Page 18 - Cape-Camera-February-2025

February 2025 Cape Camera Cape Camera February 2025

Meet Rudi Pothas

Our multi-skilled member

We know RUDI POTHAS (right with Duke) as a photog-

rapher of extraordinary landscape and wildlife imag-

es. But, did you know that his academic background
is in Environmental Management and Environmental

Law, and that he previously worked in the mining and

petrochemical industries? DAVE GORDON asked Rudi
to share the journey how he became a CTPS council

member and top photographer in his own words.

"My love of photography began in capturing images, but also moments He joined the Pretoria Photographic
the most unexpected way," says Rudi in time, that told their own unique Society (PPS) in 2009, "where several
Pothas. "Growing up, I was lucky stories. I have a collector’s personal- members taught me much of what I
enough to travel to many different ity, so it became all about collecting know about photography today," he
parts of the world with my parents. these unique memories. says. He also served on the PPS com-
During these trips, I always enjoyed "I also became very interested in mittee from 2010 to the end of 2011,
snapping photographs with a stand- photographic equipment and start- until he relocated to the mining
ard point-and-shoot camera. ed collecting old Leica M-mount, town Kathu and joined the Kathu
"I would, however, not say that Contax, and Zeiss lenses, which I Photographic Club.
photography was a priority for me adapted to use on Sony mirrorless Kathu vs Pretoria
at that time. On our trip back from cameras (this was still the first gen-
Egypt and Dubai in 2009, I still had eration of Sony Mirrorless). "That provided an entirely differ-
a few dirhams (local Dubai currency) ent experience versus a city-based
in cash that didn't make sense to Caring for CTPS valuables photographic club. The Kathu club
bring back to South Africa. I walked Although I currently use Canon cam- focused more on the social aspects
into the nearest electronics store at era equipment, several of the lenses of a photographic club, and I recall
Dubai airport, emptying my pock- I use are manual focus and built by many photo workshops followed by
ets and asking the salesperson what other camera manufacturers (e.g. a beer or two and a braai made with
was available for the money I had. Zeiss)." kameeldoring against the backdrop
The guy placed a Canon 400D bun- Upon learning of Rudi's interest in of a Kalahari sunset.
dle on the counter, marking the start collecting, CTPS immediately gave "They say you cry twice in the Kalaha-
of my DSLR photography journey." Rudi the responsibility of looking ri: first, when you’re told to go there
It wasn't until this point that I began after our valuable book and equip- and again when you have to leave.
to appreciate the idea of not just ment after he joined council. This certainly rang true for me."

From left: 'Dark of the night', King of the Kalahari' and 'Master of Shadows'. Rudi's first pho-
tographic love was wildlife photography and the leopard is his favourite wild animal.

18 Cape Town Photographic Society