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Biographical history
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John Hone found a special interest in photography while still at school. Work in the commercial photography field was hard to find and he became a lithographer, mastering many aspects of the print industry. Photography remained an important part of his life, and in 1974 he was invited to join Art Publishers, a well-known national publishing company. Here the skills gained earlier in life served him well and for over twenty-five years he has been the company's MD, all the while retaining a close personal interest in the quality of the products produced. John's great interest in the Drakensberg started when, as a boy, he spent holidays there with his parents, who enjoyed this splendid region. He readily acknowledges that the Drakensberg, with magnificent landscapes, is responsible for first igniting his interest in photography. John is married to Barbara. They have two children, Gareth and Carryn
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Depictions of snakes are not uncommon in rock art.Often it is difficult to detect the head because the snake is entering or leaving a crack or step in the rock face. On close inspection, it is noticeable that most are not depictions of real snakes at all.
Moreover, bushman beliefs about snakes throw light on these puzzling features. It is believed that shamans used burnt snake powder to assist them in the control of their levels of trance. Like snakes, shamans go underground and then surface again when on out-of-body travel, and this probably explains why painted snakes often seem to slither in and out of the rock face.
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- English
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Original size: 6 x 6cm