Shore break

Sunset. The best time of day. Golden light bathes the mountains and reflects off the fronds of my favourite palms as they stand in stark contrast against the heavy grey cloud covering Table Mountain. It's been a day of intermittent rain showers and sunny skies, typical of spring in Cape Town, when the winter rains are not quite finished with us, but the southeaster still has to tighten its grip.

The southwesterly wind brings in huge swells from the South Atlantic, which reach our shores with impressive sets breaking over the many reefs that line the Peninsula. Late afternoon sunshine glistens through the peaks as they rear up before crashing to their doom on the rocky coast. Surfers stand shorebound, watching those who know no fear rising and falling between the crests, trying to decide whether discretion is the better part of valour, or whether to risk a snapped board.

The many hues of glassy green and yellow are a delight to the artist’s eye, and long lenses are trained on each swell; hundreds of photos will be edited later to capture the essence of the moment – a moment in time when Man and Nature are one.