Boats of Malindi
Photography is just an intriguing thing for me, especially how it allows fluidity like water or the potential to change direction in a moment like the wind. It can take any shape, color, or texture as long as the maker of the images (the photographer) has learned to be fluid and in time. By in time I mean, being able to see in the moment what is being shown rather than what one wants to see. There are times when the intention for going out to take photos is very clear but one comes back home with completely different photos than intended. This is the beauty of art, it is fluid, in the moment, and can freeze in time what took thousands of years to build and then keep that in the archives of time for many generations to come.
I stepped out this particular morning to chase after the sunrise at the Malindi beach. I had not done an early morning there before, I was not very sure of what to expect. Unfamiliar with the area I did not know whether there would be people there or if the water would be in or out. I took a boda boda (motorbike taxi) from the house about twenty minutes before 6 am with the hope that I would be at the beach early enough to set up my camera and then wait to capture the sun as it rose.
Imagine my surprise when I got off the bike just a few minutes before 6 am and right there was the reddish smile of the sun as it rose from its cozy cloudy blankets. What happened? I found myself asking as I ran towards the spot where I had planned to set up my camera. Sunrise in Kinondo Beach, where we stayed for five months, usually comes out between 6:30 and 6:40 am. Well, I must have convinced myself that I knew when this beautiful lady called the Sun rose from her bed. I was slapped in the face by disappointment. Did the sun change its timing or what? I found myself asking as I set up my camera on a jetty that extends into the water. A few people were around seated and some were jogging in the wet reddish colored sand.
If you are familiar with sunrise or sunset photography, you know the magic fades away within a few minutes, so time is of the essence. I managed to get a few shots and decided to walk toward a side of the beach that I had not gone to before.
Lots of boats
Malindi is a coastal town and one thing that should be obvious is the presence of boats, either fishing boats or just private boats. So, I really could not tell why I was surprised that there were so many boats on the shore.
Fishermen were coming to shore with their huge bundles of nets and buckets of fish that they caught over the night. Right on the beach were people, especially women who were waiting for fresh fish that the fishermen were bringing. Most of them have restaurants in the area where they sell food.
I didn’t want to appear rude, so I stopped myself from taking photos of them, especially since they were in their place of work. As I passed by them, still walking, I came across this huge boatyard loaded with abandoned boats. I asked a guy who came out of the yard why so many broken boats. He told me it’s the county government’s boat repair yard. I think it’s run by the Kenya Fisheries Service or something like that. I asked if could take some photos to which he said “Why not?”. I went ahead and did just that. His response got me thinking what if the fishermen would have said “Why not?” had I asked if I could take their photos? Anyway, the time was getting to 8 am and anyone living on the coast knows that the heat is on a high level. I made my way back to the road and headed home.
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