Capturing the beauty of blooming Jacaranda trees on camera in the streets of Pretoria

By Edward Tsumele, CIYTYLIFE/ARTS Editor

It was an event some of us have been waiting for this year. This is not only because it offers amateur photographers an opportunity to try their  skills in capturing the beauty of the season that is carried on trees  around Johannesburg’s leaf northern suburbs and on the streets of Pretoria, but also to do so together with professional photographers.

A group of professional photographers, instagram story tellers and fans of the Jacaranda trees, hit the road on Sunday, October 23, to capture the beauty that is carried on tree tops, the Jacaranda blooming flowers on the streets of Pretoria.

We did so in style. First of all, we had a cup of coffee at the upmarket Voco Restaurant in Rosebank, before getting on the Gautrain, heading to Pretoria. Before we disembarked at Hatfield Station, the journet was funny, including listening to conversations among Johannesburg’s dedicated professional photographers about how they manage to capture beautiful pictures that capture the essence of what Johannesburg is now, and what it has been in the past.

Some said they sometimes spend up to six years going to the same spot, looking for a particular image till they get what they are looking for. Yet some spoke of how they go to some of the haunted, dark and often out of sight places in Johannesburg, that are ghost haunted looking for that perfect picture.

And there are no prizes in guessing what happens if the living found themselves among ghosts. Some also speak about how security guards employed by property companies operating in the city do not make their job of capturing Johannesburg’s present and history any easier by not understanding the role of these archivists in a city that is constantly in transition. 

Security guards guarding buildings adjacent to public spaces in most cases, prevent these photographers from doing what they love most, and that is capturing the history of this beautiful city on camera. In fact it is these very same story tellers who assist in promoting the city to tourists by publishing these pictures on their platforms, be it websites, blogs, Facebook, instagram or on newsprints, and therefore making the city vibrant and worthy visiting in the eyes of international tourists. This way, everyone stands to benefit, including the very property barons.

Despite these challenges these story tellers are determined to tell Johannesburg’s interesting history and its present, to preserve it for future generations. Here it looks like there is a need for a serious conversation between property moguls and these story tellers in order to find common ground that is mutually beneficial.

And indeed when the enthusiastic photographers on a hot Sunday Day,  descended on the streets of Pretoria, looking for that shot that captures the Jacaranda’s blooming flowers, it was chaos If you like. The mainly deserted streets suddenly had visitors who thought they are worthy paying attention to.  The streets became alive in the mysterious absence of the locals in the streets.

For the hours that we pounded Brooklyn’s streets, looking for that perfect picture, we did not meet a single soul who calls that place home.  We walked from Hatfield Station to Brooklyn while capturing the purple beauty hanging on tree tops as well as the purple blanket on the ground.

However it became obvious to those that have taken part in this exciting project in the past that this year, there seemed to be less purple flowers on tree tops and on the ground as compared to the recent years. Could this have something to do with Climate Change due to Global warming? Just asking was

The hot whether did not however deter the enthusiasm of those who participated in this photographic adventure. The spirit among the photographers, both professional and amateur was cordial and not competitive.

As If to bless the occasion, the heavens opened just as we were making our way back to Gautrain Hatfield Station back to Johannesburg. There was a heavy downpour, complete with hail storm, and we were all wet by the time we reached Hatfield Station.

Instead of walking back, as originally planned, we were ‘airlifted’ by e-hailing taxis. Nobody however complained about the rain as we needed this disruption at that moment in time simply because the day was hot. Eventually we arrived at Gautrain Rosebank Station and were treated to some delicious eats and warm drinks at the majestic Radisson Red Hotel. The trip was indeed an enjoyable experience and we will soon find out which photographer will walk away with the winning prize this year.

You too can participate in this competition by capturing a blooming Jacaranda anywhere in Johannesburg or Pretoria. The closing date for entries is Monday, 14 November 2022.

Essentially this trip followed the recent announcement of the launch of Johannesburg in Your Pocket’s annual photo competition to celebrate Gauteng at its best–in the purple haze of jacaranda season–with an experience series in partnership with The Gautrain, and prizes worth close to R40 000.This is the fifth year of the annual photo competition #JacarandaInYourPocket2022 and it is accompanied by an event series that includes three photo walks, two bicycle rides, a bus experience, and this dedicated photographer journey between Joburg and Pretoria, in partnership with Gautrain #YourJourneyStartsWithGautrain.

