Outrun an Olympic athlete any given day!

I have a two week break from work over the festive season, and have been restfully spending it by the coast along with my family. Some choose to go on a road trip or jump out of a plane — I’m more the sleep late, eat too much and actually watch TV type of guy. On a couple of occasions throughout the December/January break I got out, drank some wine, had some fun, but today I actually got in some form of exercise. The Conradie-clan headed to ‘Die Plaat’ a beautiful beach stretched out at De Kelders, running along the Walker Bay strip between De Kelders and Hermanus. After this ginger got on his SPF 50, I grabbed the Canon and we braced the 4x4 route for some scenic beach time. It was a hot, and rather busy, day, with families making a day of it — chairs, tables, food, games, tents, the works! After drive for quite a while, we settled down — along with our little baby Bullterrier (who we snuck in for her first trip to the big beach!)

Later, the mother and I decided that we were going to trek back by foot, while the rest of the clan got back in the car and headed home. I don’t know, the need to suddenly wander along the beach, over rocks and through plants, appealed to me as a good idea. What with starting this new journey to explore photography all over again and redeem the love I use to have for it — I seem to say yes to things more easily, simply because there might be the chance of scoring a great shot — even if just one. It scares me a little, the thought of what else I might say yes to in order to get a brilliant photo. Anyway. After spraying on more sunscreen and taking a bottle of water and some droëwors, we set foot along what is an absolutely breath taking route. It honestly isn’t as bad as it might come across and really doesn’t take too long, but of course we were in no rush and I constantly stopped for to let the shutter snap away at the stunning environment and wildlife.

When it comes to my writing, I usually have some trouble deciding on a genre I feel most comfortable in. You see, I usually prefer changing it up, giving different genres a go. This keeps things interesting and also challenges me as a writer — to not only do the same old thing and eventually get board and start to hate it. When it comes to my photography it is almost the same. I won’t classify myself as a wildlife photographer nor a fashion or whatever other genres there are. Perhaps I just don’t like be classified or categorised. I enjoy being a sort of all rounder. Makes life way more exciting! I take pictures of how I see and experience life — and I suppose it’s true that life isn’t always the same old thing, no? If it is then you should seriously reconsider what it is you are filling up the limited time we have during our short lives.

The ocean was an absolute beautiful colour and the animals along the way was equally amazing. We came across the Black Oystercatcher, a bird that is endangered, but with its red beak and eyes it really stands out against the blue waters. The contrast makes for such interesting photos. Then there’s the Sandpiper — such a cute teeny tiny little animal that almost disappears against the sand of beach. I can honestly say that these birds are quite tricky to take photos of — not only because you want to preferably catch them against a more colourful background, but also because they can outrun an Olympic athlete any given day! We also came across a seal, casually chilling it out on a rock. After grooming for a bit he/she effortlessly began moving down the rock and when the tide washed up against it, slipped into the cool water and cruised off. The are such little characters. I love these sort of photos — they aren’t planned out or styled, its just nature and you capture it as is! I love it to sit back after and scroll through all of the photos, discovering what I have captured. With nature/wildlife, you really never know what you are going to come across, and I think that is what makes it so exciting and what drives wildlife photographers — the hunt (no pun intended for hunting animals or anything!) You really have to go search for these moment and spend A LOT of time in nature, but then on the other hand, it sometimes just happens — right place, right time.

I have added some of the photos of our journey along the coast today in this beautiful country I have the pleasure of living — or this province really, since all the different ones in South Africa really offers such variety and are so different from one another. Enjoy the photographs!

#southafrica #walkerbay #beach #ocean #wildlife #nature #animals #birds