“Nature is the source of all true knowledge.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Dirk se Huisie is a quaint historical cottage dating back to the 1900s. It lies west of the Cederberg Wilderness area and is situated between the towns of Clan William (known for its rooibos tea) and Citrusdal. This trip was taken in mid-March of 2023, when the weather is somewhat cooler in the evenings. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a gorgeous view of the Olifantsrivier mountain range. The range reaches heights between 700 – 1000 m above sea level. Superbly, we had arrived just in time to catch golden light hitting the slopes.
Pictured above: Golden hour at the foot of the (Olifantsrivier mountain range, southwesterly slope – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400.
First, I loaded a roll of DOOMO Reflx Lab 400, a film know for its unique vintage feel and light leaks. I also had two additional rolls of film I planned to load and finish; Kodak 200 Plus and Cinestill 800T. We were quite fortunate to have had two days of fairly pleasant weather conditions. Both days were a mix of clear skies and soft, diffuse light, allowing for flexible experimentation.
Pictured above: Stoebe plumosa (Slangbos) – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
Pictured above: Looking towards Piketberg, South / southwest. At the back to the left: Namakwasfontein. To the right: Aurora’s (small town) mountain – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
The farm is covered in spectacular fynbos, so naturally we were drawn to the walks and hiking trails in the area. The longest and most fulfilling hike totalled about 13km and took us roughly 3.5 hours to complete. This hike is no doubt one of my top three hikes of all time (so far). Even though it wasn’t circular, I found myself seeing things quite differently on the return trip and I was astounded at the diversity of the terrain and the lush fynbos in the area. From mountains, wagon trees and aloes, to fynbos and a lemon orchard, there was no shortage of subject matter to choose from.
Pictured above: Waboom/wagon tree (family of protea nitida). It is only protea species that grows into trees and the only one that has usable timber – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
Pictured above: Looking south from the top of the hiking trail – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
Pictured above: Aloe meyeri – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
Pictured above: Rock formations and the view from the top of the hiking trail, looking south – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
Pictured above: My first successful attempt at star trails on film – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
Rothko-esque light leaks – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
Pictured above: Bristle bush (Steekbos) – shot on DOOMO Reflx Lab 400
On the second day, I loaded the roll of Kodak 200 Plus to shoot the landscape and mountain again, while also pointing my lens upwards to capture the feathered movements of the clouds above me.
Pictured above: Cloud studies – shot on Kodak 200 Plus
Pictured above: Golden hour at foot of the mountain (Olifantsrivier mountain range), southwesterly slope – shot on Kodak 200 Plus
I didn’t end up finishing the Cinestill 800T on this trip, but I loved these shots I took:
Pictured above: Lemon orchard on the farm – shot on Cinestill 800T
Pictured above: Cattle on a neighbouring farm – shot on Cinestill 800T
I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with a variety of film stock on this trip, experimenting with varying colour, contrast and film sensitivity. Admittedly, when I received the DOOMO Reflx 400 scans back from the lab, I was somewhat underwhelmed with the results. However at closer inspection, I found this film to respond really well to some basic editing to accentuate its unique vintage feel. Kodak 200 Plus is an affordable colour negative alternative to Ektar 100. It’s got great detail and colour, making it ideal for outdoor shooting. I managed to get some beautiful shots on the left over roll of Cinestill 800T, but that’s for another post.
As I continue to shoot with 35mm and a few basic tools, the more my appreciation of this art form grows. Its mediative quality and the rewarding process keep me inspired. I feel fortunate to spend time in nature, connecting to the heartbeat of the land which in turn nurtures my own creative impulse. All this to also say that I highly recommend visiting Dirk se Huisie if you are in the area. The incredible immersion in nature coupled with the experience of warm and heartfelt hospitality is authentic and down-to-earth exceptional. I hope to visit again in future.