THAT quote has been a favourite since I heard it years ago, probably while listening to one of the hundreds of albums my father had on vinyl until he sold them for drug money. Or had them stolen from him by drug dealers.
I often have reason to think of Joplin's words. All I have to for them to come back is to look out of the window at home in Cape Town, which I do with intention. I'm not casually flicking an eye. I'm looking. Really looking. And I notice how the same scene changes according to the weather and the time of day. Or of night.
Doing this reminds me of maybe the most important aspect of being alive: change. Joplin says it's all the same day, and I can see what she means. But it's also true that no two days are the same. Especially not at different times.
Sunrise, moonrise and sunset views of the northern end of Signal Hill.
Autumn's first real rain arrived the day after I took the photograph below, which offers a similar view to those above. I like to think I can see the water gathering in those clouds.
When I turn my head rightward and look at the middle of Signal Hill, sometimes it takes a long time for me to look away.
Sunset and fog on Signal Hill.
Keep going to the right and, of course, Table Mountain looms.
Sometimes the mountain lurks rather than looms, and sometimes it hides.
And then comes Lion's Head, a world class shape-shifter.
These six photographs were all taken in the space of 30 seconds.
Not for the first time, the real truth is told in black and white.
But there's always room for a splash of colour.
© 2026 Telford Vice. Words and photographs.