Ever since the launch of #ShareTheBay – an innovative digital campaign which encourages locals to share their experiences in the Bay – social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter have been buzzing with images representing unique experiences in the Bay from the people of the Bay.

To date, there are currently 13 912 images under the #ShareTheBay hashtag.

That is 13 912 images representing the best of the Bay through the eyes of locals, domestic visitors, foreign tourists, photographers, teens, students, young adults, parents, and yes, even grandparents.

That is 13 912 images telling the stories of our people, our city, our heritage, the architecture and the beauty of our natural environment in and around the Bay.

That is 13 912 images from people who are taking the Bay by their own hands, promoting all it has to offer, being ambassadors and proudly proclaiming: We Do Tourism.

Following the ongoing success of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism's  #ShareTheBay campaign the second #ShareTheBay exhibition will take place in the month of September and it will be launched with Tourism Month on the 31st August 2017. 

The public is invited to make their way to the Athenaeum (free entrance) during the month of September to experience the Bay through the lens of locals. The photos - printed on canvas - will be up for sale and the profits will go towards sponsoring a group of underprivileged youth on a tour to Addo Elephant National Park, a landmark in the Bay and a place they have never experienced before.

The Athenaeum is open weekdays from 9am until 5pm and situated at 7 Athol Fugard Terrace in Central, Port Elizabeth.

Meet the 2017 #ShareTheBay Exhibitors

Michael Sheehan

Michael Sheehan, a self-taught photographer, is a passionate Port Elizabethan family man. He has a special love for wildlife photography and self-published a Fine Art coffee-table book. He was the official 2010 World Cup LOC photographer who captured every World Cup game in Port Elizabeth. A book of this prestigious event includes a large number of Michael's photographs as testimony to his superior work. He works for national and international sporting agencies and has worked for national advertising companies. His photos have been published in magazines like Home, Sports Illustrated, SA Rugby, Triathlete, Personal Finance, Top Billing and Ubuntu. 

To him, #ShareTheBay means:

"I have fallen in love with Nelson Mandela Bay over the years of living here.  We have such a wide diversity of ecosystems and landmarks and this is what I would like to showcase to the world. Hopefully this will attract people to come and visit, and maybe even settle, here."

 

Ayesha Cantor

Ayesha is a co-owner of our local Kragga Kamma Game Park (KKGP) on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth in Nelson Mandela Bay. Born in Pretoria and raised in Port Elizabeth. Married to Michael Cantor, they have to grown up children and two crazy cattle dogs. Ayesha's days are taken up with running her social media accounts, the "feel good" and quirky, Africa, this is why I live here, Facebook page and Instagram account as well as KKGP's Facebook page. She is also an acid campaigner for the plight or our rhino. Ayesha is passionate about her country and province and most enjoys showcasing them via her enthusiastic photo taking activities. 

To her, #ShareTheBay means:

"It is such an imaginative initiative - our province is spectacularly diverse, South Africa’s best kept secret. It’s particularly pleasing to read comments on my Instagram and Facebook posts from folk who live in other provinces and countries, exclaiming at the beauty, diversity and fabulous climate of our extended Bay. It’s awesome to share the love by sharing the Bay.” 

 

Buli G Ngomane

Buli G is a former prime-time radio and TV broadcaster in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, a business woman and a creative industries professional. She was a one of Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans for 2011 and is a Tomorrow’s Leader Award winner at CEO Magazine’s: SA’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Awards for 2010/11 for Telecommunications, Media, TV, Radio & Press. She made the inaugural Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber's Top 40 under 40 in 2011 and in June 2013 was awarded the Regional Business Achiever Award in the corporate category by the Business Women's Association. 

To her, #ShareTheBay means:

"Sharing what we love about our Bay from our own perspective. I love seeing things through the eyes of others. It gives me something new to love about my city."

 

Heather Nel

Heather is the senior director of planning at Nelson Mandela University and assists senior management with scoping and implementing exciting new strategic opportunities and academic directions. She was awarded the Regional Achievers Business Women’s Award in the government category in 2015 for her leadership role in higher education. She is a wife and mother of two teens who bring her much joy, Matthew (18) and Caitlin (14). Heather is an avid nature lover and uses photography as a creative medium through which to advocate for the conservation of the natural environment.

To her, #ShareTheBay means:

“It is an ideal digital platform to showcase the countless treasures that make Nelson Mandela Bay an ideal place to live, work, study and play – its pristine coastline, culture and heritage sites, friendly people, rich biodiversity and wildlife, and vibrant sunsets. #ShareTheBay gives visitors and locals the opportunity to share their experiences of our beautiful city with a much broader audience through social media and this contributes to positioning Nelson Mandela Bay as a preferred tourist destination. There is so much to celebrate about living in our beautiful city so let us share this boldly and tell our story through images.”

