Hold the line

Hold the line is a photographic exploration of Cape Town's working harbour communities, examining the rituals, relationships and inherited knowledge that shape life along the coastline.

Hold the line is a project I've been working on this year. It's based in the coastal town of Kalk Bay, which is about 30km away from Cape Town. The project came about because I'm interested in the way knowledge is shared between generations. Fishing was a way for me to show this. For many people, they picked up the hobby because their parents or grandparents enjoyed it too. For others, it is a job and a way of life. Their families have been small-scale fishermen for generations. There is pride and knowledge in the profession and a dedication. When fisherman shared their stories, either about why they fish or for how long their families have fished, I was really humbled to hear it. It's a beautiful thing for knowledge to stay alive on this planet even long after you're gone. Interestingly, my grandfather also enjoyed fishing, but I was far too young to pick up the hobby at the time. I work fulltime in content at an agency and photography is another way for me to tell stories and hear them too. This project has been such a beautiful experience. To witness one of the few remaining working harbours, that is open to the public, is a rare treat. People work hard and they get their hands dirty. They wait and prepare, and throughout this there is a sense of hopefullness that keeps them going. Like the way gardening is for futurists, fishing is for those who are able to hold onto hope. Hold the line became the name of the project because of holding the line literally to catch fish, but also to stay on the telephone line. Remaining in contact and connected to those who have come before us. It can also mean to stand firm and steady, which is something many of the small-scale fishing communities face as their way of life is threatened by larger corporations. I took the drive to Kalk Bay Harbour several times this year. I've seen it rainy and sunny, sometimes the conditions worked for photos and other times it was enough to witness it and be a part of something much larger.