This photograph was taken during the lockdown in South Africa in 2020. Back then, I spent over nine months in Betty’s Bay, photographing and filming this beautiful coastline region almost daily while awaiting the arrival of my UK visa. While certainly not a stranger to this coastal region, as I have visited the area ever since I was a child, the lockdown allowed me to explore and capture all the areas of Betty’s Bay I’ve always wanted to capture on camera. This rock pool was one of my favourite spots to visit as a child. I loved looking up at the massive rock formations around me while hearing the roar of the thunder coming from behind them.
I had to wait for a few things to align just right to capture this photo. The tide needed to be low during sunset, and I wanted some clouds to hang across the mountains in the background. It took about 3-4 weeks for everything to finally fall into place. On the day I arrived early, I set up the composition and just waited. Finally, the light shifted, and these beautiful light rays came through the clouds.
Unfortunately, while out shooting, my primary camera, a Canon 5D Mark II’s shutter, finally gave in, forcing me to use a backup Canon 450D. While it wasn’t perfect, it made me realise that no matter what camera is used, practicing photography has made me pursue the love and adventure of the art form every day for the last 16 years.
