Spectral photography of carnival practices

<p dir="ltr"><i>These photos form part of a forthcoming masters </i><i>in musical anthropology </i><i>dissertation (2026) by Caitlin Honeywell on </i><i>comparing</i><i> carnival practices in Cape Town. They also appear in a forthcoming </i><i>article</i><i> in the Archaeological Review from Cambridge 40(2). </i></p><p dir="ltr">Experimental photography with black and white 35mm film, souped in sea water from Sea Point to investigate the vibration of textures of urban life along the shoreline of Cape Town. Techniques of superimposition and the decomposition of the film interrogates the layering of hauntings that characterise postcolonial inhabitings of the city as a spectral geology. </p><p dir="ltr"><b>The first image</b> was taken on the 24th of September 2024, during a march to City Hall for a 'Keep the Dream' choir board heritage event. In the foreground, performers walk whilst playing their jingles (tambourines), goema drums and the signature klopse sambreeltjies (umbrellas) and Panama hats can just be made out. In the background, is Grand Parade, and the complex of the Golden Arrows bus station and Golden Acre shopping mall. Recognisable along the skyline are the Standard Bank and Absa buildings. </p><p dir="ltr"><b>The second image</b> was taken at the Cape Town Carnival on the 18th March 2023. The performers ended the parade in Green Point at the intersection of Somerset and Chiapinni. This photograph was taken outside the Salesian Institute Youth Project building. It depicts a voorloper (drum major) in motion, demanding a fluidity of form to reflect the dynamism of performance and the distortion of spectral time.</p>