Trevor Ives' photostream

The Cape was colonised by the Dutch in 1652, and quickly spread out inland from what is now Cape Town. The French soon followed, and brought with them wine-making expertise and the all-important vines.

The farm of La Motte in Franschoek had its first vines planted 100 years after colonisation, in 1752 and has functioned as a wine farm since.

My wife and I spent some time in Franschoek in May for our anniversary, and stopped at La Motte to purchase some wine. This bottle of Sauvignon Blanc was the sexiest in my collection, and made its appearance for BC32. Hope you like the picture as much as we like the contents...

I chose wine as it is synonymous with the Cape region of South Africa

Strobist info: Bottle and glass on seamless white paper. 430EX in shoot through brolly at camera right @ 1/4. 430EX at camera left behind bottle lighting backdrop. This was gobo'd to keep spill off glassware. Black cards to used close to subject to add edging effect. Shot with Canon 5D mkII and 70-200 2.8 IS mkII @155mm, and 1/125 f9.5 @ ISO 320. Strobes were fired with PW +II's

Side-lit by single softbox loaded with 430EX.

Managed to nail the AF too

Meet Alex. He's from Democratic Republic of Congo, and has lived in Cape Town for 4 1/2 years. He arrived with little English, but loads of ambition and a will to succeed at whatever he gets given. He's currently working in a start-up executive transfer service company, and in between transfers is found to be studying business administration. He's now practically fluent in English with an awesome accent.

Alex is my subject as he's an inspiration. No matter what, I've never seen him downcast and he's always ready with a smile and a firm handshake.

Strobist: Shoot through umbrella above camera left. 430EX @ 1/4

I drive past this place each day on Kloof Neck

view over the city from Signal Hill