Urban Landscape

Sun and Water

There is not much better than photographing during sun rise and sun set. And when the sun and sea play together the result can be beautiful.

This picture is one of 30 on display at the Corner Cafe (http://cornercafelovesyou.wordpress.com/) in Durban. Please give me a shout if you need directions. I will post a link to my site of the pics should you be interested in ordering one.

Only 7 Days

There are days when I have the privilege to share in peoples joy. Ntombekhaya Pompolwana is packing her possessions. She is packing up everything she owns. On Friday the 19th of November 2010 she will be moving from her tiny shack to her new home. A home built of brick and mortar, with a toilet and bath. A roof over here head.

I am currently working for the Niall Mellon Township Trust. On Sunday more than 750 Irish volunteers will descend on Wallacedene and will give of their time and expertise. And on Friday they will have put the finishing touches to the house which Ntombekhaya will make a home.

I look forward Friday.

Racing the Storm

The storm was 24 hours away...

Perfect Days

Some days are great. And other days are perfect. And I am not just talking about the light which just happened to be incredible. Late afternoon. Brooding clouds. And my darling wife.

Netters

And the sardines are still in Durban. Who would have thought, a truly unusual year.

Newborn

I don't think army medics (or photographers) get a chance to work in a public hospital maternity ward. I was rushed in, only realising where I was by the stirrups, to see this picture.

Iron(ing) Lady

Her smile touched me.

The Cow and a Tree

Uniforms

These are 2 of 13 photographs made with fellow artists Caroline Birch and Deborah van Niekerk. It was such fun to do and an absolute tangent from what I normally do. The exhibition titled Masuga is on display at the KZNSA, there is more info at http://www.nsagallery.co.za/current_mezzanine.htm

The gallery is closed on Mondays, always catches me out.

Many Hands

I am fascinated by the sardine run. In years gone by I have chased sardines for miles, but this year has been something special. The sardines have been netted on the Durban beach front for weeks. And they still are. And I am still excited!

Sardines

I wait in anticipation for the annual sardine run. Since moving back from Cape Town it has been disappointing, with smallish runs on the south coast but none of the stories of legend. In fact I was beginning to think the the legend was just that. But this year has changed my attitude, and the little silver fish have made a huge showing.

I am still waiting for them to wash up on the Durban beach front so that I can see for myself the stories I have heard. For the sardine fever is not a thing of myth, I have been parked in enough times in the past weeks to realise this. I do want to see normally rational grandmothers running into the ocean and scooping sardines by the skirt full!

Anxious On My Mind

I was in Port Elizabeth for the world cup quarter final match between Brazil and the Netherlands. The evening light had been so good that I thought it wise to check out the morning light. The sunrise was beautiful, and I made photographs.

I noticed a man under a viewing deck, he cut a rather lonely figure out there. I could see that he had spent the night out doors. I walked over and we greeted each other. It turns out he was a people watcher, and said to me, 'You love what you do?'. It was more a a statement than a question, and one that I am guilty of.

We spoke for some time on the beach. I learned that Anxious is a Zimbabwean looking for work. He was a soldier in Zimbabwe, where he has left his wife and child. Work is hard to find, not even the other Zimbabweans in town were too keen on helping him.

Being away from my family myself I knew some of what he was talking about. I suddenly felt a little guilty. I had only been away from home for a day and even though I had to share a room, I had a place to stay. (And a great room mate.)

But the penny really dropped when in answer to me asking what he does during the day replied, 'I like to walk up and down the beach, it keeps me from thinking too much.'

I wish there was more that I could do for Anxious. He never asked for money even though I have no doubt he needed some. So I put it out on this page, in the hope that someone knows someone who needs a good man who wants to work.

Another Sunset

I found myself in Port Elizabeth and went for a walk. It was windy. And beautiful. And I saw much of myself in the little guy in the big shoes.

Window Seat

My client whom I love pre-books my seats when flying. I am sure it is a financial decision which is fine with me. Today was great as the window seat next to me was vacant. For about 3 seconds, and then I wedged my bottom in the seat, a great seat well forward of the wing.

Flying out of Nelspruit I looked out, and was fascinated by the view. It is very dry in that part of the world and there were fires burning all over the hills creating a very Tolkien-esque scene. And being a compulsive snapper I pulled out my camera, fought the flare created by the plane window and made few frames.

It is for this reason that I always keep a camera at hand, even on a short hop flight.

Backline Sunrise

Client says 'Can you do an assignment for us?' I say 'Yes please'. Client says '06h30 on Sunday.'

So I get in the car before sun rise. As I start the motor I get a text message postponing the assignment. I am up so what to do? Head to the beach and take a wander. The light was beautiful. What a great morning to be up early.

Lost Love?

There are a good bunch of sand artists on the Durban beach front. Many of them I have spoken to are foreign, and I imagine there is an interesting story behind this picture. I think I will head back that way tomorrow and attempt to get the full story.

Winter Sunrise

Some times you just have to stop the car and shoot the sunrise.

