esphotojournalism

Newlands Open Day – VWS

esphotojournalism — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:17:15 +0000

The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) have been combating dangerous and often deadly runaway fires since 1999. With approximately 150 members at two stations (Newlands and Jonkershoek), the VWS has assisted the Table Mountain National Park and surrounding areas with some of the wildest fires Cape Town has ever experienced. Baptised by fire through the devastating fires in Cape Town during the year 2000, the VWS is now a highly organised Section 21 Company that continues to grow in reputation and stature.

I joined VWS at their Newlands Open Day where they demonstrated their training and equipment and created awareness of wildfires and their effects to the people of Cape Town. They put on a display of fire fighting, educational stands and awesome interactive activities for both kids and parents.

22 photos in total.

VWS open day.

Abseiling for the kids.

Snake display.

VWS open day.

The 'Huey' pilot.

Introducing the new volunteer fire fighters.

The Working On Fire crew.

Starting up the 'Huey' for the fire fighting display.

Fire fighting display.

VWS Open Day.

Art In The Forest – Light From Africa Foundation

esphotojournalism — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:32:59 +0000

Art in the Forest, a stunning art gallery and ceramics studio located in Cape Town, presented a group exhibition entitled “Passages”, comprising artworks by young emerging artists based in Johannesburg and surrounding areas.

The artworks – linocuts, etchings, screen prints, mono prints, collages – offer the artists’ reflections on the challenges and opportunities in daily life. “Passages” evokes transitions from one condition or place to another, journeys, openings and boundaries, pathways and gateways. It can imply progress, forward movement, and evolution; or movement from tradition to modernity, rural to urban settings, youth to adulthood; or the lack of passages, the impact of things standing still, staying the same.

All profits made by Art in the Forest will benefit the Light from Africa Foundation which generates critically required funding for South Africa’s vulnerable children. They aim to achieve this objective through fundraising as well as the sale of art and products at the art hubs and the creation of bright ideas for sale to the retail and wholesale markets.

19 photos in total.

Climbing The Farm

esphotojournalism — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:40:06 +0000

The weekend of the 23rd of july saw a group of climbers from all over the world (South Africa, Austria, France, Scotland) get together in a small town called Montagu, about 2 hours drive outside of Cape Town. It was the middle of winter and rather chilly, although some people (Hermie) wore shorts the entire time, even during the evenings.

The occasion was the ‘grand’ opening of a new climbing location, simply called ‘The Farm’. Complete with the cutting of a red ribbon. Thanks to Hermie, Andrew, and Andy Green, who spent the previous 2 months preparing and bolting the rock, there were more than 10 routes with various ratings to attempt. Despite a bit of rain sunday morning, it was an absolutely great weekend of climbing, camping and braaing.

24 photos.

Gathering before the hike.

Indemnity forms.

Each route had a marker with its name and grading.

Andy Green with two of the route markers.

Hiking into the mountains towards the climb.

Gear.

More gear.

Uwe striking a pose before the climbing ensued.

Hermie preparing for his 1st climb of the day.

Studying the routes.

Chalking up.

Belaying.

Uwe on the rock face.

Belaying.

Climbing shoes.

Climbing The Farm.

Bouldering The Farm.

Climbing The Farm.

The view.

Playing around with long exposures and some headlamps.

A nice braai to round up the weekend.

Foodbank @ Stormont Madubela Primary School

esphotojournalism — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:54:29 +0000

FoodBank South Africa (FoodBank) is an independent, credible NGO established in 2009 with the vision of “a South Africa without hunger and malnutrition.” Though relatively new to South Africa, food banking is practised in more than 40 countries worldwide and FoodBank is a member of the Global Foodbanking Network. FoodBank’s main focus so far is a Food Rescue Project. This sources huge volumes of food donated by many of the country’s leading food manufacturers and retailers. This food, much of which would otherwise have been wasted, is taken to the project’s food banks. There the food is sorted and donated to other community based organisations which serve the hungry. Read more about Foodbank here.