 

Chasing the Rainbow (Dirsuwei Family)

The family of five – dreamer dad Ralph, bright mom Sarah, fishing mad Jaco, social teen Luke and cool kid Cian – take every opportunity to get out and explore the world. To them, there is nothing better than discovering and experiencing something new together as a family. They adore their home town of Port Elizabeth and our rainbow nation and love to inspire other families and spread positivity through their written blog, videos and photographs.

To them, #ShareTheBay means:

“Nelson Mandela Bay is the most amazing place to live. The people, the beaches, the lifestyle, the schools – there is so much goodness here. In a world far too full of negativity, #ShareTheBay allows us to share the good things that we experience in our Bay. It is easy and catchy it conveys a huge pride in our home town and spreads positivity about our area to both locals and visitors.”

 

Cindy Bester

Cindy was born in Port Elizabeth and grew up in Uitenhage where she attended Riebeek College Girls High School in Uitenhage. Mother of one son, Mark, who is presently studying at the Nelson Mandela University. Cindy works for the South African Police Service and holds the rank of Warrant Officer. She loves Port Elizabeth and spends most of her time capturing its beauty. Cindy also loves going on hiking trails and enjoys road trips with her family.

To her, #ShareTheBay means:

“It is a wonderful initiative from Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism. It gives me and all the other photographers in the Bay, who share the same passion for photography, a platform to share their images from Nelson Mandela Bay and the surrounding areas. It is a pleasure for me, and a great honour, to share my images with NMBT.”

 

Kerryn Botha

Kerryn Botha, more fondly knowns as “A Girl Named Kez” is third year BCom Information Systems and accounting student at NMU and a foodie based in Nelson Mandela Bay. Her love for food and cooking was inspired and nurtured by a family who brought passion into their kitchen and laughter to their table. A Girl Named Kez chronicles her exploits in the kitchen and shares her foodie adventures in Nelson Mandela Bay and South Africa as a whole.

To her, #ShareTheBay means:

“It has allowed the people of Nelson Mandela Bay to all become ambassadors for the city we love. Showcasing the very best of what the city has to offer from the perspective of the people who know, love and live in the city. It offers a very unique opportunity to both the locals and visitors to the city to always know what’s happening in and around the Bay area.”

 

Thelma Nel

Thelma was born in Uitenhage and has been living in Port Elizabeth for 25 years; she is the mother of a daughter and son with one grandchild. She has always had a keen interest in photography and started to learn the tricks of the trade in the Northern Cape (2009) with the Kalahari Foto Klub under the umbrella of the PSSA and later won a local competition run by the PECC and received a year’s free membership – this is where her knowledge and interest grew under the wing of the late Barry Wilkins and Jill Sneezby. This was the biggest stepping stone for her achieving various awards and obtaining her honours (LPSSA) in 2012. Thelma derives such happiness capturing moments in time and can be seen all over Port Elizabeth taking photos and sharing what she is seeing through her camera lens.

To her, #ShareTheBay means:

“Having the platform of #ShareTheBay to showcase my photos with all has become important as people all over the world can continuously experience our beautiful city and country. There are so many people who cannot travel and get to see various beautiful places and things, so enjoy following my life journey through my photos.”

 

Aaron and Kevin Ulett

Aaron and Kevin Ulett are brothers, invested in their family and friends, passionate about God, nature and photography and loving life. Kevin (17) is a scholar at Harvest Christian School and Aaron (20) is working while preparing to pursue next year in ministry training. Photography punctuates everything that they do and they are excited about the seasons that lie ahead especially when there is a camera in hand.

The them, #ShareTheBay means:

"We live in an incredible province and are surrounded by such beauty… right here on our doorstep in Nelson Mandela Bay.  In our busy lives we often don’t stop to consider this privilege.  Through our reflections we hope to capture moments that make you catch your breath and through our eyes make what may seem ordinary, extraordinary."

 

 

Anje Rautenbach

Anje is a freelance yet full time travel writer and blogger who returned ‘home’ to the Bay after nearly a decade away and some globetrotting years abroad to rediscover the place where it all started.  Her blog, Going Somewhere Slowly, is all about exploring the world in slow motion and caffeine, being a responsible traveller, the nooks and crannies of small towns, being surrounded by nature and a passion for words are her writing and photography fuel. 

To her, #ShareTheBay means:

"They say the best camera is the one you have on you and in a world of digital media the #ShareTheBay campaign creates opportunities and allows everyone living in Nelson Mandela Bay - whether that is in Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage or Despatch - to share their slice of the Bay, through their eyes - as Bay ambassadors - with the rest of the world under one unifying hashtag."