ENCOUNTERS WITH THE DRAGON

This I had published in Sunday Times and in Country Life recently.

I really feel, if you are in any way outdoors-enclined, or just interested in landscape photography, then this is the book to have. Wow. The guy devoted years to it. He has cancer, apparently. Possibly not long to live. I really respect what he did with this book.
Definitely a book created with an awareness of diminishing time.

Normally I don't gush. Do you guys like the Drakensberg? If so, this is a good book to get. It's at CNA and stuff. Ignore words like "sheer" etc. I was raised by academics, it's not my fault.

But I may be talking gibberish. Since I now work from home, I can have the odd glass of wine on a Friday afternoon. well I can, can't I?

I mean, it is Friday. Tally ho!

ENCOUNTERS WITH THE DRAGON by John Hone,
Art Publishers (Pty) Ltd, R430

Within this heavy coffee table book is a set of photographs that will take your breath away almost as much as the landscapes they capture. John Hone, a renowned photographer based in KwaZulu-Natal, has been at the forefront of scenic photography for decades. if you’ve ever seen that epic poster image which stretches from Durban in the foreground right back to the distant escarpment – all in a single frame – that’s John Home’s work. Now he’s brought together a comprehensive overview of a region he holds close to his heart; the Drakensberg mountains. I’ve never before encountered a book that evokes this part of South Africa so comprehensively – or dramatically.

By incorporating people into many of the images, Hone conveys the sheer scale of the mountains – they loom and glower and demand humility. He also captures their moods, from snowy storm-lashed crags in winter to the iridescent greenery of summer. Around the high-res pictures, Hone threads chapters covering the sepia-toned days of early trail blazers; the Berg’s rich heritage of San cave art; an overview of landscape photography and a walk through his own encounters with the dragon; shared with friends and family over many years. If you’re a fan of the Drakensberg, photography or hiking in general, seek this book out. Internationally it should increase interest in the Drakensberg tenfold. I’m not sure how widely available it is - yet - but you can certainly track it down via www.artpublishers.co.za. When you secure a copy, turn to page 154 and be amazed - gareth pike