How drone photographs showcase racism in South African architecture

By Nosmot Gbadamosi, for CNN
2 minute read
Published 5:37 AM EDT, Wed July 6, 2016
Photographer Johnny Miller has used a drone to take aerial photographs to demonstrate the gap between the wealthy and the poor in Cape Town, South Africa. "During apartheid, segregation of urban spaces was instituted as policy," he writes on the site dedicated to the project, <a href="http://unequalscenes.com/projects" target="_blank" target="_blank">Unequal Scenes</a>. It's been 22 years since the fall of apartheid, and he notes the pre-apartheid barriers still exist.
Photographer Johnny Miller has used a drone to take aerial photographs to demonstrate the gap between the wealthy and the poor in Cape Town, South Africa. "During apartheid, segregation of urban spaces was instituted as policy," he writes on the site dedicated to the project, Unequal Scenes. It's been 22 years since the fall of apartheid, and he notes the pre-apartheid barriers still exist.
Johnny Miller
Miller started photographing above Cape Town, though is project has spread to Durban, Johannesburg and Alexandra. In his aerial shots, the viewer can see the disparity between neighboring areas, one a wealthier, gated, white community, the other a poorer, predominantly black urban township.
Miller started photographing above Cape Town, though is project has spread to Durban, Johannesburg and Alexandra. In his aerial shots, the viewer can see the disparity between neighboring areas, one a wealthier, gated, white community, the other a poorer, predominantly black urban township.
Johnny Miller
When Miller tried to access Cape Town's more affluent areas, he was stopped by security guards. "You have two or three meter high fences with electric fencing and often barbed wire, which is the norm for South Africa", he says. His drone shots allowed him to bypass security.
When Miller tried to access Cape Town's more affluent areas, he was stopped by security guards. "You have two or three meter high fences with electric fencing and often barbed wire, which is the norm for South Africa", he says. His drone shots allowed him to bypass security.
Johnny Miller
"This was a very objective aerial view" says Miller, adding that viewers can " stop thinking this is a white or black issue, or 'I'm looking at a poor or a rich person.' They are almost looking at a map or puzzle."
"This was a very objective aerial view" says Miller, adding that viewers can " stop thinking this is a white or black issue, or 'I'm looking at a poor or a rich person.' They are almost looking at a map or puzzle."
Johnny Miller
Miller says he's received a positive reaction to his images. "People want to engage with it because they don't feel so uncomfortable perhaps with [the] typical subjective imagery," he says.
Miller says he's received a positive reaction to his images. "People want to engage with it because they don't feel so uncomfortable perhaps with [the] typical subjective imagery," he says.
Johnny Miller
Pictured are the neighboring areas of Masiphumelele and Lake Michelle. Although Masiphumelele was not set up during apartheid, it is a former township. <br />"Black people lived in these areas usually fenced off or somehow separated from other areas through buffer zones such as highways, green belts, train tracks or rivers," notes Miller.
Pictured are the neighboring areas of Masiphumelele and Lake Michelle. Although Masiphumelele was not set up during apartheid, it is a former township.
"Black people lived in these areas usually fenced off or somehow separated from other areas through buffer zones such as highways, green belts, train tracks or rivers," notes Miller.
Johnny Miller
The Papwa Swegolum golf course sits next to a densely populated township. <br />"Within these townships are dense poorly designed properties. In Masiphumelele for example there are 38,000 people that live in that area", says Miller.
The Papwa Swegolum golf course sits next to a densely populated township.
"Within these townships are dense poorly designed properties. In Masiphumelele for example there are 38,000 people that live in that area", says Miller.
Johnny Miller
The townships, notes Miller, are made up of quickly built shacks. "There is only one entrance and exit so it's always clogged with people and buses" he says of Masiphumelele. This makes a stark contrast to the well-planned neighborhood next door "which has a tenth of the people and very good transport links."
The townships, notes Miller, are made up of quickly built shacks. "There is only one entrance and exit so it's always clogged with people and buses" he says of Masiphumelele. This makes a stark contrast to the well-planned neighborhood next door "which has a tenth of the people and very good transport links."
Johnny Miller
Overcrowding in the Masiphumelele has led to frequent shack fires displacing its inhabitants. The most recent left 4,000 people homeless.
Overcrowding in the Masiphumelele has led to frequent shack fires displacing its inhabitants. The most recent left 4,000 people homeless.
Johnny Miller
According to Miller, Alexandra is an area people think of as the most unequal area in South Africa. "You have slum townships right next to the financial district of South Africa."
According to Miller, Alexandra is an area people think of as the most unequal area in South Africa. "You have slum townships right next to the financial district of South Africa."
Johnny Miller
Hout Bay is the image that seems to resonate with South Africans the most, says Miller. "The red roofed houses are actually government houses. The tin shacks all around it are the informal settlements".
Hout Bay is the image that seems to resonate with South Africans the most, says Miller. "The red roofed houses are actually government houses. The tin shacks all around it are the informal settlements".
Johnny Miller
Miller initially photographed Table Mountain in Cape Town with a drone but realized the images he was looking at offered something special. "Someone said to me they had seen Table Mountain their entire life but they had never seen it the way I showed it to them," he says.
Miller initially photographed Table Mountain in Cape Town with a drone but realized the images he was looking at offered something special. "Someone said to me they had seen Table Mountain their entire life but they had never seen it the way I showed it to them," he says.
Johnny Miller
At first, locals did not take too kindly to the drone, says Miller. "There was one guy in Durban who threatened to shoot the dome with a pellet gun," he recalls.
At first, locals did not take too kindly to the drone, says Miller. "There was one guy in Durban who threatened to shoot the dome with a pellet gun," he recalls.
Johnny Miller
Pictured: Alexandra, Sandton. When taking images, Miller maintained a height of 160 to 200 feet and moved as quickly as possible to ensure individual privacy. "No one likes a drone hovering in front of their house," he says.
Pictured: Alexandra, Sandton. When taking images, Miller maintained a height of 160 to 200 feet and moved as quickly as possible to ensure individual privacy. "No one likes a drone hovering in front of their house," he says.
Johnny Miller
Miller's photographs will exhibit at Johannesburg's <a href="https://www.gibs.co.za/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Gordon Institute of Business </a>in August. He is hoping his work can start a positive conversation about urban planning.
Miller's photographs will exhibit at Johannesburg's Gordon Institute of Business in August. He is hoping his work can start a positive conversation about urban planning.
Johnny Miller
Unequal Scenes: Apartheid's legacy
CNN  — 

