A shot in the dark

Literally. I was shooting blind. Shooting on film I had no way of telling whether I’d got the shot or not.

But, I knew my camera, I knew my surroundings, I knew this shot could be amazing. And it was. Is.

A very rare, violent thunderstorm blew in over Cape Town. It was the night I would capture a photo that would change my life.

This is my personal genesis.

Lightning struck the mountains late in the evening. They were ablaze. I left home, camera in hand, to capture the wildfire. The blaze was far away, the wind was howling. I left the scene empty-handed.

On my way, I saw the storm had moved in over False Bay. It was spectacular. At 1 am, I set up my tripod above my home village of Kalk Bay. Next day, holding my breath, I viewed the developed film. This was the one the papers printed.

The awards and sales of this image started me on my path to leaving corporate. Because of this image I became a professional photographer. I haven't looked back.

One image can change a life.