Farm Gate, a photo from Khomas, South

Photographer's Note

I thought I would show you another Namibian farm gate. This imposing structure can be found about 90 kms north-east of Windhoek on a gravel road.

Approaching from a westerly direction we climbed a long shallow incline at the top of which this gate stood tall. Seen from afar I had no idea what it was. It has to be one of the largest farm entrances I have seen. Impossible to miss, it stands out against the landscape and shouts its presence.

Schenke Werde is a guest and hunting farm. From the photograph you can just see the game fences on either side of the gate, these are between 2.5 and 3 meters tall.

Namibia was, at one stage, a German colony - German South-West Africa. The German influence is still very strong in the country with food and buildings reflecting the colonial past and many of the original German settlers descendants continue to live and work here.

I imagine that this farm was owned at one time by the family Schenk and I discovered that a Dr Schenck, (geologist) worked for Adolf L�deritz (1884) who was a German merchant and founder of the colony.

Another notable Namibian Schenck was Wolfgang. The son of a farmer, Wolfgang went on to become a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and was the recipient of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross which was presented to him by Adolf Hitler on 21 November 1942. After the war he returned to Namibia and became a bush pilot.

Here is a larger version

This photograph is copyright of Rosemary Walden - ｩ Rosemary Walden 2014. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of the image in any form is prohibited. You may not, except with my express written permission, copy, reproduce, download, distribute or exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system

papagolf21, timecapturer, Romano46, holmertz, No_One, rychem, gildasjan, williewhistler, Cricri, RhodieIke has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jurek1951 (42198) 2014-04-26 1:17

Hi Rosemary,
a very effective photo of this interesting architecture, great details and POV,
Georg

papagolf21 (145196) 2014-04-26 1:45

Bonjour, ch鑽e Rosemary,
Merci de bien vouloir nous servir de guide et de nous faire d馗ouvrir des lieux 騁onnants.
Il faut reconna羡re que l'acc鑚 est majestueux.
L'effet de perspective avec le chemin sablonneux est excellent.
Amiti駸.
Philippe

timecapturer (49288) 2014-04-26 2:57

Hi Rosemary
not your typical image of a farm gate, most of the ones you see in England are barely standing, so to see one like this is all the more impressive. A lot of thought has gone into its design and the stone arches are wonderful. As you rightly say - imposing!

Enjoy your weekend - B.

lousat (121125) 2014-04-26 4:11

Hi Rosemary,this entrance is a great opportunity for an original and unique pic,you caught very well this place with a magnificent large prospect,very lucly with the sky too,so nice and perfect to complete in best way to composition,i like it! Have a nice WE and thanks,Luciano

mesutilgim (115528) 2014-04-26 4:53

Hello Rosemary,
Nice capture of this beautiful and artisanal farm gate in Namibia.
Very good pov and compo.
A perfect TE entry enriched with many usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

Sergiom (115736) 2014-04-26 5:06

Bonjour Rosemary

J'imagine seulement arriver devant cette tr鑚 impressionnante porte qui semble s'駘ever en plein milieu du d駸ert. Si on sonne et qu'il faille attendre que quelqu'un vienne ouvrir, on risque d'attendre longtemps.
Une tr鑚 belle sym騁rie d'image.

Bon samedi

Serge

Romano46 (18472) 2014-04-26 5:54

Ciao Rosemary
sorprende bedere un simile ingresso imponente in una situazione nella quale gli spazi sono enormi e quasi non ci sono confini.
Per� � una questione di gusti e di modi di pensare.
A me interessa sapere che per te � stata l'occasione per una bella fotografia nella quale il colore della terra e degli archi che hanno una tinta molto simile si confronta con il colore del cielo dando luogo ad una composizione che rendono la fotografia molto interessante.
Ottima nitidezza e contyrasto perfetto.
Brava.
Ciao e buon fine settimana
Romano

