Bricks and Son

I assumed this is Bricks and son, but I could be wrong. I suppose I should have asked.

We can assume much from this picture. That Bricks is a Kaizer Chiefs supporter there is no doubt. Or is there? Does he have an Orlando Pirates shirt and hat in his wardrobe?

It is pretty difficult to photograph 5 naked woman. It is not an uncommon scene on Durban beaches, in fact I think on any morning you would find ladies in very little of their underwear filling bottles with salt water and then rolling in the sand. I hope that I have conveyed the pleasure these ladies took in the early morning and cool water. And I hope their dignity shines through.

And now I am off to swim in that same ocean!

It was one of those days driving in Johannesburg. I was lost and blindly following my BlackBerry's GPS. According to said BlackBerry's clock I was cutting it fine if I hoped to make my flight. So I am late in Jozi where I am permanently lost, and there are the coolest clouds in the sky. I can't stop, get out my camera and get the pic I want as it has been 11 days since I have woken up next to Lucy and I am not going for 12! Camera on the BlackBerry. Great idea! Until I get home and look at the picture quality. What did you expect!??! I berate myself...

Yes, I am shopping for a compact camera. Please send suggestions if there is anything other than the Canon G11 (or G9/G10) that I should look at.

People Are Living There

I stole the title from Athol Fugard. I love that title. I loved reading the play, and should read it again. Something to do during the holidays.

I was photographing the stadium again, this time trying to get a lightning strike over it. I failed miserably but enjoyed standing in the rain. The 30 second exposures where never going to capture the ladies on the flat enjoying the cool evening thunderstorm after a sweaty Durban day.

And even though I feel like a bit of a peeping Tom I like this image.

Walking Away From Me

I have made a similar photograph before. And I like this one too. There is a line in a Counting Crows song along that theme I think...

Shooting Elephants

I had only a morning to spend in the Kruger National Park so when I came across a large bull elephant who had just had a fresh mud pack I was pretty excited. I pulled the car across the road so that I could shoot straight out of the car window. Well, this old guy took it upon himself to impose his authority on the situation. After shooting him with a wide lens and smelling his muddy breath I decided to leg it. Chased out of town but with a few great images, I am a happy camper!

Che Geuvarra Road

With some weird pomp and ceremony, and Che Geuvarra's daughter and grandson present the City of Durban officially changed Moore Road to Che Geuvarra Road.

I was a little confused as I travel on the said road every day. It has been named Che Geuvarra for some time now so why the song and dance? Well that is a good question!?

And I still wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

Another Stadium Picture

The Boys

'John Ross House is burning down!' That got me up, cameras ready. I looked for smoke and flames on my way into town. Maybe this is old news? And then I see it. A pretty small fire considering the number of people on the pavement who have been evacuated.

There are parents with small kids in blankets. There are suspicious twenty something girls who duck every time I put my camera to my eye. It happens to me a lot these days...

Out of the corner of my eye I see a child who should be in bed at this hour doing the moonwalk. After a brief chat they insisted I make a photograph of them and this is the result.

Tree Hugging Soccer Fans

It is a common site at soccer games to see spectators watching from unusual positions. Even a club games is beyond the financial reach of certain fans. During the Confederations Cup I got to know a little about security. There will be no fans in trees! They will have not got past the multi level security checks.

No Swimming

While looking through my archive for a client request I stumbled on this image which I made last year. Not sure why exactly but it makes me feel good. Leaves me thinking about stuff which I have not thought of for a long time, probably when I was a teenager. And I like it just for that.

Learning to Surf

Walking on the Durban beach front recently the weather turned. From sunshine to mist in a matter of minutes giving the skyline an interesting feel.

Sneak Preview

There are days when I count my blessings! I have a job I and a passion, and they are the same thing. I got a sneak preview of Renée Fleming rehearsing with conductor Bill Eddins and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra at the Durban City Hall.

Moses Mabhida Stadium

I don't usually get excited about new buildings. There are exceptions to this rule and the stadium currently under construction in Durban is one. It has created a real positive buzz in the city!

Happy Music

A quick pic from a project I am working on currently. We are working so quickly and under a fair amount of pressure but these kids are amazing. Love them! They somehow managed to do the National Anthem grooving to their beat.

Heading back there tomorrow for some more inspiration.

A Beautiful Face

The South African President Jacob Zuma visited the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban, South Africa which is being built for the 2010 Soccer world cup. He spoke to the workers on site including the man pictured. He has the most inviting face. His smile drew me to him. In fact I think he thought I was a little odd because at one pointI spent more time focussed on him than I did the president.

First Lesson

Like this pic too.

Back to School

Let children be children for as long as possible is one of keys, in my view, to healing a broken society. I would forfeit child stars like Michael Jackson for late developers who shine into their old age.

Staring Straight Up

It was the end of the gig. We were all a little tired, I was carrying Sadie. She is getting too big to be carried. There was a beautiful tree lined path which I has been photographed many times before. It was in half light and not really looking great in terms of an image.

