Zeiss Infinity Tour - South Africa

Cape Town was the third stop on my ZEISS Infinity Tour, a journey that brought together photography, travel and conversations about the meaning of infinity. I was invited to lead a photography workshop, with just four days to explore the city and its surroundings.

What struck me most was how closely the urban landscape sits alongside nature. Table Mountain rises above the buildings, while the coastline and surrounding hills offer a different perspective at every turn. For a photographer, that relationship creates opportunities to move between cityscape and landscape within a single composition.

Photographing Cape Town from Signal Hill

For the practical part of our workshop, we chose Signal Hill, with views towards Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. From this elevated position, we could explore the relationship between the city below and the mountains beyond.

A wide view offers plenty to photograph, but it also requires careful decisions. The challenge is to organise the scene, deciding what deserves attention and how the different elements work together.

I photographed with the ZEISS Milvus 15mm in Nikon mount, one of my favourite lenses for landscape work at the time. Its wide field of view suited the setting, allowing me to bring the city, mountains and sky into the same frame.

A Thunderstorm and Changing Light

The evening before, a thunderstorm had moved across Cape Town. From my balcony, I had a clear view of lightning branching through the clouds and took the opportunity to photograph it.

The following morning, sunlight began breaking through the clearing clouds, changing the atmosphere of the city below. These moments stayed with me as much as the landmarks themselves.

Weather can transform a location within minutes. A familiar skyline takes on a different character as clouds gather, light shifts and parts of the landscape emerge from shadow. Observing those changes is an essential part of how I photograph a place.

Sharing the Experience Through a Workshop

Meeting the local photography community was an important part of the visit. Most participants came from South Africa, while others travelled from neighbouring countries to join us.

Working together on location gave us an opportunity to exchange ideas and see how different photographers approached the same view. Even from a shared viewpoint, each person notices something different and makes their own choices about framing and timing.

Singer Photography supported the workshop and provided ZEISS lenses for participants to test. Being able to try equipment in the field made it easier to explore how different focal lengths influenced our compositions.

A Conversation About Infinity

Throughout the ZEISS Infinity Tour, I asked people what infinity meant to them. In Cape Town, Leslie described it through the idea of timelessness.

Her answer stayed with me. Photography records a brief moment, yet an image can hold our attention long after that moment has passed. Looking at the mountains, shifting clouds and city below, I found her interpretation particularly fitting.

These conversations gave the journey a personal dimension. Beyond the locations and photographs, the tour became an opportunity to listen, exchange perspectives and reflect on why we make images.

Leaving with More to Discover

Four days gave me only a first impression of Cape Town. Between the workshop, the changing weather and the time spent photographing, there was much I had yet to explore.

I left wanting to return for a longer visit, with more time for the coastline, the city’s galleries and the landscapes beyond its streets.

Cape Town reminded me how much a photographic journey depends on the people we meet and the conditions we encounter. The location provides the setting, but light, conversation and observation shape the experience we bring home.