Robben Island

[Kaye Leggett]

I have just returned from a bucket list tour of a road trip from South Africa's Western Cape and up through to Windhoek in Namibia.

1200+ photos to sort - here is a selection of the first batch to share - Robben Island.

It is an inspiring and thought provoking place. It made me ashamed to be white; I can never share what it is to be on the receiving end of such ill-conceived prejudice. Our guide, an ex political prisoner was the mildest humourous of men - lifting my spirit.

As soon as I set foot in the prison, I knew these images would be black and white

1 - The central courtyard for leaders of the cause - no shade, no view, no amenity



2 - The corridor of cells



3 - A typical cell



4 - It wasn't until the eighties that 'proper' beds were installed



5 - A room with no view



6 - Our guide



7 - And the spirit of the Island now



Some of these images are just snaps.....but hopefully some convey the sense of the place. C&C welcome

[Shadowman]

Nicely captures and processed.

[ionian]

These are lovely conversions Kaye; all of them display the eye of a photographer, much more than just snaps. It must have been a very moving place.

[Manfred M]

Very moving images. We spent some time in Cape Town in the early 1980s, so the prison would have still been in operation and it would been operated as a prison for over another decade. I find it amazing as how some of the places I have visited over the past 35 or so years have changed so much since I was there.

[Mike Buckley]

Very nice set, Kaye. The minimalist style displays the sparse settings very nicely.

I've been criticized for not visiting Robben Island when I went to Cape Town a few years ago as if I had a moral responsibility to do so. It took me about ten years to get into the mood to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. without being totally devastated even though I live only about 30 minutes away. For the same reason, I wasn't able to bring myself to visit Robben Island the short time I was in Cape Town at the risk of spending the rest of my vacation pondering the cruelty that mankind can put upon its own members.

[george013]

I haven't been there but I think I know what you felt being there. And I know how difficult it is to pass that feeling to photo's. I hardly have succeeded. I think this counts for you too. Nice pictures but I can't believe they cover your feelings. The pictures need more for that.
For that reason I think the last picture is the best.

George

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks all for your comments and expressing so well my thoughts too. We debated whether or not to go....in reality it's a bit of a tourist trap but I am glad we went. I was even more glad to see many school children and native South Africans there - it is part of their history and for that reason should not be forgotten so it never happens again. I have been to Cape Town before so this time we had and made more time to see some of the 'true' city which is just not always possible on a short trip....more to come.

[mugge]

Kaye, very moving pictures illustrating the simple stupidity of man.
Cheers Ole

[IzzieK]

There are very few people alive that I know who didn't know the real colour of their skin until they become an adult. And they are the most kind and most accomplished people I've known. The history of this prison is a sad reminder of how liberal politics thinks.

[rpcrowe]

I don't like prisons and realized that after visiting the Arizona Territorial Prison in Yuma, Arizona, early in my life. I was in a blue funk for days after and that was the first and last time I visited a prison...

However, you did a really good job in portraying this prison...

[bnnrcn]

A nice set Kaye

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks Richard and Binnur.

Richard, now you mention it I think this is the first prison I have visited and won't be rushing back to repeat the experience. We have a converted prison in Oxford, converted into a hotel......it's popular I'm told, but I really can't see the attraction of staying in what was previously a prison cell. But it takes all sorts I suppose.