Patterns of Nature
A Photograph by Marta Camarada
This is the 161st edition of Tender Photo, a digital platform of African photography.
The sand holds many pathways. Some are traced out by footsteps, others are etched in by vehicles. Each leads and departs at different points. One route is particularly inviting: it starts from the bottom left hand corner of the image, then smoothes out in the road ahead. The patterns in the rocks mirror the sand in its countless formations, cascading upwards and sideways. A man is running. His left foot caught mid-air, it is difficult to pinpoint whether he is at the beginning, the middle, or the end of his journey. Carving out his own contours, his black t-shirt contrasts the endless beige tones.
— Haja Fanta
“We too are part of nature’s pattern.”
This photo was taken in Praia do Soba, in Namibe, Angola’s southernmost province. There wasn’t much of a process, just awe. I happened to be in awe at finally seeing a place I had only ever heard about, never properly pictured, and realising no photo could truly do it justice.
In that moment I was standing between rock formations that are millions of years old, I felt small in the best way, the scale of where I was standing and seeing those patterns was moving and a quiet reminder of time itself. My process is instinctive, and nature holds a deeply important place in my work. For me it's always about capturing present time, wherever I happen to be, the way a place or moment feels and not so much just how it looks. It's something I never overthink.
I’ve always been drawn to nature, movement, and those in-between moments that might go unnoticed, which is what a lot of my work reflects. My work is a reflection of who I am as a person, constantly in motion, drawn to colour, and particularly interested in what lies beyond the obvious, the things on the fringes that people might overlook.
Like much of what I shoot, this photo was pure instinct, my brother happened to be running across the frame as I composed the shot, and it was perfect — one of my favorite photos in one of my favorite places. This photograph chose itself. Again, the process was instinctive. People hold just as much significance as nature and this photo captures that balance perfectly. My brother running through the frame made it even more special, completely unplanned, and it turned into a beautiful photo.
Angola is so underrated as a travel destination in the region, and I want to do my part in capturing and sharing these places that are actually accessible to people outside. I chose to name this photo “Patterns of Nature” because it reflects both the landscape and the human presence within it. The layered rock formations shaped over millions of years and the movement of my brother feels like a reminder that we too are part of nature's pattern.
Photography is impactful because it makes people see, whether it’s a place they’ve never considered or a story they’ve never heard. It has the power to show without telling, but it can do so much more than that.
— Marta Camarada
About Marta Camarada
Marta Camarada is an Angolan photographer and creative raised across the African continent. Her work explores identity, movement, and nature’s quiet presence in everything. Inspired by travel and human connection, she creates images that feel both intimate and expansive. Shaped by diverse cultural influences, Camarada has a sharp eye for composition and a deep appreciation for visuals as a powerful storytelling tool. You can find more of Marta Camarada’s work via her website and Instagram.
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TENDER PHOTO is a digital platform of African photography, founded by Emmanuel Iduma. This edition is edited by Haja Fanta, one of our editorial fellows. Our newsletter aims to engage with life on the African continent through photography. We publish narratives about the people, places, and events pictured in photographs, contributing to nuanced and layered perceptions. The newsletter also read on web (best for viewing images), and via the Substack iOS/Android apps.
Every Wednesday we feature a photograph, a short caption about it, and a statement from the photographer. In the past, we have published commentaries or photo-essays in response to photographs previously featured on the newsletter, including CORRESPONDENCES, CONCORDANCE, KINDRED, INDEX, and AFFINITIES.
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So moving
That first picture stands out, it's awesome