A prisoner's view
Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa
If the prisoners ever had the opportunity to escape the confines of the prison walls or the quarry and walk to the southern end of the island then this is the view they would see... for me this is one of the iconic views of Table Mountain and one I had hoped to capture while on holiday there. But the best-laid plans of mice and men....
Notes for a photography travelling tourist:
If I was forced to put my preferences in order for things to do in Cape Town then the cable car ride up Table Mountain and the visit to Robben Island are neck and neck for first place. From a photographer's point of view Table Mountain just steels it as you can spend as must time on top as you like, whereas, Robben Island is a carefully choreographed schedule.
At the island, you get of the ferry and onto a series of waiting buses which depart in all directions around the island on a different sequence of stop-offs. The plan being that there is never more than one bus load at any one location stop-off. Sounds a clever idea, unfortunately, time is of the essence and each stop is only about 10 minutes which includes everyone getting off and back on the damn thing.
The southern end of the island, looking across the bay at Table Mountain is the money shot but you have to move fast; away from the toilet queues, tea shop queues and selfie brigade spreading ever further along the coast line. I'm somewhere amongst the rocks to get this clear view and no chance of setting up a tripod and filters... not that I had them having just spend a fortune on the camera. I don't think it's possible to stay on the island outside of tour hours but I bet there are some spectacular sunrises and sunsets from this location...
A prisoner's view
Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa
If the prisoners ever had the opportunity to escape the confines of the prison walls or the quarry and walk to the southern end of the island then this is the view they would see... for me this is one of the iconic views of Table Mountain and one I had hoped to capture while on holiday there. But the best-laid plans of mice and men....
Notes for a photography travelling tourist:
If I was forced to put my preferences in order for things to do in Cape Town then the cable car ride up Table Mountain and the visit to Robben Island are neck and neck for first place. From a photographer's point of view Table Mountain just steels it as you can spend as must time on top as you like, whereas, Robben Island is a carefully choreographed schedule.
At the island, you get of the ferry and onto a series of waiting buses which depart in all directions around the island on a different sequence of stop-offs. The plan being that there is never more than one bus load at any one location stop-off. Sounds a clever idea, unfortunately, time is of the essence and each stop is only about 10 minutes which includes everyone getting off and back on the damn thing.
The southern end of the island, looking across the bay at Table Mountain is the money shot but you have to move fast; away from the toilet queues, tea shop queues and selfie brigade spreading ever further along the coast line. I'm somewhere amongst the rocks to get this clear view and no chance of setting up a tripod and filters... not that I had them having just spend a fortune on the camera. I don't think it's possible to stay on the island outside of tour hours but I bet there are some spectacular sunrises and sunsets from this location...