Colin Stephenson Environmental photography South Africa.

Environmental photographers document our everyday life, our environment, and the changes in them.

The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) is South Africa’s largest biosphere reserve, 3 187 893 hectares. It was designated by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 2015. The project focuses on the enhancement of ecological functionality of the Gouritz mountain and river corridors in the Langeberg region comprising Riversdale-Herbertsdale-Ruiterbos. The project area also has a Northern extension into the Rooiberg-Gamkaberg mountain regions in the semi-arid Klein Karoo.
Colin Stephenson has been appointed Environmental Photographer for the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve.

Environmental photography deals with documenting landscape, flora and fauna to showcase various aspects of the multifaceted elements that makeup the natural and built environment. Environmental photographers play a significant role in documenting our everyday life, our environment, and the changes in them.

The GCBR’s organisational culture and methods of working are characterised by the principle of enabling and informing others and I the Environmental photography is a very important aspect of this process. Environmental photography is a key tool for raising awareness of important environmental and conservation issues. This photography focuses on the relationship between nature and humans.
More broadly the Environmental photography will also focus on socio economic issues, addressing problems that affect communities within the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve.

“Images have the power to affect how we feel about the natural world and therefore how we treat it.” David Attenborough

To discuss your requirements contact Colin Stephenson, 072 601 0985

Colin Stephenson Environmental photographer Africa.

Environmental photographers document our everyday life, natural environments, and the changes in them. As a contemporary Environmental photographer in Africa I focus on landscape and wildlife photography to create social awareness about the importance of conservation of wilderness areas.

The role of environmental photographers as conservationists has a long history. Ansel Adams is the most famous nature photographer in history – he’s also well known for his environmental conservation efforts. Ansel Adams was commissioned to capture the national parks, and his most famous landscape photographs are from the Yosemite National Park. Photographs leave a valuable record of time and place. They celebrate the beauty of the environment. The photographer has the power to awaken the populace to the value of land as a precious resource.

My aim is to engage viewers with the environment so that they can form a connection with a physical place of conservation importance. All I can hope for is that people be moved by the sheer magnificence of the environment depicted and that these images play some part in highlighting the need to conserve the remaining wilderness areas that exist, not only in my small corner of the Western Cape, but in all of South Africa.

“Images have the power to affect how we feel about the natural world and therefore how we treat it.”
David Attenborough

The Prince Alfred Pass is one of the most scenic and beautiful mountain passes in South Africa. This winding road leads from Knysna to Uniondale, and is surrounded by lush countryside with majestic views of the Outeniqua Mountain Range.

The drive through the pass itself is only 40km’s, so this means that you can easily make it a day trip while staying in Knysna or George, but if you want to explore some of the side attractions along the way, you could turn it into an overnight trip by resting your head for the night in Uniondale, you won’t be disappointed.  There are so many incredible moments to capture on this journey and by including an overnight stay, you get to make use of the best natural light in the morning and evening.

I have travelled through and photographed this magnificent mountain pass several times and I would love to show you the best way of capturing it for yourself.  I can offer a day trip or an overnight stay and I will provide you with all the tuition you need to make the best of your time.  Contact me to let me know how you’d like to explore this area and I will customise a photography trip for you, your friends and your family.  This is an awesome way to experience the Garden Route with one of the top landscape and travel photographers in South Africa.

Call me: Colin Stephenson, (+27) 72 601 0985.

Nature Photographer Garden Route

Join me, Colin Stephenson a Nature Photographer in the Garden Route, and explore some of the most beautiful coastlines and mountain passes in Africa, through your camera lens! Our small groups offer a personal approach to experience the best locations while learning about and improving your photography.

Based in Sedgefield in the middle of the Garden Route National Park (which boasts South Africa’s most beautiful lake and estuary systems), we will explore amazing seascape, mountainscape and landscape photography. The sandstone cliffs and rugged rocky coastline is juxtaposed with broad beaches backed by indigenous fynbos and tidal river estuaries that offer fantastic photographic subject matter for landscape enthusiasts.

The Garden Route offers one of the most temperate climates in the world and the tours are available all year round. Photographers always try to use the best early morning or evening light to produce the most beautiful images. I will keep an eye on the weather, tides and season to suggest the shoot location on the day that you have booked. I look forward to working with you on a Nature photo walk in the Garden Route to improve your nature photography. Using the best time of day to maximise the best photographic light available, I suggest shooting in the early morning or late evenings. Take advantage of the likelihood that the area you’re shooting will be less crowded. This is especially important in high-traffic “tourist” areas. The Garden Route is a popular national park and features several photographic landmarks.

Landscape photography isn’t about pleasing someone else. Or appealing to someone else’s sense of style. It’s about shooting what makes you happy. Exploring nature and trying to capture some of your personal experience in the landscape photos you take.

Photograph both the broader landscape and crop closely on textures. Drawing inspiration from nature’s colours and patterns. Some of the most interesting subjects can be right in front of us. This could be tree bark, a leaf, the forest floor, a bird’s feather. Shooting with a macro lens allows you to zoom in and crop close on your subject. Macro lenses magnify even the tiniest details and can produce some amazing images.

Garden Route South Africa. Location scouting and tourism photography of the Garden Route, South Africa involves evaluating possible areas for the shoot, understanding how the space matches your needs, and documenting all the details. As a landscape photographer, I’ve scouted locations throughout South Africa for a variety of photo shoots.
The Garden Route and Klein Karoo in South Africa has the ability to sell locations (TV, Film, Commercials) competitively to the industry, and the region is ideally placed to not only manage any overflows from other filming destinations, but to become a major player in its own right in the industry. The main centres in the Garden Route are Knysna, George, Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay and Oudtshoorn.

Colin Stephenson has intimate knowledge of this areas multiple localities and is able to package and offer a wide range of locations (forests, vineyards, mountains, farms, tree houses, tented camps, dams, rivers, beaches, airport, railway, game lodges, caves, heritage sites & buildings, industrial areas which is broader than just its internationally recognized natural advantages). To discuss your requirements contact Colin Stephenson, 072 601 0985