The 2009 PSSA Congress / AV Convention will take place from Sunday, 11 October through to Friday 16 in Hermanus.

What do you know about Hermanus?

• Did you know that it boasts the best land-based whale watching in the world ? The Southern Rights visit Walker Bay each year between July and December in ever increasing numbers. They can invariably be seen from the Cliff path, a 12km foot path which hugs the coast from Grotto Beach in the east through to the New Harbour.
  Alternatively, these behemoths of the sea can be approached by boat or even from the air. Hermanus has several licensed boat operators and even one commercial flight operator who will be happy to take groups for flips along the coast and over the mountains that provide the characteristic and scenic backdrop to the village.
• Were you aware that about 40kms east of Hermanus, is Gansbaai ? From there, operators launch their high speed crafts for the most exciting experience of your lives – diving with the great whites. If you have a good underwater camera, it’s a must. If you don’t but just want to enjoy an adrenaline rush, you can’t do better.
• What about the village of Betty’s Bay, to the west of Hermanus ? It has one of the only two breeding colonies of African Penguins in SA. The best times to view the birds are early in the morning or late in the afternoon when they return from their 20 kilometer fishing expeditions. Also sharing the breeding site with the penguins are the endangered Whitebreasted and Cape Cormorants and the vulnerable Bank Cormorant.
• You’ve surely heard about the floral kingdom around Hermanus ? It is one of the richest in the world and the Fernkloof Nature Reserve provides endless opportunities for anyone interest in fynbos or in macro photography.
• In October, visitors will be able to see pincushions, oxalis, chincherinchee, cliff lilies, keurblomme, pelargonia, fountain bushes and many others; all in full splendour and visited by the Cape Sugarbird and various sunbirds
• And the waders? Hermanus is flanked by two lagoons – the Klein Rivier lagoon on the east and the Bot Rivier lagoon on the west. Both provide good opportunities for birding with waders predominating and frequently even flocks of flamingos and pelicans. Hides and canoes offer the best opportunities.
• And the wheat fields? In October they don their golden hues which, combined with the contour lines left by the harvester make for truly inspirational images.
• Of course the beaches and rock pools around Hermanus suggest endless photographic opportunities. The creative photographer will be overcome with the way in which nature can be abstracted into a portrait of glorious beauty.

What about the inner man?

The Hemel en Aarde valley and the road to the village of Stanford and on to Caledon are home to some of the finest wineries – Newton Johnson, Bouchard Finlayson, Raka and Hamilton Russel are just a few of the many well known names.
So, once you’ve finished photographing the wheat and canola fields, pop in and try before buy.

Almost forgot to tell you about the Congress!!!

We promise top class lecturers, workshop leaders and stimulating activities such as;

• George Hallett – people photography. A Cape Town based photographer, George began his career as a street photographer and subsequently became a staff photographer with a local newspaper
• Kathryn Smith – unorthodox approach to photography A senior lecturer in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Stellenbosch, Kathryn’s work is actively shown and collected in South Africa and abroad.
• Strijdom van der Merwe – Landart Strijdom is an established land artist who creates landscape sculptures with natural materials and then documents these photographically
• Peter Pickford – African wildlife Peter and wife Beverley are renowned wildlife photographers whose many books have sold extensively both in SA and abroad
• Audio Visual enthusiasts can participate in an AV Challenge with set subjects and open themes. We will expect you to share your productions and thoughts about them in SHOWTIME
• Outings to the wheat fields; the beaches for still-life or the photography of models; to sites chosen specifically for bird photographers; to the whales, sharks or penguins
• And the wine farms — for tasting, buying and photography of cellar or vineyards We will be welcome at galleries, artists’ studios and can photograph craftspeople at work
• The Birkenhead Brewery in nearby Stanford

Last but by no means least!!!

We will look after non photographing spouses and guarantee to make their stay a memorable one.

More Information

Visit the Hermanus Photographic Society’s congress page for the latest information as well as programme, event and accommodation details.