~ living history ~, a photo from Western Cape, Ouest

Photographer's Note

Put some colour in your life!!

Bo-kaap is a fascinating part of Cape Town, formally known as the Malay Quarter- one of the oldest neighbourhoods on the slope of Signal Hill whose glorious colourful houses belie the changes in human rights and history. The houses were originally overflow housing for the Malays slaves brought by the Dutch VOC in the 17th century. When slave quarters became overcrowded, the slaves were sent to the houses in this location, and after slavery was outlawed in South Africa the former slaves then lived in these houses.

Why these houses were painted in such vivid colours, no one seems sure. Some say I was told that, it is an expression of freedom from the whites by the slaves when they were given their freedom, while others say it denotes professions or type of dwelling according to the hosts service provided like plumbers, carpenters etc, and during the apartheid years, home owners painted their houses dark black as a sign of protest.

It's a living history that is a reminder of a dark past....

It doesn't seem to matter where you are in Cape Town you can always see Table Mountain which lies in the center of the local spirit. This was my absolute favourite part of my time in town, it never gets old!

Another slide film and polarised, scanned to tif digital format using Konica Minolta Dimage Scan Dual IV

ChrisJ, snunney, jhm, Fis2, ktanska, macjake, mcmtanyel trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

ChrisJ (160104) 2018-04-23 1:25

Hi Abmdsudi

Very colourful indeed! Good sharpness and saturation with interesting cloud formations in the sky. Excellent angled pov. I might have cloned out the fg car in the bottom right corner. Good control over perspective placing the verticals centrally. Tfs!

Royaldevon (75510) 2018-04-23 1:37

Hello Abmdsudi,

The houses are certainly colourful and, it doesn't really matter which story is true, just that the houses have a significant history and attention is drawn to them.
I love how the clouds are spreading over them, yet more advertising their colour rather than shadowing it.

Like Chris, I think it might have been a good idea to clone out the car.

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)

snunney (130967) 2018-04-23 2:09

Hello Abmdsudi,
A nicely angled point of view on these colourfully painted houses, which contrast well with the cloud filled sky. Very good light management with excellent rendering of the colours and fine clarity.

pajaran (102720) 2018-04-23 2:16

Dobar dan.
Interesantan pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lepo pokazano, dobar kontrast i ostrina, lepe boje, lepo uhvacen trenutak sa oblacima koji dolaze i donose kisu.
Lepe fasade kuca i detalji, lepa planina u pozadini sa oblacima.
Zelim vam lepo popodne, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela, srecno.
Paja.

Good day.
Interesting view and a moment, good text ...
Beautifully shown, good contrast and sharpness, nice colors, a beautifully captured moment with the clouds that come and bring rain.
Nice façade houses and details, beautiful mountain in the background with the clouds.
I wish you good afternoon, all the best in the new week that started, happy.

Sergiom (117241) 2018-04-23 5:16

Bonjour Abmdsudi,

J'aime beaucoup cette composition. Les maisons aux différentes couleurs sont belles et la courbe de la rue offre une perspective intéressante. Quel beau ciel pour contraster.

Amicalement

Serge

jhm (203085) 2018-04-23 6:22

Hello Abmdsudi,

Fifteen year old but a nice colourfully picture.
You chose a fantastic angle.
Sharpness and clarity are perfect.
This care for depth and perspective.
An excellent panorama view.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

Fis2 (155699) 2018-04-23 6:23

Witaj Abmdsudi!
A very interestin view, curious buildings and amazing sky.
Good frame and composition.
Colors make impression.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (205826) 2018-04-23 6:53

Ciao Abmdsudi, great parade of multicolor facades, superb sky, splendid light, excellent clarity and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Nicou (193806) 2018-04-23 7:38

Hlelo

quel cadrage sur ce maisons colorés sueprbe compo et vue avec la route et toute la largeuret quelle formeet ciel queleffet et iamge splendidde.
Bravo et amitié
Nciou

rychem (72179) 2018-04-23 8:27

A very nice colorful photo, excellent quality of the scanned photo, great color palette and beautiful cloudy sky
regards Ryszard

Cricri (176) 2018-04-23 9:22

Hi Abmdsudi
Très belles maisons de couleurs, le ciel est tout simplement magnifique qu'une belle lumière filtre les gros nuages, belle composition et réalisation
Belle soirée
cricri

dta (98560) 2018-04-23 10:46

Hello Abmdsudi ,
Colorful houses and great cvloiuds : all that I love . And the distortion works very well here .
Regards

ktanska (40125) 2018-04-23 12:16

Hi Abmdsudi,
Wonderful looking street corner from Cape Town. So nice to see these, it is a region rarely presented in TE. Sunshine looks very good on those colourful cube shaped houses. And dark clouds add contrasty background.
Kari

lousat (130033) 2018-04-23 15:17

Hi Abmdsudi,a lovely perspective with a nice circular effect on the facades,a lot of colors,all nice to watch execpt the terrific green on the left...ehehe...the clouds so dark are perfect to complete the composition in the best way. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

jemaflor (135484) 2018-04-23 23:33

Hi A,
Nice famous colored houses, well presented good effect with the wide angle and this light, perfect for colors, tfs.

emka (152314) 2018-04-23 23:52

hello abmdsudi,

Nice picture from you rather deep archive. The Bo Kaap is a fantastic place with these colorful houses, no matter why they were painted like this. The green and red car also look attractive, the car in the corner could be easily removed.

Kind regards Malgo

jimmj63 (0) 2018-04-24 7:26

hi friend,
a parade of colors whit a magnificent and drammatic sky,
a very good result,
ciao, Giacomo

gervaso (28177) 2018-04-24 9:20

Hello, Abmdsudi!

The colorful houses make the composition very attractive, and the sky looks wonderful with these clouds, everything captured with perfect light and sharpness! Very well done! Beautiful job!

macjake (96157) 2018-04-29 22:28

Hi Abmdsudi
wonderful post for TE. I've learned so much from your note.
I've never heard of this part of the city before. Makes sense about the desire to paint the homes in vivid colours to make a statement. the layout, the clouds, the wide angle view...and even the red, green, and blue cars are excellent additions.
one of your best
cheers
Craig

mcmtanyel (58830) 2018-05-10 20:37

Hello Abmdsudi,
The brightly colored houses are very eye catching. I understand the pendulum gas started to swing the other way in South Africa, I was hoping that it would be one African country that would not succumb to reverse racism.
Regards,
MT

jmdias (102982) 2018-05-15 13:49

abmdsudi

I visited this village in the town. nice result here with the colorful façades, so typical of there, and the shapes of the table in the background. very well done.

take care

jorge