A shift in perspective

May 4

One of the things I love about photography is that it constantly asks for a change in perspective. Take a few steps left or right, move closer, or hold the camera lower, and you can change the way what’s in front of you appears.

I shoot most of my work on a small stretch of beach close to my house. After four years of walking this area with my camera I still find things that keep me interested. Sometimes, it’s an entirely new scene. Other times it just requires looking at something I’ve seen countless times before from a different angle.

I had this experience recently when photographing around the mouth of Zandvlei estuary. The bulldozers have been busy clearing sand from the mouth to open the vlei and have created a large sand hill in the process. I was shooting there and happened to see a surfer come walking along, ready to paddle out.

I got this shot. And have showed it to people who can’t place it. Looks like an entirely different place.

It’s a good reminder for me that perspective can change everything. In photography and in life.

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