Catching the “magic hour “is what photographer and outdoor enthusiast Jacques Marais deems as the perfect time to beautifully capture the boldness of the ISUZU D-MAX 1.9, just as the sunrises. For Jacques and fellow outdoor enthusiast and adventurer Simone Sharpe, De Hoop Nature Reserve was the best place to experience the D-MAX in nature.
Situated in the East of Cape Agulhas, which is about a three-hour drive from Cape Town, De Hoop Nature Reserve is pristine wilderness, home to the Whale Trail, one of the best hiking trails South Africa has to offer. While De Hoop Nature Reserve is ideal to connect with nature, it also provides adventurers with the opportunity to experience nature with the luxury of having no dangerous animals.
Jacques says, “I wanted to get out into the wild well before dawn to capture the sun rising over the plains, and we were blessed with an epic sunrise, really resembling something from East Africa’s Serengeti plains. Fortunately, Simone and I have worked together on many previous ISUZU projects, and she knew exactly where to position herself while I captured the stunning photographs featuring De Hoop’s amazing herds of antelope and other animals.”
For the next three days, Jacques and Simone, embarked on an adventure to experience the ISUZU D-MAX exploring the unspoiled landscape of this amazing nature reserve which showcases the beauty of South Africa’s landscape, encompassing everything from pristine fynbos plains, protected RAMSAR wetland and adjoining coastline, providing the perfect scenery to capture the beauty of the locally produced vehicle.
“The D-MAX came into its own as we were coming into the reserve as it is a very corrugated gravel road on the Southern tip of Africa.” he says.
For Jacques and Simone, this was not their first experience in the wilderness with the D-MAX having driven the vehicle on several adventures. One of the most memorable trips for the pair is the Groot Winterhoek Mountains where Jacques was seriously injured and needed to be rushed to the hospital. The D-MAX’s ability to navigate different terrain helped them to move through the mountain gravel roads and rush Jacques to safety.
“I’ve taken the D-MAX for a spin in many off-the-beaten-path places and have never once felt out of control. A tip that a driving instructor gave me when I drove the D-MAX on a 4x4 course, was to trust the vehicle and that it is capable. He was right.” Simone says.
Getting the perfect Bold shot
From the eland antelopes to cape cobras, Jacques and Simone were able to capture the serene nature of De Hoop and its inhabitants while also getting the most breathtaking shots of the ISUZU D-MAX.
Simone says “I love snakes, a whole lot, so the most memorable part was when I was riding my bike along one of the trails and a Cape Cobra popped his head up to say hi to me. Thankfully, I was far away enough to not have ridden over him accidentally and once I saw him, we both respected each other, and he slithered away.”
As a photographer, it was important for Jacques to capture the D-MAX from low-angle shots as this beautifully showcased the front grill and the configuration of the lights from the front. Capturing the side profile of the double cab bakkie with Jacques and Simone’s outdoor equipment created the perfect feeling of an outdoor adventure showing the spaciousness of the vehicle.
The outdoor office
Jacques and Simone often find themselves having set up a makeshift office wherever they go. The spaciousness of the D-MAX made it possible for them to carry the equipment they needed for the shoot including bikes, hiking equipment and electronics such as laptops and cameras.
“The D-Max becomes my office when I am in the wilderness. I have a solar panel and a jackery battery charger etc. If I need to sit down and connect with the outside world, park the vehicle and put the solar panel out. I can charge my batteries and I can charge my cameras etc.”
For Simone, the spaciousness of the D-MAX provides her with enough room to carry everything she needs as some who loves to spend a lot of her time outdoors. The comfort of the vehicle’s interior, the multiple charging points, ample space, and the fuel-efficient tank made for the perfect three-day adventure in the wilderness.
