Photographing Cape City from Jail to Peak
Southern seas meet a shoreline of seashores, bays, and boulders whereas towering sandstone peaks rise as a backdrop over this South African metropolis.
After all, I’m speaking about Cape City, a metropolis I’ve longed to go to and eventually obtained the prospect to {photograph} this Might whereas exploring with South Africa Tourism and Journey World. The sunshine, the fog, the waves, the tradition, the penguins, the fynbos…there’s a lot to see, expertise and {photograph} and I’m going to share my highlights and essentially the most photogenic experiences I had under.
In the event you’re visiting Cape City for the primary time, I imagine it’s necessary to have a wide range of adventures deliberate that not solely cowl the pure wonders and landscapes but in addition delve into the historical past.
Throughout my journey, I spent three nights on the Twelve Apostles Resort & Spa close to Camps Bay, and had two full days to enterprise all around the metropolis, sea, and shoreline. A brief, however jam-packed journey that you would be able to replicate if you happen to’re visiting earlier than, or after a safari expertise.
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Photographing Sundown Over the Sea
It took me some time to get my bearings as I’d assumed Cape City, situated in southern South Africa, confronted south. Nevertheless, because it sits on the western aspect of the Cape Peninsula, it faces west, that means the glow of sundown lingers over the horizon earlier than dipping into the ocean.
Photographing the sundown as rolling swell crashed into the rocky shore and sea birds of their a whole lot flew low throughout the ocean was such a delight. I switched between the 40-150mm f2.8 lens and the 12-40mm f2.8 lens to attempt to seize as many variations of the scene earlier than me, even including the MC-20 2 X Teleconverter to get just a little nearer to these sea birds.
When photographing sundown in Cape City, you possibly can go for a lot of places, my choose although, is wherever with some attention-grabbing panorama options, like a rocky bay or climbing path so you possibly can incorporate the surroundings into your composition. I photographed from Oudekraal Seashore simply in entrance of the resort and would additionally advocate giving the path at Lions Head (superb views), and Sign Hill a peek if you happen to’re obtained just a few nights within the metropolis.
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Highway Journey Alongside Chapman’s Peak Drive with Cape Sidecar Adventures
Photographing from a sidecar was by no means on my want checklist, nor my radar, and whereas my companion enjoys motorbikes, I’ve by no means needed to don a helmet and be part of him. Nicely, generally you don’t know what you’re lacking, and once I noticed ‘Sidecar Journey’ on our itinerary, I used to be just a little nervous. Spoiler…it was probably the most unexpectedly enjoyable and thrilling issues I’ve performed in a very long time.
Embarking on a street journey alongside Chapman’s Peak Drive with Cape Sidecar Adventures was an exhilarating mix of views, the weather and a splash of cuteness once we have been launched to the boss man ‘Brody’ (see his Instagram right here). This scenic route, affectionately referred to as “Chappies,” was accomplished in 1922 and is taken into account one of many world’s most scenic drives. The street winds alongside the coast, providing 114 curves that reveal breathtaking views of the rugged shoreline and the Atlantic Ocean.
One of many advantages of driving in a sidecar, is you possibly can sit there and {photograph} the journey with out home windows in your method! As a result of I wasn’t positive what was round every nook, I opted for the mixture of my OM-1 MKII + 40-150mm f2.8 lens so I might doc the landscapes, road scenes and zoom into Brody when he was forward…have a look at these ears.
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Taking the Cable Automotive As much as Desk Mountain
Now, if I had extra time I’d be writing ‘{Photograph} Dawn/Sundown from Desk Mountain’, nonetheless, our itinerary didn’t permit for that and so, if you happen to’re visiting quickly, please do it and share the images with me, I’d like to see what you seize because the rolling fog dancing up the mountain should be so photogenic throughout golden hour!
We ventured up within the morning, and whereas it began extraordinarily foggy, the kind of fog that’s tough to drive in, as soon as we jumped on the cable automotive, it started to clear, blue skies have been above and as soon as up the highest, my mouth dropped open in disbelief. As a photographer, it could actually really feel like you have to solely go to scenic viewpoints through the early or later hours of the day, however generally it’s simply not potential and I’m all for having fun with and witnessing a scene at any time of the day.
