I See A Distant Land - A Self Portrait

A long time ago I have been dreaming of a distant land.

My passion for photography and creating visual, intriguing scenarios through the media of film started at a very early age. Staging photographic installations,  like a theatre play, centering around a certain chosen topic or idea was my favourite. I dreamed of situations and sceneries, would write my dreams down in my diary the next day and then try to capture them on film with the help of some of my school friends.

Magic Fabrics

I was taken by a friend to a shop in Southernwood, that reminded me of my childhood and the years I have spent with my grandmother. My grandmother was an amazing seamstress. She was capable of sewing a ballgown from an old curtain within four or five hours, should the need arise. It would be a ballgown that could be worn on the red carpert in Cannes and that would fit you perfectly.

Shops like this factory shop in Southerwood have become rare. People do not sew that much any more in many places of the world. 

But they still sew in South Africa. 

My grandmother learned sewing when she was fourteen years old and she had refined her skills throughout her whole life. She designed the clothes for her daughter and later for her grandchild, me. At one point in time she used the left over fabrics pieces, because they had just the right size, to make small dresses for me when I was three or four yeasr old. 

There are many photographs in old albums, showing my aunt and me in " partnerlook". 

Making a garment for someone is something special and has a certain serenity to it.

It is an act of creation.

Like the feel in this shop.

Beautiful fabrics spread magic around them.

When I shoot a portrait I  take pictures in a sequence. I talk to the person until he or she is comfortable and  forgets that I have a camera in my hand. The result has similarity with a short movie film. 

Every second a person's facial expression changes.

And I like to show the pictures in that same sequence.

Of course there are always people who wonder and ask themselves what is there to see in such a place.

The world is just my private playground

And I think others feel the magic too.

Come Rain or Shine

Come rain or shine some days are just the same.

Gonubie Boys

Very serious business at first !

Walking the streets is serious business

Followed by even more serious cheering-up

Having your picture taken is hard work !

Capetonians On Picnic

This scene, eternalised on black and white film, dates back to 1965. I praise the unknown photographer.

It is entitled :

" On an early summer day in December, white South Africans picnic and converse in a grove of large fir trees in a Cape Town suburb."

Living proof that the culture of gathering around your cars, braaing, talking and drinking, equipped to the teeth with useful and unnecessary gadgets, has transcended all groups and races in South Africa. Not much different than Gugulethu or Bucaneers. Ok a little smaller ! And today the gentlemen don't wear ties to this occasion. But the hats remain part of the scenery.

If you do it, do it in style.

Look, He Is Drinking A Cider !

Look, He is Drinking A Cider Or No Room For Arrogance 

Whenever I come to a point, that I feel or realize, I have looked down on someone in a condescending, judging and pitiful way, who is in an unfortunate position at this time in his life, I give something to someone later. This helps to redeem myself, because these moments are hard to control for most people.

The laws of the universe are true. And you are probably the cause of everything, that ever happens in your life. But the laws of the universe are very hard to learn and in more than one case it will take you longer than this life, that you have at your disposition now to learn those laws. No matter how often you have read the Secret and other books. No Matter, 
To think, that some things can never happen to you, that they will only happen to others is sheer madness.

In fact you can make everything happen to you at any given moment in time. Not the universe but you. And often not knowing that you do.

It so happened, that I overheard a comment one lady made to another lady walking down the street, when they caught sight of a homeless man.

" Look he is drinking a cider", said the one.....

If you got nothing or not much does it mean you can not drink a cider if you get one?

The other question, that arises is, where would you drink your cider if you had just got it and it would  probably be taken away from you by somebody else who wants a cider too.
Would you not drink it on the street if there was no such a thing as a living room ?

I guess I would.   

The one thing there is no room for in life is arrogance.

Today Is A Good Hair Day

My First Friend

That was the first time ever when I asked someone to become my friend and I remember it clearly. At the age of two and a half the perception and understandiung of the difference between diverse and unique life-forms is amazingly not very profound - which is a beautiful thing in itself because it allows for simple communication. But since that time I like very tall people with a wide open face and a broad grin.

Dreaming of the Motherland

Cheetahs on a game farm in a very big enclosure

but still too small for their mind

Dreaming of the Motherland

Summer Decided To Stay

It is supposed to be winter in the Eastern Cape in South-Africa and temperatures should not be higher than 20 to 22 degrees Celsius during the day. But summer has decided to stay.

This picture was taken yesterday morning at Blue Bend Beach.

Even the Jack Russell needed shade.

LOOK ME IN THE HEART

THE HEART OF AN AGAVE.

Light green to grey satiny leaves. After about 15 years the plants bears arching, 2 m tall spikes of greenish yellow flowers. It needs little attention and grows in poor soil.

It has a strong heart.

IN BLACK AND WHITE

When I am behind a camera I feel like all the worlds are open to me. Like there is no limit. For me it's a feeling that you can create your own worlds. Far from perfection, but intense, passionate, fantastic and fanatic. I create many things, most of them with my hands. But taking photos is something I can get lost in.

I have captured a couple of beautiful new moments - Soooooo Black and White.

I love this picture and have called it a "A Mouth Full ". It think there is no animal that comes close to a giraffe in extravagance and unusual looks. May be a camel comes close to it. It's also a miracle. That's written in the Koran, a friend told me.

This picture was taken while traveling through the Addo Elephant Park with my brother. The trip we made is special to me because he was recovering after a long and complicated operation. All well now and that is awesome. NEW JOY OF LIFE.

We were driving trough the park from one end to the other on the look-out for elephants and what we saw was the " Unexpected Death of A Great Buffalo" .

And of course a sight that can never been forgotten................

I don't want to bore you with animal portraits but I think this all would not be there if nature and wildlife conservation had not been implemented in the past in many African countries. 

More photos can be seen in my gallery:   Chocolat Negro Flashlight Gallery

ABLAZE

A couple of days ago I had the chance to watch a dance of clouds and take some good shots.
A sky full ablaze with the power of the sun and amazing cloud formations.

Changing by the seconds

Until ........

The light got brighter and brighter

and my eyes were blinded and aching

And then there was this mystical painting above me.... AMAZING MOMENT