May 2009

30/05/09

So, I have been planning to shoot the Agulhas Plain for some time now and three weeks ago I took the road to Bredasdorp to have a look. Mick D’Alton of the Special Management Area (SMA) of the Landowners Association, graciously accompanied me and showed me around the bigger wetlands and introduced me to the friendly farmers of the area.
Right off the bat I knew that this project of theirs will not only be a huge undertaking, but may also become a blueprint for future land use management and the conservation of private land. What makes this initiative so special, is that landowners in the Nuwejaarsvlei area has agreed to take hands and work together in protecting an area that is ecologically very sensitive and if not protected, may be lost for our children's children. This globally significant biodiversity hotspot is threatened by both climate change and development pressure. The aim of the project is to ensure sustainable development and biodiversity conservation within defined zones, with the ultimate vision of establishing a new protected area while providing benefits for all the inhabitants of the region. The project will focus on measures to adapt to climate change, protect wetlands, reduce emissions from deforestation and improve the area’s biological carbon bank.
In addition, the SMA will contribute 44 000 hectares of land to the protected areas estate in South Africa. This includes Zoetendalsvlei, the largest natural body of fresh water in southern Africa with an outlet to the sea.
As I was being showed around by Mick, I realized what a special area this is. The bird life is thriving in the wetlands, I even saw a few flamingo’s and many buck species roam this area, free of predators. The SMA has big plans for the future and one of them is to establish more game into the area and draw tourists to generate sustainable income for the project. With my camera gear on my back and my gumboots on, I started to explore the wetlands in search of photos. It soon became apparent to me that I was up against a few negative influences which made my work almost impossible. The weather were not playing along and day after day I looked on as the sun set and came up in clear skies, giving me not much light-play to work with and resulting in one boring picture after the other. I have stubbornly gone ahead into this project ignoring all advice that this is not the best time of year for shooting. “ I will make it work” I thought. Nature had other plans for me!
The area is still dry after the summer and the new growth I was hoping for, has not yet shown up. After two weeks of fruitless searches, and mightily frustrated at the weather, I made the difficult decision to postpone my plans until September when this plains are said to be extraordinary beautiful.