The pathways on prime of Desk Mountain are simple to wander round, venturing proper to the sting of the cliff because it takes a dramatic plunge right down to town under. Standing nonetheless on the platforms and watching because the clouds whisp and weave by means of the valleys is an expertise everybody ought to attempt to have when visiting Cape City.
Rising 1,085 meters (3,558 toes) above sea stage, Cape City’s skyline, the sprawling shoreline, and the huge horizon are all seen from the highest and if you happen to’ve obtained time, I’d encourage you to attend out any unhealthy climate if there’s loads of wind, it could actually sweep by means of fairly rapidly and also you by no means know what might be revealed as soon as these clouds half.
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A Day Journey to Robben Island
Visiting Robben Island was a profound, insightful and academic expertise. Whereas my guides have a tendency to incorporate areas of pure magnificence and photogenic experiences, the historical past right here is necessary to grasp when photographing Cape City and I’d extremely advocate a tour of the island to actually perceive the why and the way, regardless of being a spot of harsh imprisonment, the human connection stood sturdy.
The island’s wealthy historical past as a navy base, infirmary and jail provides layers of depth to your Cape City go to and whereas I don’t need to take away from the principle purpose you need to go to Robben Island, it additionally affords unbelievable views wanting again in direction of the Cape Peninsula with sea birds and penguins.
Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 of his 27 years in captivity and the tales advised by our information, ex-prisoner Sparks, have been extraordinarily transferring and eye-opening. Sparks advised us of the remedy, the circumstances, shared how they stayed sturdy mentally and a narrative I discovered most fascinating was how they managed to share messages between inmates whereas enjoying tennis as soon as every week.
Robben Island is as much as an hour ferry journey from the V&A Waterfront, and you’ll organize your tickets by way of Journey World, notably if you happen to’re after a non-public tour which permits for a extra intimate expertise.
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Lunch at Steenberg Vineyards
Benefitting from numerous topography, a variation of soils and influenced by each the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, the Cape affords a few of the finest wineries on this planet.
Steenberg Vineyards is a feast for the senses and only a 30-minute drive from virtually wherever in Cape City, together with V&A Waterfront or Camps Bay. Established in 1682, this historic property is the oldest registered farm within the Cape area, that includes a stupendous manor home inbuilt 1740, showcasing basic Cape Dutch structure.
The sprawling vineyards and historic structure create an ideal setting for images, and after putting my order, I did just a little sprint across the gardens to seize the colors and setting. You possibly can guide in for a wine tasting expertise, studying in regards to the variations and course of from a sommelier, after which get pleasure from lunch on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. I discovered the interiors simply as photogenic because the surroundings right here, take a peek under on the décor, beautiful!
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Nature Walks in Oudekraal Nature Reserve
Oudekraal Nature Reserve is a coastal space the place fynbos meets dense salty sea air beneath towering sandstone cliffs, providing a peaceable escape from town and preferrred spot to {photograph} dawn and sundown.
Positioned alongside Victoria Highway between Camps Bay and Llandudno, this a part of the Desk Mountain Nationwide Park Marine Protected Space is residence to a wide range of indigenous plant species and affords tranquil walks by means of untouched landscapes, it’s possible you’ll even spot a seal or penguin too.
The character walks by means of this reserve supply loads of alternatives to {photograph} the pure fantastic thing about the realm, with views alongside the coast and flora to incorporate in your picture composition. In the event you’re staying at The Twelve Apostles Resort & Spa, you can begin your stroll from the property.
Sundown right here may be very particular, with the nice and cozy glow illuminating the wealthy reds of the protea, and the colourful inexperienced foliage scattered throughout the surroundings. Dawn can convey a mixture of circumstances, you could have a pastel palette to work with, or fog might be sweeping beneath the cliffs and throughout the ocean…it’s value taking an opportunity on each and seeing what you get dealt to {photograph}.
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Hiya! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as an expert journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this web site is from my private expertise on the street. I hope it’s helpful to your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences world wide.