and rock formations in this region are absolutely breathtaking and did not disappoint. Accordingly, I knew I wanted a grainer look, so I chose Kodak Portra 800 for this project. The 800 ISO rating afforded me the ability to shoot in low light without necessarily using a tripod. This turned out to be a big plus. We had a few cloudier days too, making this film an appropriate choice. It boasts great exposure latitude (with 12.5 stops of dynamic range), and it is extremely colour accurate, beautifully reflecting the warm tones and rich biodiversity of the area.

Pictured above: Rock formations – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Rock formation (left) and fynbos (right) on an early morning hike – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Sunset on the first evening (left) and view from our cottage (right) – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Star trails with cloud cover (left) and a full moon rising (right) – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Star trails with cloud cover on a full moon evening – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Star trails on a full moon evening – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Pictured above: Self-portrait taken along the N7 – shot on Kodak Portra 800

Overall, I was really pleased with the results, particularly the star trails. Part of the joy of shooting on film is the anticipation and the surprise, especially when you thought a shot didn’t work out! I’d say the only downside to this film is that it is a bit more costly than other colour negative films. Having said that, it was well worth it and I hope to shoot with it again in future. My Minolta SRT-100b is still going strong – she has only been in once for a service since acquired in 2022. It still amazes me that a camera almost half a century old is still fully functional.