Paula is back again with her “Black and White Sunday Challenge” and this week the theme is ‘Landmark’. What a great excuse to post a photo of my favourite landmark in Umhlanga Rocks. I do miss seeing it, since we moved away from our lovely seaside town.
This 21 metre tall circular concrete tower, painted white with a red top, was completed in 1954. An interesting fact is that the lighthouse has never had a keeper, as the nearby Oyster Box Hotel has always been the official warden, with the lighthouse controls housed in the hotel office and monitored by the staff. It’s been the subject of numerous paintings and memorabilia, and stands guard to some of the most treacherous waters of Southern Africa. It not only warns ships of the dangerous rocks closer to shore, but the flashing light is also a welcome to the cargo ships sailing into the safety of the Durban harbour.
I remember that lighthouse well. We loved going to Umhlanga when we still lived in that area!
The lighthouse is a great landmark, and I loved being able to see it on a daily basis.
i fari si trovano situati sempre in luoghi molto affascinanti, questa immagine è davvero incantevole 🙂
Thanks so much, Annalisa. I really love lighthouses, and this one is extra special.
I love the contrast in scale between the lighthouse and the lne figure on the beach. This is a wonderful composition, and all the better for being in B & W.
Thanks, Tish. 😃
I really like lighthouses, Sylvia. My good friend and her husband had me paint a lighthouse on their basement wall. They then framed it like you were looking out a window. They hind a fish net, life buoy and placed seashells and starfish around.this makes their basement really comfortable for me, someone who was raised along Lake Erie.
Great photo & it brings back happy memories for me as my aunt still lives there. Thanks for the memory!
lovely picture that holds a lot of wonderful memories for you, Sylvia! great take on the challenge! 🙂
Yes it certainly does. Thank you, Lola. 😘
Beautiful place and fantastic shot, absolutely mooi!
Thanks so much, DellaAnna. 🙂
Oh that is beautiful – what a great picture!!
Thanks so much, Kate. 🙂
Nothing like a lighthouse is there, and love the black and white 🙂 xx
Oh I’m in agreement with you there, Sherri. Always love to see a lighthouse, whatever the colour. 🙂 xx
I love lighthouses. It really has a nostalgic feel in B&W.
Thanks, Klara. Me too. 🙂
Amazing post my dear friend Sylvia
Thanks so much, Jake. 🙂
It looks good in black and white. Do you have your painting on the wall now?
Thanks, Gilly. No the painting is still packed together with everything else which arrived from South Africa. When the house is eventually finished, it will seem like a Super- Christmas with all the unwrapping that will have to be done. 😯
I love this especially in b/w! The white of the lighthouse really pulls One in – and can see why U miss it but also glad u have all your bird friends now! Ha
Thanks, Yvette. Yes, the birds are a good compensation. 🙂 xx
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This is a beautiful image…so good in monochrome, has some “old charm” over it 🙂
Thanks, Helen. I really like this in monochrome. 🙂
That lighthouse reminds me of you regardless of where I see it 🙂
Thanks, Tandy. Yes the lighthouse as well as the hammock are kind of my blogging trademarks. 🙂 xx
It looks so dramatic in black and white – it has such an interesting history too!
Thanks, Meg. Yes, I quite like how the edit turned out. It does have a fascinating history and although everything around it has changed a lot since I first saw it, the lighthouse never changes. 😃
I grew up living near a lighthouse (this was in Australia and the place was creatively named “Lighthouse Beach”). We Aussies love to state the obvious. This photo makes me feel nostalgic for those days of sun, fun and relaxation 😀
Well, I suppose they had to name the beach something. 🙂 “Sun, fun and relaxation” on the beach is something I could easily do again, for a short while at least.
I have a love for lighthouses, and it’s because of photographs like this…beautiful, Sylvia. How blessed you were to live near such a magnificent structure.
Thanks so much, Jill. Yes I have very happy memories of our time there. 🙂
I do like a nice lighthouse. Black and white really suits this scene too. How lucky are the people who keep this lighthouse, that they don’t have to go up and down the stairs every day.
Yes, me too. I think the stairs would really keep someone fit though. 🙂
How lovely, this has a distinctly nostalgic look and feel about it.
Thanks, Jude. Yes, it makes me nostalgic to look at it. 😕
Oh this is lovely Sylvia ! It has a fifties feel about it somehow … I love how you’ve caught the people changing shoes or rolling up a trouser legs perhaps .. a lady looking out to sea .. and someone under the parasol in the shade … a split second frozen as the lighthouse stands watch .
Thanks, Poppy. Yes, I see what you mean about a 50’s feel. Loved your comment. ❤
Looking at your photo gives me a vacation feeling.
Me too. 🙂
Lighthouses are one of my favourite symbols – seeking hope in the midst of darkness and danger. “At time our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” Another wonderful post! Thanks for giving my day “light.”
Thank you so much for your appreciative comment, Rebecca. I hope your day has been a really good one. 🙂
Rain and wind buffeting Vancouver! Quite exciting!🍁💛🍁
Never a dull moment. When my daughter lived there, she called it Raincouver. 😅
I’m going to use that one!! She is absolutely right!😀😀😀
I am sure you do miss it. We have assimilated nicely but Africa will always be my home. And so it goes 🙂
Yes, I feel the same way, footsy. So sad what’s happening there now. 😦
It is gorgeous!
Thanks, Cindy. 🙂
You rocked it!
Thanks, Nancy. 🙂
Great take, Sylvia!!
Thanks so much, Anna. 🙂
A beautiful photo Sylvia and it looks great in B&W. i do love lighthouses. 😀
Thanks, Sonel. We both share a love of lighthouses. 🙂 xx
Seems we each have a great love of Lighthouses! Cheryl
I think we share this love with many people, Cheryl. 🙂
Yes I do agree!
What an awesome view, and I loved reading about all the details. A place I’d never see otherwise;)!! Sylvia !!!!
Thanks, Kathy. So glad you enjoyed this. xx I do miss it.
I can certainly see why!!! I’d miss it too
Beautiful picture. We love lighthouses! XOXO – Bacon
Thanks so much, Bacon. Me too. 🙂
Sylvia it looks as though it is a painting. such a lovely image and what a view!
Thanks, Sue. Yes it’s a great view on a clear day. You can see right across to the city of Durban, which is about 9 miles away.
I too would miss having a view like this.
*sigh* I often look at my photos of Umhlanga.
A great nostalgic b&w picture of a life-saving place! 🙂
Thanks, Cathy. 🙂
A great shot!!!!
Thanks so much, YC. Happy Sunday. 🙂
Happy Sunday to you too!
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Lighthouses fascinate me. A great picture for the theme! 🙂
Me too, Marsha. Glad you enjoyed this one. 🙂
Great shot, Sylvia. I love that I can ‘picture’ the areas in South Africa you photograph. 🙂
Thanks so much, Geralyn. Your comment made me smile. 🙂
Glorious! Another one that would look memorable in one of your paintings. Even this photo has a painterly feel to it. Thank you, Sylvia. This is a wonderful surprise. On the subject of photo challenges .. how would you feel if I asked you to think about being a guest photo challenger at my place? Some time next year, you’d pick the theme – if you have time. It would be a great joy for me and my readers to follow your lead.
Thank you so much, Paula. Glad you enjoyed my lighthouse. Yes, I would be happy to consider being a guest photo challenger some time next year. What an honour it will be. 🙂 xx
I’m super excited that you agreed. You’re a queen! 🙂