Fishermen in Yellow

Dutyini, Mount Ayliff

I have been following Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) on Twitter for some time now. I really enjoy his humour and his writing. I had read a few tweets with interest when he had left Johannesburg to visit Dutyini, Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape where he had lived as a child.

When a call came from the Mail and Guardian to photograph the town to illustrate a story he had written of this trip I jumped at the opportunity. For one thing I love a good road trip. And another, I love a good road trip with the opportunity to illustrate a fascinating story. So after a days delay due to snow (don't have that problem too often in South Africa) I set about finding Dutyini. And the rest is in the story.

The slideshow narrated by Khaya is here http://mg.co.za/multimedia/2011-07-28-homeward-unbound and the full story here http://mg.co.za/article/2011-07-29-urban-hipster-khaya-dlanga-heads-home.

Pink Church, White Snow

A day trip to Kokstad and on to Mount Ayliff was spectacular. I have never had the opportunity to photograph the snow like this before, felt a bit like a bull in a candy store. A bull with wet pants, slippery stuff that snow!

Ship Aground

Rocks and Reflections

The south coast has always held a special place in my life. My grandparents had the coolest beach house where we spent many amazing holidays. I caught my first salt water fish, we snorkeled and we hit the waves on our body boards.

This is a bit further down the road in Port Edward, and I sense a new love affair with this part of the coast coming.

Sunset Football

I nearly missed the light, glad I didn't.

The Boys and Their Dogs

Somewhere in the depths of the Wild Coast on assignment for the Mail and Guardian we met with the largest extended family I know of. A beautiful bunch on the most amazing of settings. Looking at the mud huts and chicks and cows I am seriously considering trading in all my gadgets for a simpler life.

Strike Season

Strike season again. This was the first walk into town of the year, I wonder how many more of these we will do? I must say that although the march to the steps of the Durban city hall was a slow one, the striking workers were very disciplined.

Afro Mex Fashion

As a photographer not to be named said to me on the Saturday of the Durban July horse races, 'This is the worst day of my year!' I think he said the same to me last year. And I agreed with him.

A strange thing happened next. I started to watch the people. Some wore ridiculous outfits, most desperate to be noticed. But this guy made me smile!