to move up and down
Light Chronicles
A photo blog by Chris Franklin
African Currency
The people of the Wild Coast are pastoralists and cattle in particular play a very important social and economic role in their society. The number of cattle held by a village or individual determines much of their importance to the rest of the world. These animals are used as a bride’s dowry, or Lobola as it is known here.
The sight of cattle walking on the beach is quite distinctive along the Wild Coast. We had to wait until our last day of our trip before we were able to capture this unique spectacle.
Please feel free to comment or critique!
ISO 250 \ 105mm \ f5.6 \ 1/160sec
ISO 250 \ 52mm \ f5.0 \ 1/320sec
ISO 250 \ 70mm \ f5.3 \ 1/400sec
People of the Wild Coast - Part 2
Childlike innocence stares back at me
ISO 640 \ 42mm \ f5.6 \ 1/60sec
ISO 200 \ 105mm \ f5.6 \ 1/500sec
People of the Wild Coast - Part 1
The Wild Coast lies within the borders of Transkei, a former homeland (Bantustan) during the apartheid years in South Africa. Nelson Mandela is the most famous son of this Xhosa speaking region. Transkei was reincorporated into South Africa when apartheid was abolished in 1994, but the area still faces a high level of poverty.
Zola, looking quite chuffed with the moonfish he had just caught for supper, grew up and lives in Mbotyi, a village next to the coast. He is a qualified lifeguard and has managed to start his own business placing employing other local lifeguards and placing them at three nearby beaches during the December holiday.
ISO 200 \ 50mm \ f5.6 \ 1/30sec
A cattle herder gazes thoughtfully into the distance at Fraser Falls
ISO 200 \ 105mm \ f7.1 \ 1/320sec
Wild Coast - Falling water
In the rugged northern part of the Wild Coast many rivers find their path to the sea blocked by massive cliffs. We came across these three stunning waterfalls within 10 minutes drive of each other!
Even this dog (belonging to a cattle herder) was able to appreciate the misty view over Fraser Falls in the distance.
ISO 200 \ 40mm \ f7.1 \ 1/160sec
A flower dares to peek over the edge of Angel Falls (unfortunately not the one in South America, but impressive none the less!)
ISO 200 \ 70mm \ f5.3 \ 1/200sec
The spectacular Magwa Falls drops 144m into a canyon formed by seismic activity
ISO 200 \ 66mm \ f5.3 \ 1/80sec