ARTNERS

Gautrain: The best way to travel between Gauteng’s jacaranda cities, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

PRIZE PARTNERS: The Tyrwhitt Pronounced “Tirrit”, this luxury block in the heart of Rosebank offers apartments to investors and professionals in Joburg’s most desirable ‘work, live and play neighbourhood”, Rosebank.

About The Tyrwhittvoco Johannesburg Rosebank: An IHG Hotel, Voco was built on the site of a bank that first opened in the 1970s. Located at 24Cradock Avenue, the art-filled building houses a hotel, Workshop 17 workspace, and a statement restaurant, Proud Mary. Rosebank Hotel in Johannesburg-Voco.

Jacaranda Photo Walk

Radisson RED Rosebank: The second Radisson RED brand hotel in South Africa, Radisson RED Rosebank opened in2021 at the newly established Oxford Parks Precinct, with a rooftop bar offering awe-inspiring views of Joburg’s jacaranda trees.

The Playground Market: This Saturday market in Braamfontein, created by Play Braamfontein, is the city’s Saturday heartbeat and a space for creative entrepreneurs. The Playground showcases a multitude of food vendors, offers a morning kids programme, live music and DJs, and a curated selection of clothing labels. The Playground Veldskoen:  Calling their brand “The Sole of Africa”, Veldskoen now has a purple-sole edition perfect for exploring Jacaranda season.

The Veldskoen StoryCOMPETITION RULES: To enter the photo competition, a photo  must be shared on a public Instagram feed (stories and entries from private accounts are not eligible) of the 2022 jacaranda spring in Gauteng using the hashtags:#jacarandainyourpocket2022 and #YourJourneyStartswithGautrain Entrants must follow@johannesburginyourpocket

●Entrants must be 18 years or older.

●The photo(s) submitted must have been shot in 2022 inGauteng and submitted between October13, 2022 and November 14, 2022.

●Photos entered into the competition may be shared on Johannesburg In Your Pocket social mediaaccounts with the photographer’s name credited, and used to promote the#JacarandaInYourPocket2022campaign.

2022 Photo walk host Heather Mason (@2Summers)

●Winning photos may be used byJohannesburg In Your Pocket to promote the#JacarandaInYourPocket2022 campaignswith the photographer’s name credited

●The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.Ten finalists will be selected and the photos put to a public vote, from November 14, 2022. The public vote closes on November 22 at midnight, and this year’s top jacaranda photos will be announced on November 24, 2022.

COMPETITION PRIZES: Prizes are courtesy of top Rosebank accommodation establishments: The Tyrwhitt, vocoJohannesburg Rosebank, Radisson RED Rosebank, and The Playground by Play Braamfontein. Each establishment is a destination point for the experience programme.

First place photography prize: A two-night midweek stay in a three-bedroom penthouse apartment at The Tyrwhitt in Rosebank. Value: R17 000.

Runners-up prizes●A two-night stay for two in a superior room at voco Johannesburg Rosebank,including breakfast, valued at R6 740.

●A one-night stay for two at Radisson RED Rosebank, including breakfast, a sharingplatter on the RED Roof, and arrival drink, valued at R4050

●Lunch for a runner-up prize-winner and five friends at The Playground Market, valued at R4000.All voters will be entered into a prize draw that includes restaurant vouchers and Veldskoen shoes. A season of walks and tours–#JacarandaInYourPocket2022. This year’s competition is complemented by a programme of unique jacaranda experiences curated by Johannesburg In Your Pocket and led by local photographers and professional tour guides taking in Joburg’s most scenic jacaranda viewpoints. Booking is essential. For tickets see bit.ly/JohannesburgInYourPocket-QuicketGauteng’s jacarandas–a local tourist attraction. For some inspiration on where to go to snap the best shots of Gauteng’s blooming jacarandas, checkout In Your Pocket’s guide to Joburg and Pretoria jacaranda views here.