We joined Ciska from Foodbank for their Care2Carry project at Stormont Madubela Primary School in Cape Town. The children were given paper and paint to come up with a creative and positive painting which will be printed on Fruit & Veg shopping bags. Since Foodbank is all about filling hungry bellies, the participating children were given sandwiches and fruit before the fun started.

Read more about causes that are raising funds and doing good towards others in need, by visiting GivenGain.

23 photos in total.

Foodbank's storage facility in Cape Town.

Storage space for food and other essential non-food groceries provided by wholesalers.

Foodbank @ Stormont Madubela Primary School.

Fresh bread delivered daily to the storage facility.

Brand new, shiny delivery trucks. Foodbank's delivery vehicles have recently been re branded with their new name and logo.

The entrance to Stormont Madubela Primary School. A small school with basic facilities, constructed out of steel containers.

Preparing sandwiches for the 30 students participating in the painting activity.

Some fruit to go with the sandwiches.

Foodbank @ Stormont Madubela Primary School.

Always happy and keen to strike a pose for the camera.

Preparing the paint, paper and brushes which the students will use to create their masterpieces.

Loretta from Foodbank explaining to the children what the whole project is about.

Table mountain in the making.

Foodbank @ Stormont Madubela Primary School.

Inside one of the steel container classrooms @ Stormont Madubela Primary School.

Teachers watch closely as the students create their colorful masterpieces.

Thinking green.

Colorful cape town with the iconic table mountain in the background.

An example of one of last year's finished bags.

R2 of each bag goes to feeding a child.

One of the young artists.

South East Zanzibar

esphotojournalism — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:40:31 +0000

A visit to the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar is sure to treat you with a colorful bouquet of things to do and see. I spent a week in the south-east part of the island and only scratched the surface.

30 photos in total.

Crystal clear water, blue skies, sandy beaches and your own private water taxi. All the ingredients for a fantastic island getaway.

Zanzibar is well known for exporting carved wooden doors. Here a young boy carves shapes into a solid peice of wood using a hammer and chisel.

The finished product.

Low tide exposes a landscape of coral as far as the eye can see.

Children at the spice plantation.

A myriad of colourful spices and fruit can be found at the spice farms accross Zanzibar.

Nutmeg fresh from the tree.

Special 'soap berries' can be used to wash your hands. Simply add water, and rub them together.

South East Zanzibar

The ceiling of the bath house at the highest point in Zanzibar - only about 120m above sea level.

South East Zanzibar

Local girls picking up shellfish during low tide. The ocean provides a large part of Zanzibar's food and every opportunity is used to gather what is available.

A mangrove forest exposing its roots during low tide.

A Kite spider in the Jozani forest.

Ants engulf an insect on the forest floor.

Red Colobus monkeys, unique to the island of Zanzibar, take some time to groom each other. These monkeys are very playful and comfortable around people, although never getting close enough to make physical contact.

Red Colobus monkeys only have 4 fingers on their hands, and no opposable thumb.

South East Zanzibar, Jozani Forset.

South East Zanzibar.

A Hermit crab cautiously emerges from its home.

During a day trip to one of the small uninhabited islands, we were treated with an incredible spread of food, including lobster, prawns, coconuts, fruit salad etc. All prepared without any electricity and very few utensils, right there in the wild.

Uninhabited islands like these dot the Zanzibar coastline.

South East Zanzibar.

Early morning view from the guest lodge we visited - Kilima Kidogo.

Local taxis, called 'Dhala Dhalas' are a cheap way to get around Zanzibar. That's if you don't mind a tight squeeze. These taxis are often completely overloaded with people hanging off the sides and back. The roof is also utilized for storage and sometimes almost doubles the height of the taxi.

In Zanzibar there's a different approach to fueling up. A quick chat with the attendant and we're off without paying a cent. Apparently you pay next time, or 'when you have money'.

South East Zanzibar.