Seaward Gaze
Seaward Gaze: A Window to the Past and Present
Through the weathered stone frame of an old fort wall, time stands still. The coarse texture of the rock, shaped by centuries of wind and salt air, forms a rugged boundary between history and the present moment. Beyond the ancient opening, the world unfolds—a stretch of calm sea, two distant fishing boats, and wisps of cloud curling through the sky. Seagulls drift effortlessly on the breeze, their wings briefly crossing the portal of the past before vanishing into the open expanse.
It is mid-morning at East Fort in Hout Bay, Cape Town, and the scene is one of quiet balance. The light is soft but clear, illuminating the contrasts between the rough edges of the fort’s stone and the seamless sky beyond. The sea holds its own rhythm, a vast and unbroken presence, while the boats—small against the horizon—signal life moving forward.
This fort has stood against time, first built in 1782 by the French Pondicherry Regiment, tasked with defending Hout Bay against British naval incursions. The walls, now crumbling in places, once held cannons that fired at enemy ships. Today, they serve a different role—not as a barrier, but as a silent observer of an ever-changing world.
A Moment Framed by History
To stand before this portal is to feel a gentle dissonance. On one side, history is tangible—the fort’s stones whisper of soldiers who once paced its walls, their eyes fixed on the bay for signs of incoming threats. On the other, the present breathes freely. The boats, painted in bright colours, move with a sense of purpose, yet seem small against the vastness of sea and sky.
The sky itself tells a story. The delicate streaks of white cloud shift in slow motion, their forms stretching and dissolving like thoughts unspoken. The birds, moving in effortless arcs, break the stillness only briefly. In this space, time does not rush. It flows, just as it has for centuries—imperceptible, yet unrelenting.
As the world moves forward, the fort remains anchored in place. It has survived shifting rulers, changing wars, and the slow but certain erosion of its stone. Yet even in its stillness, it continues to frame new stories, offering a lens through which the past and present meet.
A View with a Thousand Stories
Each visitor who stands before this window takes away something different. Some see the remains of history, imagining a time when the walls echoed with the footsteps of guards and the deep booms of cannons. Others see only the present—the gentle simplicity of a quiet morning, the boats threading their way toward the horizon, the birds gliding without urgency.
For myself, the photographer, this was a moment worth capturing. The image, taken on 22 January 2025, was composed using bracketing techniques to blend multiple exposures, ensuring that the full depth of focus remained sharp. The artistic approach was not just about technique but about perspective—allowing a modern eye to witness the present world through the frame of history.
This is the essence of photography: the ability to pause time, to create a bridge between eras. In this one frame, East Fort does what it has always done—offering a window through which we glimpse both where we have been and where we are going.
Background: East Fort, Hout Bay
East Fort is one of the oldest coastal fortifications in South Africa, built by the French and Dutch as a defensive stronghold against British forces. Located along Chapman’s Peak Drive, the fort played a strategic role in protecting Hout Bay during the late 18th century. On 15 September 1795, the Dutch forces stationed at East and West Fort fired upon the British HMS Echo, forcing its retreat—one of the few recorded military actions in the bay.
Over the years, the fort was modified and later repurposed during World War II as an observation post. Today, it stands as a Provincial Heritage Site, accessible to visitors who hike along the rugged slopes of Chapman’s Peak. The remnants of its stone walls, cannons, and blockhouses serve as a tangible reminder of the Cape’s colonial past.
Yet, despite its deep historical roots, East Fort does not belong solely to the past. It remains a place where history and the present converge—where an old stone window can still frame new and unfolding stories.
Rolling Vistas Collection
Welcome to Terra Firma, a place we've inhabited since life began. A place we do not often see for its sheer magnitude and beauty, a place of enormous history and a billion stories to be told and shared.
There is tremendous beauty here for us to see too. We just have to find it, take a moment, and realize it is all around us. We explore the hills, mountains, and crazy landscapes all around us. From far and distant horizons and glorious sunsets to Mother Earth’s own expressions above, ahead, or below us through its vast continents and rolling lands.
Sony A1, Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art, FL: 50mm, S:1/800, F:9, ISO:320