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Photography in Cape Town
Many overseas visitors to South Africa stay in Cape Town for a few days before going to the Kgalagadi or Kruger Parks on their photo safaris. This isn't surprising as Cape Town is the number-1 tourist destination in South Africa with about 3 million visitors per year (compared to the Kruger National Park, which comes in second place with about 1.5 million visitors per year). We therefore suggest you don't pack your cameras away as there are many opportunities for you to practice your photo skills in Cape Town before you get to the national parks. We have stayed at various hotels in Cape Town: • The City Lodge Waterfront • The Cullinan • Protea Hotel North Wharf • Protea Hotel Victoria Junction • Cape Sun All the above hotels were adequate with the two Protea Hotels being our favorites. None of them have great views except the Cape Sun because it is a tall building. All of them are within walking distance of the Waterfront except the Cape Sun, which is in the centre of town. If you want to get the classic V&A Waterfront photographs with Table Mountain in the background you need to be at the Waterfront. There are, of course, the more expensive hotels such as the Cape Grace right on the Waterfront but most of them face east with Table Mountain behind them.
There are restaurants on the lower and upper level but we prefer the lower level and usually sit at Belthazar or Tasca de Belem. Just watch out for the seagulls that come to check out you lunch...
All the images on this page were taken on one day at the Cape Town Waterfront. Photography in Cape Town is a pleasure as there are so many subjects. You will notice there are pictures of Table Mountain with cloud, with no cloud and with a rainbow - truly four seasons in a day!
If you get bored with photographing Table Mountain then the seagulls will entertain you...
Our gear for Photography in Cape TownWe had the following photo equipment with us:• Nikon D300 with 18-200 VR lens • Small tripod (it was too windy to use it so we made sure the VR function was activated on the lens) • Warm Polarizing filter • Sony video camera Please clean your lenses and filters every day - the salt spray will coat your gear! Safety AdviceThere is very good security at the V&A Waterfront and we did not feel threatened even once while we were walking around with our cameras.We still did not take chances and would keep our photo gear close at all times. So as you will see from the above images, there are many good opportunities for Photography in Cape Town, enabling you to practice before you get to your safari destination - the last thing you want is to be fiddling with camera controls and filters while your once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity fades away! Make sure you are familiar with your photo gear before reaching the national parks. Return from Photography in Cape Town to Practice Makes Perfect page New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Please leave us a comment in the box below. |
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