Why should you repeatedly do photography at a location?
I was wondering today while showering that I have not visited Bloubergstrand in a while to take photos of Table Mountain. I do think while showering, is there anything unusual about that? hmm. If you don’t know, Bloubergstrand is a popular location among the photography community in Cape Town to take iconic photos of one of the wonders of the world, Table Mountain. Here is one of my photos from a location where many photographers in Cape Town have polished their skills in landscape photography, seascapes in particular. The location is amazing and the views are stunning.
Table Mountain
I, along with other Cape Town photographers, have been to this location a few hundred times. With dedication and by keeping an eye on the weather forecast, you might get lucky to witness a colourful sunset or a sunrise.
There was a time when I was crazy about going to this location. Why? From here, Cape Town spoils you with colourful and magical sunsets over Table Mountain. I was learning and didn’t mind a 20 minutes drive from my home to hang out with fellow photographers to enjoy nature, find peace, and learn from my experiences and friendships. I will talk no more and come to the point, or points, to highlight why I believe going to one location repeatedly can make you a better photographer. By the way, this is not the only location I was crazy about, Newlands Forest in Cape Town is also my home and solitude.
Persistence, Patience and Consistency
Nature is unpredictable, and despite weather forecasts and the shapes of the clouds looking promising, a sunset or sunrise might be boring from a photography point of view. I used to be very disappointed when I started my journey, by going to Bloubergstrand several times taught me patience. It motivated me to be persistent in getting the desired results. Patience and persistence are the most ignored aspects of photography in the outdoors.
Learn about Weather
Until I visited this location several times, I didn’t know that sunset and sunrise location changes throughout the year. I guess I didn’t pay attention to natural science subjects in my school and university. I learned about the high and low tides and how unpredictable the ocean can be. What type of clouds promise great colours and light during the golden hour was fascinating to me. So many things were part of my learning.
Learn to appreciate
Scouting the location makes you appreciate the elements involved in your scene. Small rocks, pebbles, seashells, sand, ocean waves, the reflections, the sun and the sunset and so many other things become part of your observation routine. Whether the sunset was great or not, I felt blessed to be out there and witness nature. Yes, it is about capturing the moments, amazing ones in particular, but there is more to it than photography, I felt calm out there and those experiences made me who I am today.
Master the Art
Composition, camera settings, planning, forming opinions and discussions with others help you improve your skillset. It made me a better photographer. One thing I must highlight here is that taking photos here made me realise the importance of post-processing photos. Remember, camera settings are not limited to aperture, shutter and ISO. There are so many other functions in your camera that help you make better photos.
Get Exposure
I made friendships, promoted my city, got known by the photography community and learned from the skillsets of some amazing photographers by standing next to them. Some of my most sold photographs are of Table Mountain from Bloubergstand.
Host others
I ran a few workshops at Bloubergstrand. Whenever someone contacted me, I wondered, “Why me”. Well, it’s because I not only shared my photos on the internet and social media but also made quite a few YouTube videos on that location. I was then told by a friend that I get contacted not because someone needed to learn photography, but because they had faith in my knowledge about the location and potential compositions.
These are some of the reasons I believe you should visit your backyard often and grow. Remember, visiting faraway places for photography should only happen when you are good at your art. Places nearby are the playgrounds that prepare you for your dream destinations.
Do you think I have missed something? What is your opinion? Drop your comments below and give me your feedback or add more to this list, I shall be thankful.
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I hope to see you again.
Cheers.
Muji
