The Skeleton Coast
19th, Apr 2013I have just returned from my third visit to Namibia. What keeps drawing me back to this desert country to the north of South Africa, where I currently live?
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Horn of Africa
12th, Mar 2013Cape Town’s Design Indaba (a Zulu word meaning ‘matter for discussion’) is an annual exhibition of the best of design, arts and crafts of southern Africa.
Indian Ocean Parables
11th, Mar 2013Three new poems set on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast are published on The Writer’s Hub today.
Consciousness, character – and conscience – in the novel
29th, Jan 2013Henry James’s Portrait of a Lady is – along with Wings of the Dove – his most morally searching novel.
Walking the Secret Hills of Laikipia
17th, Jan 2013In the promotional trailer for BBC’s current showcase natural history series, Africa, Sir David Attenborough plants himself human compass-like at the top of a hill. In all directions are sweeping, majestic views, empty of human civilisation.
The Ninth Wave – writing at sea
29th, Nov 2012I have written substantial parts of my last two books at sea, much of them typing with one hand while clinging to the desk with the other, keeping a leery eye on the cabin window to determine which stage we were in the great oceanic washing machine cycle.
The Shooting Gallery – photography and shooting
25th, Nov 2012In the postwar period in Europe a strange fairground attraction emerged – the shooting gallery. All but defunct now, these booths lured punters with the prospect of shooting an air rifle, but not to hit a target and win a stuffed panda. The object was to take your own photograph.
Accidents and Miracles: teaching a photography and creative writing weekend course in London
05th, Nov 2012We all know that great photographs can emerge as much from accident and luck as from precision and planning. Moments when everything seems to be conspiring to be observed by the camera are rare.
Bodies in Space – street photography now
12th, Oct 2012Photography is changing so quickly in the digital era, it’s hard to keep up. We tend to think of this as a technological phenomenon, but it’s also social and cultural.
Bush Midnight
29th, Sep 2012‘Bush Midnight’ is an evolving body of work about the African bush. In the wilderness night has a different density to anywhere else. ‘Bush Midnight’ is a term that refers to the early nights in bushcamp: if you get up at 4.45am, then you go to bed at 8.30pm.