Until I looked up that is. It reminded me of something I learned during my first stint on a newspaper. 'Always look behind you' was the advice. This may have been up and not behind but the idea is a good one. Out of that box!

Holiday Tea and Cake

School holidays are nearly over. Tea with the girls rocks!

Home Alone

My children are now 9 and 5. The girl in the picture is 7. My children live at home with me, where Lucy and I feed them, wash their clothes, do homework with them and read to them at night. The girl in the picture is doing her homework reading on her own. Her parents live in the Eastern Cape but send the children to school in Pietermaritzburg where the four of them live alone. The child in picture is the youngest at 7 and her, after school hours, has no adult supervision at all.

It was a tough story to work on. In fact I have yet to read the story which was published in todays Mail and Guardian. It left me saddened. I think sometimes one forgets how lucky we are.

Brazil!

Not only am I now a Bafana Bafana fan but a fan of South African supporters. I loved the inspiration I got from the people blowing on their vuvuzelas even though I could not hear the stadium announcer.

Bring on the World Cup in 2010!

Zuma Celebration

A resident of Nkandla near South African President Jacob Zuma's homestead samples freshly cooked beef early in the morning. Around 20 cattle were slaughtered in celebration of Zuma's election victory and thousands turned out to see wish him well and get a plate full of meat.

Being a fisherman I am at ease with the fact that animals are slaughtered, but my limit of 4 shad are on a completely different scale to the cattle slaughtered here. And while I am sure that hundreds of cattle are slaughtered daily it was strange to see classrooms being used to butcher the slaughtered animals.


It was another interesting day in South Africa to say the least.

When I am big...

I hope to live in a place which has post boxes such as these. I hope to live in a place like this in the not too distant future.

The Blind Man

He is a blind man. I could not communicate with him, I think he had medicated himself to a point. He seemed close to the edge of life, or death.

I photographed him in August 2008 and have been on assignment in the area recently. I think I must ask after him, and would have but do not know his name. I tried to ask his name but his mumbling was incoherent, and sad. Maybe I should have stayed a little while, or visited soon after this.

Are we there to just observe? To record life from up close through a wide lens, but at a distance. I recently chose to get involved and the result has so far been life changing.

The Zumas are Fading

I hope the promises made do not fade as quickly as the posters.

The Early Morning Market

It is almost like the song about building a parking lot over paradise. The Early Morning Market is in danger of becoming another shopping mall. There have been a few meeting lately and I am a little out of touch with developments as Elections and the IPL cricket have been keeping me occupied. I need to get back down there to see what the story is.
The story so far is that there is a market which has been around for some time. Sure it is a little grimy and could use a coat of paint and a good clean. In fact it is so interesting that it should be required visiting by locals and tourists.
I don't know why I am so perturbed about another shopping mall going up. I have a connection with the place having done a story on the trolley guys in the mid nineties and used to shop there as a student as it is dirt cheap. Then there is the 700 or so people who work there. Now they may not make a killing or pay the kind of rental that the big chains will. They do not have the branding and marketing associated with the 'market leaders'. But they are real people who enjoy the company of customers, and are making a living there.
It is a really interesting place and Durban would be a poorer city without it.

Surf City

Morning surf off New Pier.

The Circus Continues

Just another little interesting bit of something leading up to the election in less than three weeks.

Sadie

Wet Wedding

I stumbled across a couple having wedding photographs done in the rain at the Botanic Gardens. When it is your day it is your day, rain or no rain.

The Back of the Hall

How many more press conferences will there be before the elections?

All Smiles?

I came across this poster and had to stop to make a photograph. At first I thought it amusing, imaging someone walking home after a few drinks up to mischief, a student more than likely...

And now I look at it and I see more. I am intrigued to know what is going on behind the closed doors of Luthuli House. I would love to know what the ANC main men and women talk about over coffee at Parliament.

Interesting times ahead.

Roly Struckmeyer

Roly Struckmeyer is a singer/songwriter who I have known for some time. As a student he was my boss at the Buzz Bar when I worked behind the bar. We shared a house for some time too and I have many memories (but not enough photographs) from this time. I even played in his band when the bass player was double booked! So we have some history which made it quite strange photographing him.

If you have not heard Roly before get hold of his current album About Time. If you cannot find one drop me a line.

Happy Zuma Fan

Numbers and Needles

Fire in the City

A view of last weeks fire in the Durban CBD. Even from where I was which was 25 floors above the fire, we could hear the cars in the building exploding.

Half a Beetle

I stumbled upon this image while on a completely unrelated story. I was under pressure and on the move (as in running to keep ahead of the action dripping in sweat) but had to make this single frame.

I love the scene but looking at again once back at the office I realise that it was a part my past that urged me to stop and make the frame. I had a friend who managed to crash his VW Beetle squashing the roof. Did he fix it? Well no. I mean yes. He cut the roof off!

I may just go back and spend a little more time on this image now that deadlines have passed.