Followers of our Cape Recife Lighthouse Villa social pages will have been mesmerised by the beautiful images regularly shown there. By day or night, in rain, shine or wind, this iconic Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) structure and her glorious coastal surroundings have been captured in hauntingly evocative photographs by a legendary local photographer of superb skill – Luc Hosten.
A long-time resident of nearby Schoenmakerskop, along with his other home-from-home down the Garden Route – Sedgefield, Luc has been in the business of portraying his ‘hood in all her moods and glory for decades. Since his distant school days, his interest in cameras, and subsequently writing to accompany the powerful imagery, have been a lifelong partner to all other pursuits and endeavours (which include stints as a Roadhouse manager, Parliament and two universities, along with many a bridal and lifestyle shoot).
Through it all, Luc has been chasing the light wherever it falls, and sharing his love of the lens and subjects to readers of the likes of Africa Birding, Zigzag and highly respected international image libraries. His shots of seascapes, landscapes, flora, fauna and the people who inhabit the area are masterful in showcasing the essence of Eastern Cape life.
And Luc isn’t just about getting the photo. He has a lifelong passion for marine conservation as well, which has seen him historically involved with the local seabird sanctuary SANCCOB (positioned at the entrance to the Cape Recife Nature Reserve), and other efforts to prevent marine litter and encourage environmental protection. Luc cares deeply about looking after his backyard, while enticing others to explore it and do the same.
A recent collaboration with local tourism entrepreneur Loodt Buchner – who spearheaded the transformation of the historic Cape Recife Lighthouse building into an extraordinarily unique luxury accommodation escape, called the CAPE RECIFE LIGHTHOUSE VILLA – has brought many of Luc’s brilliantly beautiful shots to a new platform, as a growing tourism sector can appreciate the inherent magnificence of one of his favourite photographic locations. His involvement with the local Camera Club has brought in many other talented photographers to test their skills with this gracious icon of the rocky shores. We can look forward to many more stunning, print worthy posts of Gqeberha’s grand old light on the rocks.
Isn’t it time you discover this incredible destination for yourself?
The photographs featured in this post belong to Luc Hosten, with full copyright ownership retained by the artist.
