A City in the Clouds: The Magic of Fog Over Cape Town

There’s something about fog that has always fascinated me. As a landscape photographer, I’m constantly chasing light, atmosphere, and those rare moments that transform a familiar scene into something completely surreal. And in Cape Town, few things are as unpredictable or as magical as the rolling fog that sweeps in over the mountains and blankets the city in an ethereal glow.

The Thrill of the Chase

Fog isn’t something you can plan for—not really. It has a mind of its own, appearing suddenly and vanishing just as quickly. Some mornings, I’ll wake up long before dawn, check the live cams, scan weather reports, and hope for the best. But no amount of preparation guarantees that I’ll actually catch it. Sometimes, I race up Signal Hill or Lion’s Head, only to arrive just as the fog pulls back, teasing me with a glimpse of what could have been. Other times, I get lucky, finding myself completely engulfed in a silent, dreamlike world where the city below disappears, leaving only mountain peaks and golden light breaking through the mist.

When Cape Town Becomes a Fairytale

One of my favorite moments as a photographer is watching the fog pour over the Twelve Apostles like a slow-motion waterfall, cascading down the slopes towards Camps Bay. It’s an incredible sight—one that never looks the same twice. Some days, the fog hugs the coastline, swallowing everything in a thick, milky white, while other times, it lingers just above the city, creating islands of skyscrapers floating above the clouds.

Each scenario presents a different photographic challenge. Shooting from above, on Table Mountain or Lion's Head gives an epic perspective—mountain peaks rising above a sea of clouds.

The Perfect Conditions

Fog photography is all about timing. The best conditions usually happen in the early mornings or late evenings, when the cold air meets the warmth of the ocean. A low ISO helps keep the images clean, and a slightly underexposed shot can bring out the textures and depth in the fog. I often use a longer lens to compress the scene, making the layers of fog look even more dramatic, but a wide-angle shot can be just as powerful when you’re standing on a peak, looking down at a cloud-covered city.

The Unpredictability of It All

Some of my best fog shots have come from the most unexpected moments—turning a corner on a mountain pass to find the valley below completely hidden, or setting up for a sunset shot only to have the entire scene disappear into white. That’s what makes fog so exciting to chase—you never really know what you’re going to get.

Cape Town is full of incredible landscapes, but when the fog rolls in, it feels like a different world entirely. It’s fleeting, mysterious, and sometimes frustrating, but that’s what keeps me coming back. Because when everything lines up just right, and you capture that perfect moment of light, shadow, and mist—it’s pure magic.