Jeremy Jowell – photographer and travel writer



Born in Cape Town in 1961, Jeremy Jowell is a South African-based photographer and travel writer. The work he produces includes features with the emphasis on nature, travel, tourism, lifestyle and the leisure industry.


He graduated from UCT with a B.Com degree, then spent several years in the field of commerce before his passion for photography developed from a hobby into a new line of work. On moving to Johannesburg in 1991, he started working for a community newspaper as a journalist and photographer. Four years later, he left to pursue a career in freelance photography and travel writing.


Now back living in Cape Town, Jowell is a regular contributor of both written work and images to various South African and international publications.These include Time Magazine, Africa Geographic, Discover Africa, Living Africa, Africa Environment & Wildlife, Sawubona (South African Airways magazine), Going Places (Malaysia Airlines magazine), Good Taste, The Economist, Leadership, Out There, The Motorist, Explore South Africa, Expressions, Equinox, Cape Town Discovered, Style, Men’s Health, Encounter Cape Town, Travel Africa, Directions, Footprints, Top Life, Icon, Avis Inbound, Cosmopolitan, The Big Issue, Lifestyle, On Track, Life Cycle, The Star, Sunday Times, Mail & Guardian, Struik Books.


In addition to his magazine features, Jowell also works as a photographer and assignments include portraiture, landscapes, corporate launches, brochures, stock, weddings, social events and public relations work.
He has produced a range of scenic Cape Town postcards and his images have also been used in various calendars, books and several group exhibitions. He is an active member of the Southern African Freelancers Association.


Jowell is an award-winning photographer. In the 2004 Fuji Profoto Awards, South Africa’s premier photographic competition, he won a Gold prize in the Landscape Portfolio section, and Silver in the Aerial category, both for images of desert sand dune scenery. He was also a finalist in the Brett Kebble Art Awards in 2003.


Jowell has journeyed extensively around the world – Africa, Indian Ocean islands, Europe, South East Asia, the Middle East, America, Australia, South and Central America – and it’s his travel and nature photography bring him the most satisfaction.
Recent trips to Namibia and Botswana have resulted in three solo photographic exhibitions held in Cape Town entitled, "Into The Great Wide Open"," Visions Of Africa" and "Shades Of Gold." The exhibitions featured desert landscapes, African portraits, wildlife, abstract photographs and scenery of Cape Town.

Many of Jowell’s images have been bought by investors in photographic art and also as decorations for homes and corporate offices.
His work is represented by iAfrika Photo Agency. Additional photographic images and written features can be viewed on his personal web site: www.jjphoto.co.za



“Strange lands and new cultures have always been high on my priority list and over the years, I've travelled around the world, capturing my experiences on paper and on film.

But after all the faraway destinations, my favourite continent is still Africa.
There’s a special magic taking photographs in the golden hours around sunrise and sunset when the colours constantly change. Walking at dawn along deserted beaches, hiking in the wilderness or lying on a beach under a palm tree at sunset. All the elements - the landscapes, the wildlife, the people and the incredible quality of light – combine to make this the most photogenic continent on earth.


The most unique and addictive country I have visited is Namibia, a photographers dream destination with stark scenery and wide-open space. Here I focused on the surroundings and soon learnt to love the lure of landscapes big and small. Images of contrast, colour and shape that capture the essence of the great outdoors."