holmertz (83424) 2014-04-26 7:17

Hello Rosemary,
Some of the German heritage of Namibia makes me feel slightly uneasy. I could almost have expected this large sign to say "Arbeit macht frei". I think a lot of settlers in South West Africa had uncomfortably good connections in the Nazi party. Anyway, this is a fine photo of this amazingly large entrance gate. The three rounded vaults look great against the clouds and I like the fine clarity and colours.
Kind regards,
Gert

marabu61 (11587) 2014-04-26 8:02

Hello Rosemary
Seing the large grille on either side of the gate, I associated this immediately with a game farm for Safari. The structure with the african motifs in cooperated, here in the middle of nowhere, is indeed impressive and boy how do I miss that wide open african sky.
have a great weekend
Daniel

No_One (4) 2014-04-26 9:54

Hi Rosemary
I am imagining that is where the family from the previous post were headed, and that this would be a welcome sight for them having taversed the desert to reach their destination. Unusual for me to see these great arches standing in this landscape, but a beautiful sight. I would normally we this and picture and old abbey or such. Great sky too, packed with drama.
Cheers from Ireland :)
Noel

lestans (17258) 2014-04-26 13:29

Hi dear Rosemary
This picture seems plain at a first glande, but it is very well composed, perfect symmetry is the rule.. My eyes are captured By the far winding road. Everything is framed By a Nicely cloudy Sky.
Greetings
Livia

carlo62 (81031) 2014-04-26 13:53

Ciao Rosemary
questa triplice porta � enorme e sembra l'unica costruzione nel raggio di chilometri.
Non sono abituato a questi paesaggi e a queste distanze, pi� osservo le tue foto e pi� mi rendo conto di quanto siamo piccoli.
Saluti
Carlo

rychem (68021) 2014-04-26 20:41

This triple gate is really beautiful, very nice scene, great clarity and light
regards Ryszard

fabbs99 (17179) 2014-04-26 22:46

Hi Rosemary,

Very nice shot of the Namibian Farm Gate.I love the colors and the brightness.Keep sharing.TFS.

Regards,
Farhat

jjcordier (79299) 2014-04-26 23:19

Rosemary
Un 騁onnant et colossal portail d'entr馥....qui semble s'ouvrir sur rien! Comme le dit Serge, il faut certainement attendre tr鑚 longtemps avant que l'on vienne nous ouvrir!
Amicalement
JJ

gildasjan (43826) 2014-04-27 1:01

Bonjour Rosemary
Un excellent rendu des textures du premier qui donne tout son cachet � cette image au contraste agr饌ble.
Bon dimanche
Amicalement
Gildas

dekanski (6557) 2014-04-27 3:38

Hi Rosemary,

I never understood the function of such gates, they can not prevent the entry of malware. But this is different, has enabled you to make a beautiful picture and share this informative note with us!

Sa啾

williewhistler (16606) 2014-04-27 12:30

Hello Rosemary,
Having spent quite a few hours building stone walls in the past I am fascinated to see this amazing structure,it is a work of art that appears to be totally out of place situated as it is so far from the nearest city at the end of a dirt road.
I guess that it does provide an imposing deterrent to unwelcome guests.
Love the sky!
Warm regards Les.

Cricri (176) 2014-04-29 10:28

Hi Rosemary
Je trouve cette architecture tr鑚 belle et tr鑚 int駻essante de part sa construction isol�, grande profondeur du chemin que l'on aper輟it a travers le grillage, de belles couleurs et une note int駻essante
Belle soir馥
cricri

RhodieIke (11752) 2014-04-29 22:40

Wow, Rosemary,

Talk about statement hey, this very imposing gate of this Guest and hunting Farm, as you say stands out for miles.
Love the stone work in the archways,

Wonderful, great Pov, well managed.

Cheers, Iain.

photoray (13981) 2014-05-17 11:30

Howdy Rosemary,

Unusual and eye-catching sight, for the detailed rock arches in a vast landscape with blue and cloudy background.

Thanks for sharing,
Cheers,
Ray