Shoreline. Discovering South Africa's Coast, by Jaco Loubser, Jeannie Hayward and Claudio Velasquez Rojas

Shoreline. Discovering South Africa's Coast, by Jaco Loubser, Jeannie Hayward and Claudio Velasquez Rojas. Random House Struik. Cape Town, South Africa 2010. ISBN 9781770077942 / ISBN 978-1-77007-794-2

Shoreline: Discovering South Africa's Coast by Jaco Loubser, Jeannie Hayward and Claudio Velasquez Rojas is based on the SABC2 Shoreline television series, which, one and a half years in the making, portrays the images and stories of South Africa's magnificent coast in a way, and on a scale, not seen before.

Claudio Velásquez Rojas  

In 13 one-hour episodes, Shoreline journeys along the country's nearly 3000-kilometre stretch of coast, from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic coast, around the tip of Africa to the subtropical border with Mozambique on the Indian Ocean. The Shoreline crew spent 210 filming days and 70 hours in the air to obtain over 200 hours of high-definition (HD) video footage. The two Shoreline vehicles each travelled about 40 000 kilometres, visiting countless locations along the coast, taking the viewer to life at the water's edge. Outstanding cinematography, exquisite aerial images, excellent location sound and sound design, a sweeping musical score, an absorbing script and engaging presenters, superb direction and impeccable editing all combine to make Shoreline a landmark in South African television production. Shoreline shows what is possible. It shows the potential, and the standards that should be demanded and can be delivered by people in this country. Basically, I'm saying that it's world class.' Few places in the world can rival South Africa for its diversity, and the same can be said for its coast. Bathed by two contrasting oceans that yield distinctly different climates, with four marine biogeographic regions supporting diverse plant and animal life, peopled by the rainbow nation and its many cultures, South Africa's coast is blessed by a richness of experience that is hard to match. This book takes the reader on an awe-inspiring adventure spanning rugged wave-beaten cliffs to mellow estuaries, isolated wilderness to densely populated cities, from the world's most ancient of human origins to modern times, poverty to riches, apartheid to democracy - an intoxicating mix that is both challenging and enriching. Journeying along the 2800 kilometres of coastline, as captured in this book, engenders an acute awareness of what a privilege it is to live in such a remarkable country. Where else can one watch breaching whales from the shore, dive with sharks, harvest diamonds from the sea, hear a dozen languages, explore the prehistory of humanity, listen to scientists and subsistence fishers working together under the shade of a coral tree, be fog-spangled and sun-scorched - all in the same day - and also be in a position to contribute towards change for the better? For me, the sea has brought inspiration, passion, photographic and literary delight, aesthetic peace, scientific reward ... and I've even been paid to reap these benefits! Three generations of students studying the sea have passed through my hands, and they are another part of my privileged life. This book draws on the oration, photography, research, knowledge and passions of some of these students. And I have a strong sense that the future of this wonderful environment is in good hands, because there are at the helm vibrant young people with a zest for knowledge, who are passionate about the protection of our rich coastal heritage. Communicating what historians, socio-economists and scientists have unearthed is an important part of winning people over to protect what we have. This book, and the SABC2 television series on which it is based, make an important contribution to the conservation of South Africa's marine environment. Read it, enjoy it ... and stop to think about what you can do to maintain this enjoyment for future generations.Few places in the world can rival South Africa for its diversity, and the same can be said for its coast. Bathed by two contrasting oceans that yield distinctly different climates, with four marine biogeographic regions supporting diverse plant and animal life, peopled by the rainbow nation and its many cultures, South Africa's coast is blessed by a richness of experience that is hard to match. [...]

This is an excerpt from Shoreline: Discovering South Africa's Coast, by Jaco Loubser, Jeannie Hayward and Claudio Velasquez Rojas.

Editor: Jaco Loubser; Jeannie Hayward
Photographer: Claudio Velasquez Rojas
Publisher: Random House Struik
Cape Town, South Africa 2010
ISBN 9781770077942 / ISBN 978-1-77007-794-2
Hardcover, 28 x 30 cm, 192 pages, throughout colour photographs