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Paternoster Morning Paternoster is a quaint fishing village on the west coast of South Africa. It has become a favoured holiday location for many Capetonians and the old fishing cottages have become hard to find amidst the newly developed holiday homes. The new ‘village’ fits in comfortably with the old insofar as the style of architecture is concerned; the cottages all reflect the style of the traditional Cape fisherman’s homes. Even today the people of this 1500-soul village livelihood revolves around fishing. The main catches are snoek and crayfish or "West Coast Lobster”. The fishermen have fallen on hard times since the introduction of the crayfish season (Nov to April) and the quota system. Many local men ply the beach area tempting visitors with fresh crayfish, which have been caught illegally. The penalty for buying these crustaceans is severe, fines are high and cars transporting the goods (even if it is only one) can be impounded. Once regarded as a pest, when they caught them in their nets fishermen would simply toss them overboard. Wagon-loads of dead crayfish were collected and sold to farmers as fertiliser. It was only when markets abroad, France in particular, where they knew a thing or two about good food, started to show an increasing interest in crayfish that fishermen began to can the product from 1890 onwards. The popularity of the crayfish now means their dwindling numbers have to be controlled, through strict quotas and seasons.
Our Father Paternoster is a small fishing village on the West Coast of South Africa. Directly translated 'Paternoster' means 'Our Father' but how the town got its name has never been proven. There are three main theories. The most mundane is derived from a type of fishing tackle. Popular legend has it that survivors of a Portuguese shipwreck gratefully said the 'Lord's Prayer'. However, a map dating from 1693 suggests that Paternoster was originally called St Martin’s Bay, evolving to St Martins Paternoster and then simply Paternoster.
Reflected Rocks Paternoster, Western Cape, South Africa
High and Dry The retreating tide leaves a small fishing boat high and dry on Paternoster beach
Fishing Fleet An early morning shot of Paternoster. In the foreground some small fishing boats rest on the beach, behind them you can see some West Coast style cottages.
Red Boat and Red Rocks Another early morning shot taken in the quaint fishing village of Paternoster on the west coast of South Africa.
The Early Bird After a frustrating evening, I was determined to get up early and beat the photographic rush. I had encountered a group of photographers previously, either from a camera club or on a workshop and getting a half decent shot was as difficult as crossing the street in a Bangkok rush-hour. Foot prints on the sand, tripods left stranded, camera bags left on rocks, photographers walking into the shot. Could I get the jump on them the next day? I was first out and just about managed to get a couple of shots in the bag before the footprints reappeared!
Solitude An early morning walk on Paternoster beach allows me to enjoy a peaceful sunrise
See photo in original gallery.
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