I'll photograph Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa - one of the most important living botanical collections in the world.
I've been told that I should include a larger picture of myself -- especially since there was only a read-end view in my video. OK, here's the front side:
When people go on photo-safaris, it's usually to capture images of large mammals like lions, giraffes, elephants, and gorillas. I understand the draw: these are magnificent animals. (Full disclosure: I spent three years diving with, photographing, and writing about sea turtles.)
But there's a whole other kingdom out there that we often overlook: plants. Africa is brimming with an incredible diversity of plant life.
The Cape Floral Kingdom
Nearly half of all plant species found in the southern half of the continent exist on one tiny sliver of land surrounding Cape Town, South Africa. The Cape Floral Kingdom is home to an astonishing 6,200 species of plants found nowhere else on earth.
The Six Floral regions.
Located on the slopes of Cape Town's Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is the heart of this unique kingdom. Only indigenous plants are grown here; in fact Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to preserve the unique species of the Kingdom. Today, Kirstenbosch is recognized as one most the most important botanical gardens is the world.
Few people outside of South Africa have heard of this world-class treasure, and far fewer will ever get the opportunity to visit the garden at the very bottom of the African continent.
A View of the Garden
My plan is to visit Kirstenbosch and document as much of it as I can, allowing people to "visit" the gardens through the images I take, using everything from macro- to GigaPan photography.
I'll make these images available in several ways. I'll create a website devoted to the Kirstenbosch Gardens with the bulk of the photographs. The enormous GigaPan photos will be posted to the GigaPan gallery for exploration. I'll also place them on Google Earth for viewing there.
I'll print some of the best images and send them to project donors.
I'll collect the best of the best images into a full-color bound catalog and send them to top donors.
Oh, one more thing: I plan on buying seeds from the Kirstenbosch collection and, if U.S. Customs allows, giving packets to donors so that you can experience a living part of Africa's garden!
Thanks for reading about my project. If you like the idea, please consider passing the word on, via Facebook, twitter and other social media.
FAQ
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Because my software didn't like being encoded to a different format. But, you can see the video as it should be seen, and in Hi-Def, at YouTube: http://bit.ly/plDgly
24
Backers
$2,080
pledged of $3,800 goal
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seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on August 10, 2011.
Funding period
Jul 11, 2011 -
Aug 10, 2011
(30 days)
- First created · 4 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: thephoenixsun.com
Pledge $5 or more
2 backers
A 4 x 6 print from Kirstenbosch Gardens, an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
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5 backers
A 5 x 7 metallic print from Kirstenbosch Gardens, an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
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4 backers
An 8 x 10 metallic print from Kirstenbosch Gardens, an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
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6 backers
An 8 x 12 metallic print from Kirstenbosch Gardens, a packet of seeds (if allowed by U.S. Customs), an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
Pledge $100 or more
0 backers
Your choice of two large metallic prints from Kirstenbosch Gardens, a packet of seeds (if allowed by U.S. Customs), an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
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0 backers
Your choice of three large metallic prints from Kirstenbosch Gardens, a packet of seeds (if allowed by U.S. Customs), an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
Pledge $250 or more
0 backers
One signed, full-color bound catalog (approx. 24-pages) of Kirstenbosch Gardens with your name listed as an "Orchid" donor, your choice of two large metallic prints, a packet of seeds (if allowed by U.S. Customs), an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
One signed, full-color bound catalog (approx. 24-pages) of Kirstenbosch Gardens with your name listed as an "King Protea" donor, your choice of three large metallic prints, a packet of seeds (if allowed by U.S. Customs), an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
Pledge $1,000 or more
1 backer
One signed, full-color bound catalog (approx. 24-pages) of Kirstenbosch Gardens with your name listed as a "Table Mountain" donor, your choice of five large metallic prints, a packet of seeds (if allowed by U.S. Customs), an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
Pledge $1,500 or more
0 backers
Two signed, full-color bound catalog (approx. 24-pages) of Kirstenbosch Gardens with your name listed as a "Cape Floral Kingdom" donor, your choice of 10 large metallic prints, a packet of seeds (if allowed by U.S. Customs), an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
Pledge $3,000 or more
0 backers
Five signed, full-color bound catalogs (approx. 24-pages) of Kirstenbosch Gardens with your name listed as a "Djobela Kingdom" donor, a home-cooked African dinner at the artist's home, your choice of 10 large metallic prints, a packet of seeds (if allowed by U.S. Customs), an E-mail update from South Africa, and my heartfelt gratitude.
