That Jozi Skyline
I have a friend who owns a flat in Hallmark House, a recently renovated building in the center of downtown Joburg. Hallmark House is one of the best places in the city, if not the best place, to view the Jozi skyline.
A couple of nights ago, the anonymous friend invited me and a few other friends to photograph the sunset from her 12th-floor balcony.
I’ve taken lots of photos of the Jozi skyline before, from lots of different buildings. In fact I’ve been to Hallmark House multiple times and to this very balcony more than once. But there was something special about this particular night.
I’ve certainly see more dramatic sunsets than this, with crazier clouds and more dramatic colors. But the light on this evening was perfect and so was the city.
View of the city around 5:30 p.m., before the real show started.
It had been cloudy all day with on-and-off thunderstorms – weather conditions that bode well for sunset. As the sun went down behind the buildings, the clouds cleared just enough to put an orange glow across the city and create all kinds of crazy light combinations.
Here’s what happened.
Life in this city is so complicated and so freaking beautiful, just like this skyline itself. It makes me cry sometimes.
Comments
Stunning photos and great that the clouds played along.
Yes!
Lovely pics thanks. But ‘… if not the best place, to view the Jozi skyline…’ - what about the Carlton Centre?
Well, of course it’s debatable and depends on preference. I love the view from the Carlton Centre too. But it’s very different – really high up so you don’t get the same textures, and also the windows are really dirty, which can work to one’s advantage sometimes but not always. The actual rooftop of the Carlton is great but not normally accessible, of course. But anyway, I love both places!
Outstanding! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading!
Hi Heather, Thank you for the article and great photos. Memories ! Can you tell me what the foreground building is on the 4th photo (the black edged one) ? It’s stunning! best wishes Richard
Hi Richard, I’m not sure what that building it’s called. But it’s on Siemert St. (near Joe Slovo Drive) and it’s recently been redeveloped by Propertuity (the company that invented the Maboneng Precinct, which also developed Hallmark House). I think they have they’re offices there now.
I know what you mean about the city sometimes being so beautiful you wanna cry. I’ve lived here my whole life, and sometimes I just can’t get over how gorgeous it is, how vibrant the colours are, especially after the rain, how amazing the summer skies are in the late afternoon - not to mention those lightning displays! Thanks for sharing.
Right on. Exactly :)
You can’t have gorgeous sunsets without a few clouds (oh, God, I am now officially a saccharine inspirational poster in a doctor’s office).
Los Angeles usually has mono-cloud (the marine layer) or no clouds. I love it when I get clouds before sunset. So pretty. But you gotta have something the foreground to make a “wow” picture like that last one of yours. Just stunning.
Damn that’s a gorgeous skyline. The golden hour light is just beautiful!
Wow. Just beautiful.
Thanks :)
The second one from the bottom is stunning!!! It’s literally covered in gold dust.
I guess that’s how this city got its nickname ????
I'll be offline from 15-19 May. Post on that will follow. I'll approve your comment when I'm back.