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 at last 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.
If you happen to’re visiting Cape City for the primary time, I imagine it’s essential to have quite a lot 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 everywhere in the metropolis, sea, and shoreline. A brief, however jam-packed journey which you can replicate in the event you’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, positioned in southern South Africa, confronted south. Nonetheless, because it sits on the western aspect of the Cape Peninsula, it faces west, which 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 a little bit nearer to these sea birds.
When photographing sundown in Cape City, you’ll be able to go for a variety of places, my choose although, is anyplace with some fascinating panorama options, like a rocky bay or mountain climbing path so you’ll be able to 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 in the event you’re obtained a couple of nights within the metropolis.
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Street 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 associate enjoys motorbikes, I’ve by no means needed to don a helmet and be a part of him. Properly, typically you don’t know what you’re lacking, and once I noticed ‘Sidecar Journey’ on our itinerary, I used to be a little bit nervous. Spoiler…it was some of the unexpectedly enjoyable and thrilling issues I’ve executed in a very long time.
Embarking on a highway journey alongside Chapman’s Peak Drive with Cape Sidecar Adventures was an exhilarating mix of views, the weather and a splash of cuteness after we had been launched to the boss man ‘Brody’ (see his Instagram right here). This scenic route, affectionately often known as “Chappies,” was accomplished in 1922 and is taken into account one of many world’s most scenic drives. The highway 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’ll be able to sit there and {photograph} the journey with out home windows in your approach! As a result of I wasn’t positive what was round every nook, I opted for the mix 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’, nevertheless, our itinerary didn’t permit for that and so, in the event you’re visiting quickly, please do it and share the photographs 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 had been above and as soon as up the highest, my mouth dropped open in disbelief. As a photographer, it could really feel like you want to solely go to scenic viewpoints throughout the early or later hours of the day, however typically it’s simply not doable 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 straightforward to wander round, venturing proper to the sting of the cliff because it takes a dramatic plunge all the way down to the 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 ft) above sea stage, Cape City’s skyline, the sprawling shoreline, and the huge horizon are all seen from the highest and in the event you’ve obtained time, I’d encourage you to attend out any unhealthy climate if there’s a number of wind, it could sweep by means of fairly rapidly and also you by no means know what will likely 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 essential to grasp when photographing Cape City and I’d extremely advocate a tour of the island to really perceive the why and the way, regardless of being a spot of harsh imprisonment, the human connection stood robust.
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 wish to take away from the principle purpose it is best to go to Robben Island, it additionally gives unimaginable 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, had been extraordinarily transferring and eye-opening. Sparks advised us of the remedy, the situations, shared how they stayed robust 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 may organize your tickets through Journey World, significantly in the event you’re after a personal tour which permits for a extra intimate expertise.
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Lunch at Steenberg Vineyards
Benefitting from various topography, a variation of soils and influenced by each the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, the Cape gives a number of the greatest wineries on the planet.
Steenberg Vineyards is a feast for the senses and only a 30-minute drive from nearly anyplace 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 wonderful manor home in-built 1740, showcasing traditional Cape Dutch structure.
The sprawling vineyards and historic structure create an ideal setting for pictures, and after inserting my order, I did a little bit sprint across the gardens to seize the colors and setting. You possibly can e book in for a wine tasting expertise, studying in regards to the variations and course of from a sommelier, after which take pleasure in 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 the town and supreme spot to {photograph} dawn and sundown.
Situated alongside Victoria Street between Camps Bay and Llandudno, this a part of the Desk Mountain Nationwide Park Marine Protected Space is residence to quite a lot of indigenous plant species and gives tranquil walks by means of untouched landscapes, you could even spot a seal or penguin too.
The character walks by means of this reserve provide loads of alternatives to {photograph} the pure great thing about the realm, with views alongside the coast and flora to incorporate in your picture composition. If you happen to’re staying at The Twelve Apostles Resort & Spa, you can begin your stroll from the property.
Sundown right here could 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 carry a mixture of situations, you could have a pastel palette to work with, or fog might be sweeping beneath the cliffs and throughout the ocean…it’s price taking an opportunity on each and seeing what you get dealt to {photograph}.
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Hey! 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 website is from my private expertise on the highway. I hope it’s helpful on your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences world wide.
