Africa’s Photographer of the Year: Cape Town Winner

Cape Town. A magical place with pristine beaches and majestic mountains. The streets sing its history and culture. A living city framed by the ocean and watched over by its beautiful Table Mountain. It’s alive. That is why we were excited to see all the different perspectives of Cape Town in all its beauty and abundance in our Africa’s Photographer of the Year Photo Competition. There were many incredible entries in our Cape Town category each one presenting a new incredible outlook.

There was one picture in particular, however, that showed us Cape Town from a unique point of view. One that had a variety of colour and a disposition that evoked a feeling that exudes Cape Town, yet gives it a breath of fresh air.

So, without further ado, the award for Africa’s Photographer of the Year Award Cape Town Category 2017 is… Alexander Hill! Alex has won the category with this enchanting photograph:

As the winner of the Africa’s Photographer of the Year ‘Cape Town Category’, Alex won a pair of Swarovski CL Pocket 10×25 Binoculars Worth: $ 800.

1. Can you tell us a bit more about your winning photo:

“It was taken right at sunset on Signal Hill in September 2015. The clouds, warm tones, and rolling clouds off Table Mountain were picture perfect so I played an insignificant role in its ultimate capture. The final image is exposure blended from three bracketed images using luminosity masks in PS. Final touches in LR CC.”

2. Tell us a bit about yourself and your travels to Africa:

“I am a semi-retired graphic designer and photographer residing in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. My wife is a Physician specialist at the local hospital here. We are travel enthusiasts and South Africa was always on our bucket list. We travelled with some friends from Canada and rented a vehicle to visit many of the the beautiful sights on the coast and wine region.”

3. How did you hear about Africa’s Photographer of the Year?

“I heard about the contest via an email promotion”

4. What do you love most about Cape Town?

“I really enjoyed the waterfront area where we stayed, but Table Mountain was the highlight. We hiked to the top of the mountain which was arguably the single most difficult feat I have ever done! Although it was humbling to see small children and 80 year old locals leap by me like gazelles on the perilously steep climb, it was still a personal-best achievement for me, nonetheless.”

5. How long have you been doing photography? Do you do it professionally?

“I am primarily a graphic designer, but I have been using photography as a complementary skill for about 30 years. My primary passion is sport photography and design in which I fuse both graphic design and photography skills to create some unique imagery. In the past ten years I have been focussing more on travel photography and have sold images as prints and stock photos for magazines and books.”

6. Do you have any tips for capturing the perfect Cape Town moment?

“There are so many competent photographers out there and so many of the submissions were outstanding, I doubt I could shed much light into capturing the perfect Cape Town moment. Lighting is everything so that plays the biggest role in capturing strong, emotional images and I have no control over that. What I can control is to be prepared to capture that light at any given time of the day or night, even if it means some really early morning starts. I’ll take an average scene with spectacular light over a spectacular scene with average light.”

7. What do you find most beautiful about Africa?

“We found the safari component of our visit almost life changing. It was our first safari so we had absolutely no frame of reference, other than the odd trip to the zoo to see animals in captivity. To be that close to wildlife in its natural environment with virtually no barrier between you being but a curious observer or someone’s lunch, was truly ethereal. The wine region was also stunning. The men also did a Great White Shark cage experience which was numbing, literally and figuratively, when being dipped into the frigid waters so close to these magnificent creatures.”

8.  What would you suggest travellers to Africa should add to their bucket lists?

“1) Safari 2) Franschhoek area 3) Cape Town Waterfront 4) Shark Cage”

If you would like to find out more about his photography go to Alex Hill Photography