Photographing Ubuntu

How do you photograph ubuntu? I find it hard enough explaining ubuntu.

The definition of ubuntu which I fall back on is 'I am because you are'. When I was contacted by the New York Times to illustrate this in a story I was excited. When I realised that it was for the sports section I was confused. I won't ruin the story but I will say that in this rural community there certainly seems to be something present that we are missing in the cities.

I had the opportunity to spend time with some really happy kids, most of whom loved being the subject of a photograph. And I hope to visit there again in the not too distant future.

Reasons?

All the inspiration in the world!

Influence

We all understand the power of positive influence. The kid in the front posed like this instantly. I was slightly troubled to say the least.

South Africanism 003

South Africanism 002

Detail: Park

South Africanism 001

This is the beginning of a series which I have subconsciousely been photographing for years anywhere. A scene that is so much part of us that we don't notice it. I noticed these easily after returning from London, but these days it is harder.

This lady was laden on Umhlanga beach.

Nibs van der Spuy

I love music. I play a little and listen a lot. I love experiencing the process of making an album so I was buzzing when my good friend Nibs van der Spuy asked me to listen to the makings of what is now the album 'House Across the River'.

Nibs lives in a beautiful old home, the kind that kids (big ones like me too) love! It has swords and armour and paintings. It has an old world feel which I love.

We tried various locations in the house, using all manner of lights and tricks, but when we happened upon the main bedrooms window we hatched a plan. No extra lights just good old fashioned available light. The picture looked and felt so right when I made it.

The album has been playing constantly in my car for the past week, absolutely loving it! For more about Nibs please check out http://www.myspace.com/nibs.

Urban Monkey

Another Warwick Portrait

It was just after 08h00 and Albert was working up a sweat. The pole he is using is iron, I would not like to know how much it weighed. And this man is strong!

Warwick Herbal Market

I know that the smells and sounds of the Warwick Herbal Market are one of the things which make me feel home. The neatness in the chaos of an informally run formal trading site. It is manic but peaceful, slow but constantly moving.

If my words are not convincing you feel free to join me on a trip to Warwick.

The Zulu AWB Man

In the wake of the murder of the right wing leader Eugene Terre'Blanche, the AWB has dusted off their khakis and flags. As much as I do not understand the right wing mind, I have always been somewhat curious. Perhaps because I do not have a culture of my own to protect with such conviction. But nothing could have prepared me for Piet.
Piet Dlamini is no ordinary AWB supporter. He is a one of a kind, and as some of you are wondering he is the real deal. When he spoke about the murder of his Terre'Blanche he cried, speaking of the former right wing leader as 'my beginning and my end.'
I had heard of this man before we managed to track him down, and was sceptical as to the authenticity of what I had heard. But hearing him speak about his 'king' referring to Terre'Blanche was mind blowing. He loved the man and went to great lengths explaining the qualities he admired in him.
Paddy Harper wrote a lovely piece entitled 'Humble Gardener Mourns 'Father' which is online at http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article397310.ece/Humble-gardener-mourns--father
I have thought about Piet long and hard over the past few days, and at the end of it I am still stumped trying to work out why a black man is fixated by a right wing group. He sincerely loves the Afrikaans culture which is evident by the pictures on his wall.

I hope to visit Piet Dlamini in the near future.

No Civil War

When news of the murder of leader of the right wing AWB Eugene Terre'Blanche made the news I had a feeling that the weather was no longer the first topic of conversation. Civil war, retaliation by the AWB, security and the World Cup.

Well, it looks as though the man on the street, or on the side of the soccer pitch, is thinking a little differently. Who really wants a war anyway?

The Assignments I Love

There are times when assignments work out beautifully. Today was one of those days. But now it is late and I am back on assignment with the client in the morning so it is off to bed.

The Street Formerly Known As...

I am sometimes confused. And with more than 100 street names changed in Durban I am more so. In some places the old names are still up below the new names. In other places only the new names are present. People have taken to spray painting over the new names in black, leavingmeeven more confused.

One thing I know is that this is my land and my home.

PS This is a picture of Dr Pixley Kaseme Street formerly West Street in the Durban city centre.

Little Treasures

We moved back to Durban just more than three years ago. I thought I was moving back to somewhere familiar. I was wrong.

Things had changed, people had moved on. And I had changed. One of the first places we discovered was Treasure Beach, and a treasure it is.

A Thousand Hills and One Old Bike

I am not sure whether this is an art work. Maybe this is what life imitating art is?

Durban Sunrise

Sometimes you just have to stop and watch the sun rise. And when sunrise is at around 5am in Durban during summer I miss more than I should. I was fortunate to be on the road this morning to cover the Dusi canoe marathon this morning and photographed this beauty.

Holiday

A real holiday! Nothing beats a real holiday, first since I left the paper and went on my own. Swimming in lagoons, 16 hours in a car on New Years Eve, cycling too far and not regretting it, coffee, great Lucy and Ruth styled food, and some other really cool stuff.

This is going to be a good year is 2010, I feel it in my waters...