When Seattle-born photographer Johnny Miller moved to Cape Town, South Africa to study anthropology, he decided to send his drone camera to the skies to take an aerial shot of the city as a keepsake. When he looked through the footage, he discovered the legacy of apartheid was still very much visible in the city’s architecture. The white neighborhoods were defined by large gated communities, while the black neighborhoods were recognizable as overcrowded urban townships.

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“A light bulb went off”, he recalls. He decided to launch a photo project, called Unequal Scenes, to offer a new perspective of the country’s racial segregation.

“You can show these images to a child, and I think he’d be able to pick the side he wants to live on.”

The Facebook factor

When Miller first posted his images to Facebook, he says the initial reaction was “very negative.” Many pointed out that the problem of inequality wasn’t unique to South Africa. He insists that it kinda is.

“South Africa has a unique history which is quite different from other places,” he insists.

“During apartheid, segregation of urban spaces was policy,” he says, adding that 22 years after the fall of apartheid, many of these barriers still exist.

“In Masiphumelele, there are 38,000 people, and next door, you have a neighborhood which has a tenth of that,” he notes.

The first aerial photos he posted on Facebook received 60,000 views – a stunning figure considering he’d rarely garnered more than a couple of ‘likes’ previously. Soon after, Unequal Scenes was born.

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Hope for the future?

Miller says the project has started a positive conversation. A handful of urban planners and housing officers have seen his photos and reached out to him.

He says that his photos – devoid of people – show a more objective viewpoint that is difficult to argue with.

“Viewers can stop thinking, ‘this is a white or black issue,’ or, ‘I’m looking at a poor or a rich person.’ They are almost looking at a map or a puzzle,” he says.

“A lot of people in South Africa are telling me that they didn’t realize how little has changed since 1994 until they saw these photos.”